Continued from last week…..

What is the 'work of faith'?

This means works produced by faith. James tells us that faith without works is dead. Why? Because true faith will always accompany observable good works. Matthew Henry said, ‘Wherever there is a true faith, it will work: it will have an influence upon heart and life; it will put us upon working for God and for our own salvation.’ Nevertheless, good works can never save us, but it is the evidence of our faith in Christ! By working for our own salvation, Henry meant to refer to the effort that we must apply in the process of sanctification (Galatians 5:16-26). In other words, our works exhibit our faith in Christ. If you believe or trust that heaven is your final and eternal destiny, then why are you making your life long pursuit in storing treasures on earth, as if, there is nothing better, more glorious and durable to expect beyond this brief life (James 4:14)?

And what is the 'Labour of love'. This means the labours that are produced out of love. Paul in 1 Cor 15:58 says, ‘Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.’ Jameison, Fausset and Brown comment, ‘[this] implies toil, or troublesome labour, which we are stimulated by love to bear.’ This implies that one can serve in the church simply out of duty and responsibility but not out of love for God and His people; or, engage in nothing of the service for the Lord. If you say that you love God, how can you remain unwilling to serving the Lord in every little way? How can you not afford to sacrifice a little of your time and energy for the Lord who died for you on Calvary's cross, but prefer to indulge in building your own earthly empire or in securing a piece of corruptible and temporal inheritance for your children, which will be but vanity in time? If you say that you love God, how is it that you do not manifest your love to the brothers and sisters who are in need (James 2:14,15)? Let us keep up the 'good works' (James 2:14, 20, 4:17)!

Finally, what is the 'patience of hope'? Notice that such patience is based on the blessed hope of our Christ's glorious second coming and not on some earthly things or some mortal beings. Such hope is the strength and power for us to remain joyful and peaceful patiently, even in times of tribulation and sufferings because of hope in Jesus Christ. John Gills says, ‘...it was an hope of interest in him, of being for ever with him, of his, second coming and glorious appearance, and of eternal life and happiness through him; and this was attended with patience, with a patient bearing of reproaches, afflictions, and persecutions, for the sake of Christ...’ Some of us may be going through financial difficulties, family problems and sickness and illness of family members, but take heart - look upon your hope that is in Jesus Christ! Because ‘the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ’ (1 Pet 1:7). Those of you who have the hope of eternal life in heaven, bear in mind that God shall preserve your faith and grant you grace to endure trials and sufferings so that you may be found unto praise and honour of His name! So, let us imitate His examples of endurance in sufferings (2 Thessalonians 3:5, 1 Peter 2:11, 4:13)!

Conclusion

Every disciple of Christ is called to imitate Christ because they are commanded by His Master to do so as the elect people of God. God's people should imitate Christ's examples by abiding in the teachings of Christ and following the godly examples of great men and women of faith in the past. The end result of Christians emulating Christ should transform them to be a living testimony among non-Christians. Thus Christ's name will be magnified and glorified and God's Kingdom may be advanced through the preaching of the gospel, working in and through men and women of God who produce good works and bear fruits among the Gentiles. When Christ's examples are being emulated among God's elect, it should also inspire other disciples of Christ to commit to serve Him more zealously and to resolve to grow deeper in their relationship with Him by loving and serving Him with all their heart, soul and might; it should also encourage other Christians to wait patiently and joyfully even amidst trials and sufferings for the soon return of their Master, God and Saviour Jesus Christ in glory!

Preacher David Weng

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