Faith As A Principle of Action, Part One

Joe Goodfellow is just that—a very good fellow. His life is very principled, he’s responsible, dignified, and full of integrity. He works hard at his job, and never cheats his employer by being late or leaving early or giving him anything but the best work he can. He’s kind and thoughtful, and concerned about others, often going out of his way to help someone in need. He doesn’t gossip or slander or lose his temper. One never hears a foul word out of his mouth. He lives an upright life, a man dedicated to God, family, and others.

Some people don’t like Joe because they think he’s a “goody two-shoes.” Though he’s never intrusive and he minds his own business, Joe’s very life is a condemnation of the lives of those despise him.

Martin Slimeball is one of those who loathes Joe.  He’s a co-worker and views Joe with malicious contempt. Martin is crude, rude, vulgar, and obnoxious. He’s lazy, doing all he can to cheat his employer, and laughing when he gets away with it. He’s a drunkard who beats his wife, and every time he sees Joe, he makes it a point to use foul language or tell some filthy story that he knows Joe would disapprove of. Joe, of course, will often just walk away, which just angers Martin all the more. For all his uncouthness, Martin has a lot of friends because their lifestyle to a large degree matches his.

But then something happened. Not to coin a phrase, but it was a dark and stormy night. Joe was a bit of an amateur meteorologist and was watching on his weather radar as tornado cells built here and there around the area. And then he grew very concerned. He knew that Martin Slimeball lived in the country a few miles out of town. As Joe watched the radar closely, he saw a huge tornado heading right for Martin’s house! It would strike in minutes. He had to do something.

Joe picked up his phone to call Martin, praying that he could get through. Sure enough, Martin answered.

“Martin! This is Joe Goodfellow. There is a huge tornado heading straight for your house! It will be there very shortly!”

Martin, who knew about Joe’s meteorological hobby, was horrified. “Joe! What must I do to be saved?”

Joe responded, “Get into your car and drive to town, you and your house, and you will be saved.”

Martin immediately hung up, and took Joe’s advice. Sure enough, within three minutes, the tornado struck Martin’s house and demolished it. No doubt he would have been killed had he stayed at home….

Now, let’s examine this story in regards to Martin’s “salvation.” What saved Martin? Several things.

1. Joe’s grace. Even with all the hatred and bitterness Martin had shown towards him, Joe never let it affect his own feelings. He didn’t have to call Martin, of course; he didn’t have to save him. It was totally an act of unmerited favor. Martin was saved by Joe’s mercy and compassion. But not totally.

2. Martin’s faith saved him. He believed Joe. What evidence did Martin have that a tornado was about to strike his house? None, except Joe’s word. But because Martin knew Joe wouldn’t lie to him, he believed Joe concerning the tornado.

What if Martin had not believed Joe? He obviously would have been killed in the storm. Faith in Joe saved him.

3. But, was Martin saved by his faith alone? No, other things were involved in his “salvation” as well—Joe’s radar, the phone (what if it hadn’t worked?), Martin’s car (what if it hadn’t started?), and perhaps other things we could mention. But another crucial aspect of Martin’s rescue was that he did what Joe advised—he got into his car and fled for safety. He “obeyed” Joe, if you will.

What if Martin had thought, “Well, I’m saved by faith only. All I have to do is believe Joe and I’ll be protected from the tornado.” Would his faith have saved him? What if Martin hadn’t gotten into his car and driven away? Even had he believed Joe regarding the tornado, he would have been killed had he not done what Joe told him to do. And notice, Martin did what Joe suggested in order to be saved, not because he already was saved from the tornado.

Now, the above scenario is not an absolutely perfect analogy of our salvation from sin. But it’s awfully close. One of the major errors of many, many religious people in Christendom is failing to understand that faith is a principle of action, i.e., when the Bible says we are “saved by faith” it does not mean “faith alone.” The Scriptures never teach we are saved at the point of faith only, any more than Martin was. Faith in a merciful God, trust in His word, moves us to do what He says in order to be saved from the impending disaster that will come upon us if we do not believe and act.  On the day of Pentecost in Acts 2, when the people had been convicted and believed Peter’s message, they asked what they had to do. Peter’s response was “Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:38). He didn’t say to them, “Oh, you already believe so you are saved. Salvation is by faith only.” No, faith was simply the beginning--the principle of heart that led them to obey. Those people on that day believed in God and the Lord Jesus Christ, they believed the inspired messenger, but they were still in their sins until they repented and were baptized.

Letting the Bible defines its own terms is crucial if we are going to please God. The idea that “faith” means “faith alone” is simply not supported by Scripture or reason. More on this important point in later posts.