The Act of Believing is a Work like it or not !
Eph 2:8-9
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The word works here, the greek word
I.
business, employment, that which any one is occupied
A.
that which one undertakes to do, enterprise, undertaking
II.
any product whatever, any thing accomplished by hand, art, industry, or mind
III.
an act, deed, thing done: the idea of working is emphasised in opp. to that which is less than work
A deed done with the mind is a work we do.
The act of believing is a work, and it is our work or act or deed; Its no less of a work , act done by us as when we hate, or lust with our mind and or heart, or the inner man. Lets Look at Gal 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Now the word works in Vs 19 is the greek word used in Eph 2:9 and the Holy Spirit is defining certain sins we as works, even though they are done with the mind or heart, like lasciviousness which is lust of the mind or heart, or Adultery, which can be a deed done by lsting in our heart of mind Matt 5:27-28
27 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:
28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Thats a work, a deed or act done but with the mind or heart. The word heart kardia means:
I.the heart
A.
that organ in the animal body which is the centre of the circulation of the blood, and hence was regarded as the seat of physical life
B.
denotes the centre of all physical and spiritual life
i.
the vigour and sense of physical life
ii.
the centre and seat of spiritual life
a.
the soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours
b.
of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence
Now likewise with the act of believing with the Heart or Mind Rom 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Thats a work, no less as Adultery in the mind or heart is a work Gal 5:19
19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Hence, if we say we are saved or Justified before God because we believed, had faith, our act of believing, then we are saying we are saved by our work or works, and its impossible to escape that conclusion !
