The Signs Of Faith

The Signs Of Faith

Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

1 Peter 1:17

We teach that God saves us only by faith, apart from our works. Why then does Peter say that God judges each person’s work? Here is why: What we have taught—that faith alone justifies us before God—is unquestionably true because it is so clear in Scripture that no one can deny it. What the apostle says here—that God judges according to works—also is true. We should always remember that where there is no faith, there can be no good works, and on the other hand, where there are no good works, there is no faith. Therefore, we must keep faith and good works connected. The entire Christian life is embodied by both. The way we live is important, because God will judge us accordingly. Even though God judges us according to works, it’s still true that works are only the fruits of faith. This is how we know whether or not we have faith. So God will judge us on the basis of whether or not we have believed. Likewise, the only way to judge liars is by their words. Yet it’s still obvious that they don’t become liars through their words but that they were already liars before they ever told a lie. For the lie comes into the mouth from the heart.

Works are the fruits and signs of faith. God judges people according to these fruits. These fruits spring from faith in a way that publicly indicates whether or not we have faith in our hearts. God will not judge us by asking whether we are called Christians or whether we have been baptized. He will ask each one of us, “If you are a Christian, then tell me, where are the fruits that demonstrate your faith?”