Brother Yun, Living Water, pages 236-238.
If you claim to have faith in Jesus, then you can prove it by showing us your deeds. When you stand before the judgment seat of Christ, do you expect to be judged according to “your heart”? Is this biblical?
Jesus didn’t tell the Sardinians that He knew their hearts. Rather, He told them, “I know your deeds…I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God” (Rev 3:1-2). To the Loadiceans He said, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!” (Rev. 3:15)
The Ephesians were similarly told, “I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance” (Rev 2:2) while to the church in Thyatria our risen Lord said, “I know your deeds, your love and faith, your service and perseverance, and that you are now doing more than you did at first.” (Rev 2:19)
Jesus doesn’t expect you to sit on your backside for the rest of your life while you try to perfect your doctrine. Rather, He wants you to get busy in His harvest field, sharing the life of Jesus with those who know nothing about Him.
Does this mean that we can get into heaven solely by performing good deeds? Of course not!
It is only by the blood of our precious Lord Jesus that our sins are forgiven and we are restored to right relationship with our heavenly Father.
However, if you really have been born again, the evidence that your faith is genuine is demonstrated by whether or not you have gone and borne fruit for the kingdom of God. If you really know God, you will be serving His purposes and working for His kingdom. You won’t be able to sit around while the world goes to hell.
Perhaps James stated it most clearly for us: “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17)
For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10
For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:10
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