Works: The definition

Works is define as "if". If you have enough measure of faith, you will reap. If you have enough faith, you will get what you want or deserved. If you have enough faith, you get to claim and take your rewards. Works is by "measure of Faith". The measure of faith by some is defined how successful you are spiritually. I truly don't believe that God determine (measure) our faith based on our own works. Works have been debated for over 2,000 years. Romans 4:2-6 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God. What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the man to whom God credits righteousness apart from works. Romans 9:31-32 But Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone". Romans 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. We are sanctified by faith. Acts 26:18 To open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me. Spiritual knowledge is so important in our pursuit of God and His righteousness however at the same time, it is one of the biggest tragedies in Christianity is that so many of us think so highly of ourselves through works of faith when the evidence GRACE is the key to our faith. A Christian will pursue the will of God actively and be enthusiastic and the attitude toward Christ, a Christian will manifest love and burning devotion from the heart. A true Christian zeal is not based on works but proves only that the one who manifests it is healthy, balanced, energetic and actively interested in serving God's will with Spirit-Filled fruits (not works). Looking around and seeing Christian's attitudes and seeing their obvious motives that others may think is not anything close to true Christian. True faith is Grace which is a gift from God. There are two concepts of faith: 1. Salvation: We are saved by grace through faith. 2. Christian Living: We are NOT living in works but rather in faith through God's grace. We are in danger of becoming like the Pharisees with their endless list of measure of works and their self-righteous attitude. The problem with the "measure of faith" is our attitude towards self-centered more than God-centered. God wants us our obedience through our faith that our fruits can grow. There is a misunderstanding "living by faith" (Galatians 2:20) to mean that focusing on "our effort" based on works rather than obedience to holiness, adding faith and fruits through grace. Works of faith compromise on the little issues of human desires that leads to greater downfalls in the future. We are saved by faith in Christ, alone; without works and without our merit. Faith is a gift through grace. Faith is believing and receiving, as in Acts 16:31: "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved;" and as in John 1:12: "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe in his name." Action without faith is directionless and empty. Faith without action is comatose or dead. What does our action (or lack of it) reveal about your faith and mine? The Bible says, "The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart," that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved (Romans 10:8b-10). The heart believes and the mouth confesses. Christians will receive God's blessings at God's discretion according to HIS WILL, not ours. God do not reward us based on merit but rather according to His glory and plan. This is where we should have a serious responsibility in this matter to search in our hearts about our motives when we try to glorify God. A true Christian believes Jesus is the true God, not in order that he/she may temporal blessings. Faith secures from the promise of the indwelling Holy Spirit for eternal blessings. In the days of Pharisees. They felt they have earned the blessings from God through their works and faith when Jesus publicly rebuked them. What was so bad about the Pharisees' hypocrisy? If we think of it as consisting merely in their teaching or pretending one thing while in fact practicing something contradictory, we will miss Jesus' main point. Ephesians 6:13 explains that spiritual victory is directly related to the quality of your prayer life. At the same time, I am reminded that in Matthew 6:10, we are to relinquish our will to Christ’s sovereign rule that the only acceptable response to Christ’s offer of the Kingdom is to receive it , value it and pursue it according to God's will (not mine). In Matthew 6:11 revealed that God is glorified when He meets our needs according to His will. God's eternal blessings do not depend on how I feel today. If my eternal hope rested on how I felt physically, which is temporal, I might as well forget eternal blessings. My eternal hope depends on God's Word and His decisions because He will make good on His promises at HIS time, not mine.