Only Those Who Obey Believe?!

A startling fact:  The Bible contains not a single person who only mentally asserted faith but did not prove it by obedience. Don't believe me?  Look at a Bible.  If you don't feel up to that,  ask Gemini AI.

Bonhoeffer, in his remarkable book, The Cost of Discipleship, calls it the problem of Cheap Grace vs. Costly Grace.  Only the latter is supported by God's word, no matter what anyone else says!

So why then are there so many people walking around living like they want, disobedient to God's call for a holy life, and still claiming to be believers?

Accepting that glorious gift of grace then reveals itself in following God, leaving the old lifestyle, growth, and discipleship.  If that doesn't happen, then you are fooling yourself...

Just think of it.  Abraham proved that he believed God by leaving his home and following the Lord's call.  A second time, he did so by the sacrifice of his son, Isaac. Abraham is called the friend of God.

What did that cost Abraham?  Everything.  He trusted God's word.  He knew that Isaac would not die, as the promise God had already made him was to be fulfilled through that boy.  That did not stop the patriarch from walking to the distant mountain, ready to kill his son as an offering on an altar. The knife was raised to plunge into his son's heart when the angel stopped him. Talk about a test of faith!

What does your belief cost you?  It cost Jesus everything to include you and me in that costly gift of grace. 

"What should I do?" you ask.  Again, the Bible has the answer:

Which faith is yours?  Cheap or Costly?  Turn from whatever is cheapening your life, your faith, if you have doubts.  Give Him everything!  Follow Jesus, even with your doubts.  No cost is too great...

Image:  Gemini AI's own interpretation of cheap vs. costly faith...