Everything that does not come from faith is sin
Romans 14:23b(NIV) everything that does not come from faith is sin. This scripture means that anything we do, that is not done with faith or a sincere belief in God, is considered sinful in the eyes of God. Everything we do should be rooted in a genuine desire to please and follow God.
Hebrews 11:6(NIV) And without faith, it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
Faith firmly believes in God’s existence, character, and promises. It also involves trust in God’s ability to fulfil those promises and a willingness to act on that belief.
When the Bible says that it is impossible to please God without faith, it means that we cannot live in a way that pleases God, unless we have a firm belief and trust in Him. Our faith in God is the foundation of our relationship with Him, and through our faith, we can come to Him, seek His guidance, and receive His blessings.
To ensure that we do walk in faith, we must:
- Seek God’s Will – James 1:5-6(NIV) If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
- Trust in God’s Promises – Hebrews 11:1(NIV) Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
- Faith only functions with deeds – James 2:14-17(NIV) What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
- Faith focuses on God’s strength – Philippians 4:13(NIV) I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Jeremiah 17:7(NIV) Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him.
Anything we do without faith is a sin. We, therefore, have put our faith in God. We must have confidence in Him and His promises, even when we can’t see the outcome. When we commit our ways to Him and trust in Him, He promises to guide us and bless us.