Hi Doves;

 

I just wanted to share on what kind of faith is required to enter the kingdom of God.

 

First, I will make a distinction between just believing and faith.

 

I think this analogy of husband and wife will help you understand. Take note that the ones saved are often called brides of the husband (Jesus).

 

 

First on believing;

 

Believing is just believing and acknowledging the husband is what he is, the husband. The wife acknowledges that he is her husband. That's believing.

 

But what is faith? What makes a wife a faithful wife?

 

A faithful wife does not cheat on her husband. (Adultery)

A faithful wife trusts his husband and his husband trusts his faithful wife.

A good faithful wife would respect her husband, honor his words and obey.

 

But what if the wife cheats on him? Would she still be a faithful wife? No, she's not a faithful wife, and you can say, she lacks the faith.

 

 

It's the same with God and men. Many believe and acknowledge God and Jesus but lack the faith; they still commit adultery, put their trust in money instead of God, and do not obey (his leadership and laws).

 

 

Do you need proof that it is the faith that saves but not just believing?

 

When Israel was about to enter the promised land, Canaan, they sent spies to explore the land and all spies, except Caleb and Joshua, produced the evil report. Israel chose the evil report and they rebelled and complained against God. Why?

 

Because, they lacked the faith that God will be able to deliver Canaan to them. They believed God is what he says he is, the Creator, for otherwise they wouldn't have complained to God, (would you complain to something that doesn't exist?) but they did not trust God on what he could do.

 

They believed God's existence but did not trust God; they lacked the faith.

 

 

The spies that did not trust God, were put to death right away. Do you think those wicked men have entered the kingdom of God? Do you think those wicked spies who received God's judgment right away and died, have entered the kingdom by the grace of God?

 

Numbers 14:36-37 "So the men Moses had sent to explore the land, who returned and made the whole community grumble against him by spreading a bad report about it. These men responsible for spreading the bad report about the land were struck down and died of a plague before the LORD"

 

God meant to strike down all Israelites who rebelled that day but Moses pleaded for them and in his grace God forgave them, however, if those people have not repented and learned to trust God again, they would not have entered the kingdom of God. It is the faith that God requires from his people not just believing.

 

 

You may say, it's the old testament.

 

 

Let's check out the new testament. I stated above that a wife that cheats is not a faithful wife. Consider this verse,

 

Ephesians 5:5 "For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God."

Idolater means someone who worships other than God. This is adultery in God's view because the idolater is not faithful to God but cheats on him and worships other being.

 

Why is a greedy person an idolater? A greedy person lives for money and trusts in mammon, the false god of money. If someone says "if I have a lot of money, I can retire early and also my family will be secure" he's putting his trust on money not God. He lives for money and he's trying to make his life secure through money and as a result, he trusts money instead of God.

 

This is idolatry and that is why a greedy person is an idolater. We know our lives are secure in God not money.

 

What do you think if a man believes in Jesus but is a greedy person, lives for money, and thus an idolater. Do you think he will enter the kingdom of God? No, unless he repents and learn to trust in God again, not money. That is why, Jesus said you can not serve God and mammon at the same time. If somebody trust in mammon (living/serving for money) that means he is not serving God and how can anyone enter the kingdom of God if he does not serve God!

 

Also, the verse Ephesians 5:5 above plainly states that such a greedy person does not have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

 

 

It is the faith that God seeks from his people not just believing he is God. Jesus will take faithful brides when he returns, not the unfaithful brides who just acknowledges him as savior but are still immoral, impure or greedy.

 

We are not saved by our puny works but God requires faith that includes trust and obedience. And of course, how can we be saved if not by his grace and forgiveness, and our faith in Jesus?

 

 

Eddie Sohn