Faith and Works Revisited

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.'  Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep.'" - John 21:15-17

Those verses, describing Jesus and Peter after Peter's denial and Jesus' resurrection, have a number of deep applications to the Christian life. Mine, yours, and every Christian that ever was and ever will be.  What I want to focus on is a simplified interchange between Jesus and Peter - or Simon - son of Jonah. Recall Jesus gave Peter his new name . 

"Jesus answered and said to him, 'Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah (son of Jonah), for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God) I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.'" - Matthew 16:17-18

Jesus did not speak to Peter using his new name, but his given - his natural name - Simon. Jesus was asking him if Peter did indeed love Jesus - more than his livelihood - more than his brothers - but did he love Jesus as the Christ - the Son of the living God. And if Peter did, then to love God is not passive. Loving God should compel us to action - demonstrating the love of God to a world that is far from God and desperate for love - whether they know it or not. The world's quest is like the song "Looking For Love In All The Wrong Places" 

Jesus' question to Peter is a timeless question to everyone who has declared Jesus to be who He says He is and to whom we have surrendered our very lives. Do you love Me? Then show Me! James addressed the same issue in James chapter 2. A Book of the Bible that Martin Luther struggled with - called it a "strawy epistle". In other words - hard to swallow given that his focus was on justification by faith and not works. He pushed back on the idea that it's works that make you right with God. The truth of the matter is that works are a manifestation that you are "right" with God. Saved by grace through faith not of works ..... (Ephesians 2:8,9)

"But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?" - James 2:19-20

Our faith should be naturally, or perhaps super-naturally, demonstrated by our love for God and for others. (two greatest commandments) Love is not an attitude or emotion only - but an action. and more than that - a sacrificial action. 

"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends." - John 15:13

Putting others ahead of ourselves - just like Jesus. In light of our celebration of Jesus laying His life down for us and His resurrection, I will be writing more about this over the next few days. I want to encourage you to ....

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone