Sermon- “Salvation, by Faith or Deeds?” Gerda Krogslund
I have always loved to read the Bible and all the wonderful stories in the
Bible. Timothy said that “Everything in the Scriptures is God’s Word. All of it is
useful for teaching and helping people and for correcting them and showing
them how to live.” 2 Tim.3:16 Now there are some really dull passages in the
Bible but the stories tell of how people handled problems and how God is good
to those who wait for him, to those who seek for him. The first scripture lesson
was from Hebrews which tells us about the importance of faith. The section I
read praises God’s faithful people of the past. This passage continues to
mention the faith of Moses leading his people out of Egypt and crossing the Red
Sea. He mentions Samson, David, Daniel who was saved from the lions den. In
addition there are great stories of women, Esther who saved the Jews, Ruth who
was faithful to her mother-in-law, Naomi. The Bible is full of these wonderful
stories showing God’s love and mercy to his people. It also tells us of so many
people who did not follow God and his anger towards them.
Now we come to the New Testament with the birth of God’s son Jesus
Christ who has come to save us all. “Jesus used many other stories when he
spoke to the people, and he taught them as much as they could understand. He
did not tell them anything without using stories.” Mark4:33-34.
Jesus was going to Capernaum when an army officer told him that his
servant was in pain. And Jesus said he would go and heal him. But the officer
said Jesus didn’t need to come, he just needed to give the orders and the servant
would be healed. Jesus said to the crowd following him, “I tell you that in all Israel I’ve
never found anyone with this much faith. Jesus said to the officer, “You should go
home now. Your faith has made it happen.”Matt.8:5-13
Another time Jesus met Jarius who begged Jesus for help and come to his
home where his daughter was dying. Jesus went with him but along the way a
women who had been bleeding for 12 years came up behind Jesus and touched
his clothes. She thought if I just touch his clothes, I will get well. Jesus felt the
power go out of him and asked who touched me. She stood up and told Jesus
her story. Jesus said to the woman, “You are now well because of your faith.”
While Jesus was still speaking some men came from Jarius’ home and said that
his daughter had died. Jesus said, “Don’t worry, Just have faith.” Jesus went to
Jarius’ house took hold of her hand and helped her to get up. Matt.9:18-26
Most of the great stories about Jesus are told in each of the four Gospels:
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This particular conversation is only found in
Luke. Jesus was nailed to a cross. The soldiers were making fun of him and
said, “If you are king of the Jews, save yourself!” One of the criminals hanging
there also insulted Jesus by saying, “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and
save us!” But the other criminal told the first one off. “Don’t you fear God?
Aren’t you getting the same punishment as this man? We got what was coming
to us but he didn’t do anything wrong.” Then he said to Jesus, Remember me
when you come into power!” Jesus replied, “I promise that today you will be
with me in paradise.”
In each of these stories, what did each of those people do to receive such
precious gifts of healing, life or eternal life? Nothing just by Faith alone.
In the second scripture reading from James we hear a different story.
James is the book of action and he tells us that “Faith that doesn’t lead us to do
good deeds is all alone and dead. Galatians agrees with James by saying, If you
follow the Spirit, you will harvest eternal life. Don’t get tired of helping others.
You will be rewarded when the time is right. If you don’t give up. We should
help people whenever we can.”
In Ephesians, we read that “God planned for us to do good things and to
live as he always wanted us to live. That’s why he sent Christ to make us what
we are.”
Lastly, “Why do you have such little faith? Don’t worry and ask yourselves,
“will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any
clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about
such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all these. But more
than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other
things will be yours as well.
A number of years ago, The City of Middletown was dedicating their new
Warming Station on Mulberry Street and one of the ministers from the Interfaith
Council read this very appropriate passage from Matthew 25:
When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all of his angles, he will sit on his
royal throne. The people of all nations will be brought before him, and he will
separate them as shepherds separate their sheep from their goats, He will place
the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those
on his right, “My father has blessed you! Come and receive the kingdom that
was prepared for you before the world was created. When I was hungry, you
gave me something to eat, and when I was thirsty, you gave me something to
drink. When I was a stranger, you welcomed me, and when I was naked, you
gave me clothes to wear. When I was sick, you took care of me, and when I was
in jail, you visited me.” Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, “When did
we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger
or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?” The king
will answer, “Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how
unimportant they seemed, you did it for me.”
Then the king will say to those on his left, “Get away from me! You are
under God’s curse. Go into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his
angels! I was hungry, but you did not give me anything to eat, and I was thirsty,
but you did not give me anything to drink. I was a stranger, but you did not
welcome me, and I was naked , but you did not give me any clothes to wear. I
was sick and in jail, but you did not take care of me.” Then the people will ask,
“Lord, “When did we fail to help when you were hungry or thirsty or a stranger or
naked or sick or in jail?” The king will say to them, “Whenever you failed to help
any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you failed to do it for
me.”
Our church is known as a faithful and praying church. You know that by
listening to our joys and concerns not just for our members but people far and
wide. Before you can help someone with their spiritual needs, you have to first
help them with their Physical needs. Give them something to eat, drink, and
cloth them. Our food pantry and backpack program are the best things this
congregation has done to help those in our community with their physical
needs. This is how our faith has become actions. Salvation might happen just
by faith alone BUT I believed that Faith without works was dead. Last week, I
changed my mind when Elizabeth said, “Stand if you are able”. We have people
who are not able but they do other things. Grace Andrews would write down all
our joys and concerns on Sunday and pray for those during the week. We still
have people who watch online and do what Grace did. Ethel Morris has difficulty
getting around but knits one baby blanket or prayer shawl after another. There
are many in our congregation helping in different ways. Salvation can come by
strong Faith or by helping people no matter how unimportant they seemed.
Amen