By Tope Banso
FAITH IS NOT ENOUGH!
“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith” (2 Peter 1:5 New King James Version).
Peter, writing in Peter 1:12, said he would always remind the church about the fundamentals of the Christian faith, even though they already knew them and were standing firm in the truth they had been taught. He emphasized that it was only right that he should remind the church as long as he lived (verse 13).
Also, Jude said in Jude 5 that he wanted to remind the Jewish Christians about what they already knew. It is good to be reminded of things one has been taught before or one already knows.
Constant reminder is necessary and beneficial. It helps us to remember what we may have forgotten, makes clearer what we don’t understand yet or establishes us in the truths we are already practising. We must never get tired of being reminded of the things we have been taught in the Word of God.
In Luke 17, one thing common to the ten lepers that Jesus healed was faith to be healed. You may not like the fact that the nine lepers didn’t come back to give glory to Jesus, seeing they had been healed on their way to see the priests, but you cannot deny that they had faith.
They lifted up their voices to Jesus to have mercy on them (Luke 17:13). Jesus didn’t pray for them or touch them. He simply told them to go, show themselves to the priests (verse 14). They believed His Word and went. As they went, they were cleansed.
Nevertheless, from their attitude, after they had been healed, the nine lepers showed that they lacked other important things. Many people today are like these nine lepers. They have faith, but lack other Bible truths in their lives. Faith is not enough.
It is true the Bible says faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen; for by it the elders obtained a good testimony (Hebrews 11:1-2). And without faith, it is impossible to please God (verse 6). Also, the believer is saved by grace through faith and justified by faith (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 3:28). The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38) and live by his faith (Habakkuk 2:4).
Jesus even said that if you have faith and don’t doubt, you won’t only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” it will be done. Whatever you ask in prayer, believing, you’ll receive (Matthew 21:21-22).
All these scriptures are true. But faith is not enough – the faith to be saved or to receive your miracles. You need faith supplements, as outlined in 2 Peter 1:5-9. Verse 1 starts by saying, “But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith” (2 Peter 1:5 New King James Version).
If faith were enough, you wouldn’t need to add anything to it. The supplements of faith, in 2 Peter 1:5-9, are virtue or goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love.
Verses 8-9 say, “For if these things are yours, and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins” (New King James Version). Your faith in Jesus has saved you, but you must grow by having all these supplements in your life to be fruitful.
Faith is not enough. 1 Corinthians 13:2 says though you have all faith, so that you could remove mountains, but have not love, you’re nothing. “For when we place our faith in Christ Jesus, there no benefit in being circumcised or being uncircumcised. What is important is faith expressing itself in love” (Galatians 5:6 New Living Translation).
Love is the fulfillment of the law (Romans 13:10). Faith, hope and love abide, but the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Faith is not enough; you also need patience (Hebrews 6:12).
Faith is not enough; you need the supplements of faith, namely virtue (goodness, good character or moral excellence), knowledge (spiritual understanding)self-control, perseverance (patient endurance), brotherly kindness and love. The Bible says you should make every effort or do your best to develop these.
If you’re not born again, repent of your sins today and accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour.
PRAYER POINT: Father, help me to add to my faith everything you require of me.
This is wisdom for living, and it’s worth sharing. Please share.
(For over 250 in-depth and insightful messages by T.. O. Banso, visit: www.cedarministry.org).
▪ Banso heads Cedar Ministry International, Abuja, Nigeria
cedarministryintl@yahoo.com, cedarministryng@gmail.com
Tel No: +2348155744752, +2348033113523; WhatsApp No: +2349081295947
Is faith not enough to please God?
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