A Funeral For A Dead Faith

Martin Luther, the great reformer that led in the Protestant Reformation in 1517, had been studying the Scriptures, especially the book of Romans. He was in Rome on the Santa Scala, the holy stairs, and climbing those stairs on his knees, and saying his prayers, and doing penance for sin. But he had been studying the book of Romans and the Scripture burst through to him in Romans chapter 1 and verse 17. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” And this truth burst aflame in his heart, and in his life and Martin Luther came to faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and was born again.

Now, what is the answer to this conundrum, to this riddle, to this enigma, this seeming contradiction? Well, may I say that the Bible never contradicts itself? There is no contradiction between Brother Paul and Brother James. Sometimes men may seem to be in an argument but they are describing things from a different viewpoint. And what Paul and James are talking about are the heads, the head and tail of the same coin. Now, many times people don’t understand what it is all about. What Paul is taking about is faith before God. What James is talking about is faith before men. What Paul is talking about is a know so faith. And what James is talking about is a show so faith.

One time I had a, an experience to talk to the former president, George Herbert Walker Bush, sitting in his library, about the Lord Jesus Christ. And in that library was Dr. D. James Kennedy. He was sitting there with me, and Charles Stanley and Jerry Falwell. And you might call them the four spiritual laws. (Laughter) (Pastor chuckles) And, and we were sitting there talking (pastor clears throat) about faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. And George Herbert Walker Bush was asked this question. What are you trusting to get you to heaven? And he said, “I believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sin. I believe He is the Son of God. I believe He paid my sin debt with His blood. I believe that He was where, buried, raised again from dead. I put my faith and my trust in Him and I am trusting Him for my salvation.” And I was about to say A+ but then he said, “I also endeavor to live by the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule.” Well, James D. Kennedy you know, who is the guru for Evangelism Explosion, and who makes it implicitly and explicitly clear that salvation is by grace, had the temerity to say, “Sir, I want to tell you that keeping the Ten Commandments and living by the Sermon on the Mount and the Golden Rule has nothing to do with your salvation.” Mr. Bush said, “I disagree with you.” Now he is sitting with the four of us, sitting there. He said, “I disagree with you. Do you mean to tell me that a man can profess faith in God and then not change his life?” Mr. Kennedy said, “Well, of course it would change his life. If he has been saved, it will change his life. But he does not do those things in order to be saved but because he has been saved.” Mr. Bush said, “Well, if you put it that way, I agree with you.” (Laughter) Now I like that. First of all, I like the fact that he believed that if you believe, it is going to change your life. Now, Mr. Kennedy was talking more about like the Apostle Paul and Mr. Bush was talking more like James.