Welcome and thank you for taking a bible break to test your knowledge of God's word.
This week's question:

Once we have recognized that there is a higher law than just living a good moral life, it is time to search the scriptures to find the way that leads to life, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). Jesus says, "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, it is these that testify about Me." (John 5:39). As we turn to the New Testament word we understand that we must hear it for faith, "So faith comes from hearing , and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17). And we know that "…without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6). The men listed in the book of Hebrews chapter eleven were asked to do things by God and because of their great faith, did what was requested by God because they were looking for that city whose architect and builder was God (verse 10). Jesus tells us in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.". And again in John 8:24, "..for unless you believe that I am He, you shall die in your sins." Paul tells the jailer who was about to commit suicide because he thought his prisoners had escaped, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household." (Acts 16:31).

One would almost say that we are indeed saved by "faith only" because of these scriptures.

And so to begin our search to see if this is the case we turn to John 6:29 where Jesus says, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent.". The "work of believing" is the diligent study that it takes to understand the truths of the word and what is required by Him to please Him for life, "Be diligent to present yourselves approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth." (2 Timothy 2:15). Jesus also says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father who is in heaven will enter." (Matthew 7:21), and again in verse 26, "Everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act upon them, will be like the foolish man who built his house upon the sand.". So the word of God is written to not only be understood to believing, but also to be acted upon in obedience to Him as HE was to the Father, (Hebrews 5:8-9) "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience to the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,". Saul did hear Jesus on the road to Damascus as Jesus told him, (Acts 9:6) "…but get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do.". When Ananias sees Saul three days later (verse 9), he tells him, "Now why do you delay? Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling upon His name." (Acts 22:16). Saul did believe in Jesus as he acted on the word spoken by Jesus by going to look for Ananias, and doing what was asked of him, which was to be baptized to wash away his sins. But please note: it was three days later (Acts 9:9)! Can we stand before God in good conscious without doing so? "Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you, not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ," (1 Peter 3:21).

And so, to finalize our answer to our question we turn to James 2:19, "If you believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe and shudder.". Do we really believe the demons will be in heaven? We know they believe in Jesus and even confess Him, but those things will be of no avail because of their works of evil continuously (Mark 2:23-28). Let us show our faith by our good works.

James 2:21-24 "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when He offered up Isaac his son on the

altar? You see That faith was working with his works, and as a result of his works, faith was perfected;

and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "And Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as

righteousness," and he was called a friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by

faith alone.

So there we have the answer to our question, as faith only is not a doctrine of truth. Even the demons believe and shudder. The faith must be an active belief in obedience to the word of our Lord from the heart for life eternal! Let us return to the jailer who Paul told in Acts 16:31, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved," as we look at the next few verses to see that the jailer listened to the word of God by Paul and Silas with his household, and those who understood the word were baptized immediately (Acts 16:32-34).

So, let us be diligent to present ourselves before the Lord as a workman who will not be ashamed because we took the time to not only study the word to understanding, but also acted as the wise man who built his house upon the rock, the rock of Christ in obedience to Him for life!