Mernin’ Belief vs faith. How to compare and contrast faith and belief. Many times these words can be used interchangeably. There are some subtle differences that make faith more powerful than a belief. First I have to reference our text from yesterday to begin. James reminds us that “even the demons believe—and shudder!” The demons know that Christ is God. That God will one day return to earth. Even the demon, legion, was cast out of the man to a heard of pigs knew that Jesus was God. They begged Him not to be cast in to the abyss. Who else has the kind of power to cast out demons? No one but God can, and the demons knew (believed) that to be true. Using this example we know that a belief is the simple knowledge of something to be true. Faith starts with a belief but is something more entirely. When my children were little, like most fathers, I would have them jump into my arms, say maybe from a top bunk. The child is in a place of safety on that top bunk. The child also knows that another place of safety is in my arms. What the child does first have to believe before making the jump is that he can make the distance and I can catch him. That leap from the bed to my arms is faith; the assurance of things hoped for and conviction of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Faith goes beyond belief to action. This is why James says that faith is complete in works. It is not our works that save us; it is only through grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone that we are saved. However, the works complete our faith by making our faith evident. It is evidence of our changed nature in Christ.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 12:05:31 +0000
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