"Works" causing jitters -

We, Christians, rest in the finished work of our glorious savior Jesus Christ. That rest gives us cause to obey God and fight the good fight.

One praise of Christians who subscribe to the "Reformed" tradition of understanding the Scriptures is that we tend to be zealous for the doctrine that justification is by faith alone, and we rightly praise God for that teaching. But our other tendency, as fallen creatures, is to run up into the tree of faith alone and shake with utter willies every time someone mentions the word "works," as if the dog of justification by faith and works has just barked and nipped at our heels.

The problem is that this view of the outward evidences of the faith enables the feeble-minded man to have a light view of laziness and the theory of "carnal Christianity." If we don't have room in our system of thought for salvation being "worked out" with visible evidence, then we are not heeding our own battle cry of "Sola Scriptura." In order to force a fit between 1) Scriptures which require obedience as an evidence of love for Christ, and 2) unrepentant sinners who claim to have faith; we have conjured up this third party between pagans and saints and we call them "Carnal Christians." Somehow, we have allowed this unbiblical notion to pervade the church that faith can be alive without works, that men can have Christ as Savior but not Lord. Hogwash.

Here are a few helpful quotes with links to articles:

"[Unconverted men classified by some as 'carnal Christians'] have no quarrel with sin and, apart from a few sentimental expressions about Christ, there is no biblical evidence that they have experienced anything of the power of the gospel in their lives." - Ernest Reisinger's THE CARNAL CHRISTIAN

"The life of the Christian is not a life of inactivity and ease. He becomes the servant of God by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ, and is sent into his Master's vineyard for the purpose of working for his Master's glory." - James Henley Thornwell's CHRISTIAN EFFORT

"[Spiritual life] manifests itself in the fruits of holiness." - Charles Hodge's HOLY LIVING

Praise God from whom we receive salvation through faith by His grace. Let us obey our Heavenly Father.