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C. The following passages illustrate that Bible writers understood that faith is composed of both belief and action
1. Salvation passages
a. Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. (NKJ)
in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJ)
2. The Hebrews writer's encouragement
a. Heb 3:18-19
And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief. (NKJ)
b. KJV uses "believed not" in verse 18, but is better translated as disobedience (two different Greek words are used in vss 18 and 19
c. vs 18 - those who didn't enter his rest are the disobedient
d. vs 19 - the conclusion he draws is that they did not believe
3. James' explanation of faith clearly states this idea
a. James 2:17
Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. (NKJ)
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (NKJ)
c. he isn't suggesting that we add works of merit to our faith but rather that only a faith that works is alive
D. Faith is the unalterable combination of two elements:
1. A firm belief, a trust, a conviction and assurance of God and His His Son, Jesus Christ
2. The consequent action (obedience) which logically follows from what we believe
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