"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!" - James 2:18-19
You may be most familiar with verse 18 with the respect to the truth that faith produces works and works do not producing faith, or save us for that matter. But my focus is more on verse 19. Merely believing that there is a Jehovah God or that there is a Jesus, the Son is not enough. Even the demons believe that.
There is a term, Syncretism, which means "the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought". For our purposes it is the attempted amalgamation or adding of different beliefs. What got me thinking about this was reading in Daniel chapter 3. the fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar acknowledge Jehovah God, commanded that the Jew's God be respected, but did not reject his belief in other gods.
"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them." - Exodus 20:4-5
That is pretty much what we face today. Our culture demands that we accept what it worships and so long as we don't try to impose our beliefs on it - worship their gods, if you will, we will get along. But if you speak against their way of doing things - what they belief as true - then you will be condemned.
People are willing to acknowledge Jesus and "add Jesus to their stack of gods" but are not willing to reject their gods and put their faith and trust in Jesus only.
"Jesus said to him, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.'" - John 14:6
I want to encourage you to be like the sons of Issachar. Understand the times you are living in.
"... the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do" - 1 Chronicles 12:32
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
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