The purpose of faith

But without faith it  is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 NKJV

On face value, it does seemed that this verse is talking about having faith in God such that one believes in God for healing and blessings. Firstly, is faith merely believing? And is biblical faith (in this case) referring to believing God for blessings?

If you were to read further down Hebrews chapter 11, you realized that firstly, none of the bible heros listed below we exercising their faith for their own well being. It was all for the Kingdom of God. In fact, all died without recieving the promise.

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11:13 NKJV

Thier lived for the Kingdom of God, not Kingdom on Earth.

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:16 NKJV

Moses also forsook the riches and comfort in Egypt and chose to wander in the wilderness and suffer affliction.

choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.
Hebrews 11:25‭-‬26 NKJV

By faith David (man after God'a heart) did many valiant deeds for God. And David, above anyone else, delighted in the Law of God, wrote Psalms 119.

who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again....
Hebrews 11:33‭-‬35a NKJV

Ans many others like Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, was thrown in prison, sawn in half, fed to lions for the sake of their faith in God.

... Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.
Hebrews 11:35b‭-‬38 NKJV

Shouldn't all the more, those who are under a better and perfect covenant, be even more living by faith, instead of living for blessings after blessings, and eyes kept on worldly values?

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
Hebrews 11:39‭-‬40 NKJV

What are Filthy Rags?

The problem with Israel (and hence the Pharisees), were NOT because they tried to follow the Law of God, they were judged because they FORSAKEN the Law of God by going into idolatry and lawlessness.

During the exile, Ezra revived the book of the Law and institutionalized the Scribes (since there was no more temple for them to worship in). That was when the Sanhedrin was formed, for a good reason so that God's word was preserved.

However, after the return to the 2nd temple, another problem came. The Scribes begun to inculcate their own interpretation of the Law called the Mishnah (Oral Law). This was later recorded in written form called the Tulmud.

Corban is one of the evil man made regulation from the Mishnah that the Pharisees used to bypass the 6th commandment of God. And Jesus rebuked them, not because they upheld the law, but they forsook it again by placing Corban above God's Law. Read Mark 7:5-13.

Hence the reference to Filthy Rags (Isa 64:6) commonly referred as "our efforts to live righteously" is inaccurate. That does not refer to us trying to earn Salvation (that is a separate issue). God is saying, Israel has imposed their own self righteousness against his Holy commandments.

The context of "Trying to earn Salvation" only exists in the NT, when Jews tried to add additional criteria to Salvation by Grace in Jesus Christ.

Do we need to prove our salvation to get saved?

While we don't wish to sound too legalistic, and we do not want to end up teaching about Salvation by works, I believe one of the fundamental question is, Who are truly saved?

Can a professing musician not practice his instrument? Can a person who claims he is an athlete not train up to break his record? Similarly, can one claim he is a Christian not obey God? I believe motivation behind good works is not so much on meeting conditions and criteria, but rather correct understanding of the gospel.

We all come from different walks of life, and there are also variety of reasons why one decides to say the sinner's prayer. Some have experienced the love of God through the good news, some might have even been healed of sickness, or got convicted of a serious crime and decided to repent. I for one, got saved for the most shallow reason.... I was afraid I might go to hell... :D

Silly as I was, my very shallow reason also implied that firstly, I believe in Hell (that's one step forward), and secondly, believed that I deserve to go to hell, and I believe that Jesus Christ has died so that I can be saved. It was that Simple.

Was I justified at the point when I decided to give my life to Jesus? Well, my life was a far cry from living a life dedicated to Christ. Just like many evangelical Christians, I had my fair share of worries, worldly values and materialism. I served in church, but I never truly understood the gospel, but constantly seeking for spiritual experiences that gave me temporal spiritual highs. Eventually, I backslide, and subsequently went back to church listening to Joseph Prince.

Was I saved at that point? Well, I wish I can say a resounding yes. But for the fact that my heart was in and out of fellowship with God, I never truly understood the gospel, and I wished someone had taught me the right things from scripture...

I never understood until few years back when I decided to massively read the bible for myself. I understood what are the marks of a true Christian. Jesus also illustrated how one can profess to be a Christian and yet not living the life that he ought to be. I that's when I realized, I haven't really been a Christian all my life, until then.

That sets one to wonder, if I were to die some years ago, will I make it to heaven? A volcano can be filled with an ice cap and yet have lava flowing within. A lake can appear calm when there is a rushing underwater current beneath it. Hence can one be saved without having the evidence of good works and fruits of the spirit manifested? Do we need to be proven perfect before one is saved? Who are we trying to justify?

I guess I have quoted enough bible verses (especially from the book of 1 John) to tell that the only way we can be sure we are saved, is when we start to be serious about obeying his commandments and abstaining from Sin. But that does not mean that a believe MUST obey a set of rules or fully abstain from Sin IN ORDER to be saved. But rather, a true believer WILL turn from his worldly values, WANT to abstain from Sin (even though not perfectly) and DESIRE to study and spread the word of God.

One example would be the Thief who was crucified with the Lord. He understood his plight and acknowledged his need for a Savior. While this is NOT a prove that we are saved by mere confession, Jesus was sure that he will be with him in Paradise. That thief did not have the opportunity to prove his Salvation is genuine through good works. But based on the Apostle's doctrine and description of true believers, I am sure that if he wasn't executed, the thief will be a faithful believer in Christ and not a merely professing one.

What is Justification?

Perhaps some might ask, "Once I say the sinner's prayer, am I once saved always saved?". After all, the bible says in Rom 10:13 that everyone who calls upon the Lord will be Saved, isn't it?

And if we probe deeper, some might even ask, "How much obedience is required in order to be called faithful?" Or rather, "How Carnal can a Christian be before he loses his Salvation?"

While these are frequently asked questions, there are hardly any direct answers to them. 

If we base our benchmark on the amount of good works we perform, we assume that we can earn Salvation by our good works, which is wrong. But on the flip side of the coin, if we think that we are once saved always saved, are we suggesting that a Christian can carry on killing children, raping women and stealing money from old widows without any eternal consequences?

The fundamental problem is, the questions above are sincere, but unfortunately, wrong. No amount of good works can save us, as under the New Covenant, Salvation is given by Grace, and not by debt (Romans 4:5-8). Neither will a true believer continue to live in his former ways. The bible says that once we are saved, we no longer behave like our former selves as sons of disobedience (Eph 2:1-10, Col 3:1-9). 

Hence the right question that one should ask is, 

1. What is the purpose of Justification

2. To whom is Justification given to? 

Once this is established, we will no longer be in confusion. Let's take a look at the basis of Salvation:

1. Salvation was first offered to Israel at Mount Sinai. In Exodus 19:3-9, after witnessing all the miracles in the Red sea and the wilderness, God offered Israel to be HIS Kingdom of priest and holy nation. You have to understand that at this point, Israel MUST accept that offer. 

IF Israel were to say, "Your Laws are too difficult, we are unable to accept!", Then they will NEVER be his chosen people. What then is the purpose of the 10 Commandments? Did God gave the Law JUST TO prove that men are unable to fulfill it? Paul is very clear in Romans 7:7-14 that it is through the Law that we understand the concept of Sin, and we understand our weakness through the Flesh. But the important thing is that, through the Law, we understand God's standard of Holiness. 

God did not set a standard that is unreasonably perfect, but rather it is mankind who is Sinful and thus unable to meet His Holy requirement. Thus the purpose of the Law is to show us how we ought to walk and fellowship with God. However, man can never fulfill His Holy requirement.

2. Since God knew that men can never perfectly obey the Law, so in Exodus 20:22-26, he gave him the Levitical Sacrifices. The alter of sacrifices, under the Old Covenant, is a system of JUSTIFICATION BY WORKS in which a high priest will have to perfectly perform all the rituals in a specific manner. Recipients of Justification will no longer face the spiritual penalty for their sins and thus receives blessings for that year. If the High Priest fails, it will result in curses or even death for that year.

So basically, Justification is an atonement of Sins for those who are unable to walk perfectly in his Laws. 

3. However, Israel fell on 2 accounts :

    a) Due to idolatry, they failed to continue in the Levitical sacrifices, hence they were not covered under the Old Covenant, which is Justification by Works. 1 Kings 11 tells us of the fall of Solomon which triggered Israel to spiral downwards through the succession of good and evil Kings. Prophets like Jeremiah also frequently mentioned how Israel "Played the Harlot" by worshiping other Gods and forsaking the Sacrifices.

    b) Even when they DID continue with the Levitical Sacrifices, they took Justification FOR GRANTED and lived in LAWLESSNESS. In Isaiah chapter 1, God condemned Israel for offering useless Sacrifices (V11-15). His call for Israel's repentance in V16-20 shows God's condition that if they repent from their wicked ways, they will be forgiven.

THIS is the purpose of Justification, repentance :

Isaiah 1:16-20

16 Wash and make yourselves clean.
    Take your evil deeds out of my sight;
    stop doing wrong.
17 Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.[a]
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.

18 “Come now, let us settle the matter,”
    says the Lord.
“Though your sins are like scarlet,
    they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
    they shall be like wool.
19 If you are willing and obedient,
    you will eat the good things of the land;
20 but if you resist and rebel,
    you will be devoured by the sword.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Unfortunately, Israel did not heed the voice of God through the Prophets.

4. As a result, God destroyed Israel first by the Assyrians (2 Kings 17), and then by the Babylonians (2 Kings 24). The remnant of Israel was exiled to Babylon, which carried on to Media-Persia, Greece and subsequently the Roman empire.

5. Throughout this time, God sent prophets after prophets to WARN Israel of their apostasy, urging them to repent from their wicked ways so that they can be forgiven. And he promised a Messiah and a future of peace and security under the Millennium Rule on the condition that Israel "Repent and turn from their wicked ways" (2 Chro 7:14 cross reference to Acts 3:19). The last prophet was John the Baptist during Roman rule, which he too called for Israel's repentance (Matt 3:7-10).

6. After the last ministry of the prophets under John the Baptist, Jesus came to establish the New Covenant, which is Justification by Faith instead of works. Hebrews 10:1-18 describes the blood of Jesus as the PERFECT sacrifice as opposed to the blood of bulls and goats. This had replaced the alter of Sacrifices, such that Israel's Justification is no longer dependent on a human high priest, but a heavenly high priest who can never fail. 

Under the New Covenant, the Law is no longer written on STONES, but in the HEART of believers (Heb 10:16, 2 Cor 3:7-11 fulfillment of Jer 31:33). The Law is summarized as Love your God, and Love your Neighbors (Matt 22:37-40, Gal 5:14).

7. This offer for Salvation was rejected by the Jews and subsequently offered to the Gentiles as prophesied in the Old Testament (Acts 13:46-48, Acts 10:44-46, Isaiah 42:6, Isaiah 49:6).

8. So what is the purpose of Justification? It is so that sinful men can repent from their wicked ways, live Godly lives, so that we can be brought back to fellowship with God.


Romans 6:16 says, "when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness." V18 says, "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness."

We are Justified SO THAT we can be SANCTIFIED.

Is this positional righteousness? No, it is ACTUAL Practical Righteousness. Rom 6:22, "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life."

9. Who are recipients of Justification? It is for those who WANTS TO obey God and follow his commandments, but knows that they are inadequate and unable to perfectly fulfill his Holy Laws.

Romans 8:4-6 says, "the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."

10. To whom is Justification NOT meant for? Justification is not meant for those who keep their eyes on the things of the Flesh (Worldly, Carnal, Material values) and willfully continue living in their own selfish agendas.

Romans 8:7 says, "7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God."

If one is not SANCTIFIED (transformed in Christlikeness, increase in good works of righteousness, obedient to his commandments, keeps his mind on heavenly values), then he is NOT JUSTIFIED.

After we define what is Justification, the answer is clear: True believers in the gospel WILL grow in obedience and good works (1 John 2:1-6). That is because true believers WANT to repent and obey God's commandments (Rom 7:22) but they KNOW that they are inherently evil by nature (Rom 7:23-24) and hence they NEED a Savior to take away the penalty of their Sins (Rom 7:25).

Whereas False believers merely WANTS to receive Salvation and material blessings (James 5:1-6), while they REJECT the commandments of God (Mark 7:9-13), REFUSE to deny oneself (Mortal material values, personal agendas and ambition) (Matt 16:24). They FAIL to understand that the purpose of Justification is to bring us back to fellowship with God (1 John 1:5-10), to live in Godliness (Col 3:12-17), to bring forth fruits of righteousness, 30, 60 and 100 folds (Matt 13:23).   

Based on this understanding, we no longer need to ask how much is needed in order to be called faithful. We no longer need to ask how much of our carnal self can we retain in order to remain saved. Those who are truly saved WILL obey and surrender their priorities to him, whereas those who are false will continue to live in carnality, worldliness and their selfish agendas.

Are you too busy for God?

Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the CARES OF THIS WORLD and the DECEITFULNESS OF RICHES CHOKE THE WORD, and he becomes UNFRUITFUL.
Matthew 13:22 NKJV

In the Parable of the Sower, there are 3 catagories of ground, those that fall on, 1) Stony Ground, 2) Among Thorns and 3) Good Soil.

Well, when we read through Matthew 13, it is quite clear that those who fall on stony ground are those who give up on the faith, and those that fall on good soil are those who keep the faith and continue walking in it.

How about the seed that falls among Thorns? Have they fell away? Or are they still attending church? Let's see.

Firstly, the Parable of the Sower is about the word, in particularly, the Gospel (Matt 13:18). We can also acertain that by looking at the rest of the Parables in Matthew 13, where the [Kingdom of Heaven] is being explained. The ground in which the seed fell into, is the Heart of men.

Secondly, the Fruits mentioned in that Parable, refers to fruits of Righteousness and good works. That is consistent with the Fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5:16-26) and works of righteousness (James 2). Jesus also taught about hearing and doing the word in Matt 7:24-29).

Fruits has nothing to do with wealth and health.

Hence we can safely conclude that the condition of the heart that recieves the Word of God determines how the believer walks out his faith. 1 John 2:2-6 says that those who know him will walk in his commandments. In John 14:15 Jesus says if you love Him, keep his commandments. Hence we can see that one who truly recieves and understands the Word of God, will produce good works, and those who don't will not

So how about the seeds that fell among thorns? Based on the Parable, these did not give up on their faith. Unlike the the ones that fell on stony ground that withered, these remained fruitless. Which means the seed that fell among thorns grew, but are fruitless.

John gave a more specific account on believers that does not produce fruit.

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
John 15:6‭-‬8 NKJV

In John's account of the gospel, Jesus refered to Him as the vine, and they (Israel) are the branches. This can be referenced to Isaiah 5 where God talks about his dissappointed Vineyard (Israel). While the specific context is for Israel, the principal is the same as us Gentile believers. God will not spare fruitless believers. The author of Hebrews made the same point :

For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.
Hebrews 6:7‭-‬8 NKJV

The seed that fell among Thorns remained fruitless because of the Cares of the World and Decietfulness of Riches. Some are too busy making money and climbing the corperation. Some are too busy worried about their lives. Some are too busy dealing with relationships. In fact, one can play guitar skillfully for worship without a heart to minister. One can serve as an usher without the love for people. One can attend church regularly without any transformation to their values in life.

Is your heart among Thorns or in good soil? Perhaps its good to take some time to think about this today? Or are you just too busy for God? :)