Without faith

But 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 diligently seek Him. – Hebrews 11v6

I watched part of a documentary last night about the theories of Richard Dawkins, who considers all religion as ‘the root of all evil.’ Christianity, of course, was the object of most of his derision, but I was intrigued by a couple of things.

Mr Dawkins had much more respect for Christians who held to the entire word of God that those who, as He put it, picked and chose what they liked and didn’t like. I found it comforting that even some one like this man saw the need total adherence to the Bible if one claimed to believe it.

At the end he talked about how it was better for people to do good just because it was good and not because they were afraid of some power who would harm them if they did not do good. Fair point, but Dawkins missed a key element that eve some Christians miss.

Doing good is not going to please God. Even Christians doing good is not going to please God.

Let me explain. We don’t read anywhere ‘without good works it is impossible to please God for He who comes to God must do good works and He is the rewarder of those who do good works.’

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is the key factor here. Anyone who comes to God must of course believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him.

Does this negate good works? Of course not, but good works are the result of faith and not the motivation. If we believer that God is and that He rewards those who seek Him we will strive to seek Him daily. Naturally, as a result of diligently seeking Him good works will be the by product. Works always accompany faith. If there is no works there is only a dead faith.

It is our faith that leads to works that pleases God, not the works in and of themselves.