When Faith Becomes Visible
Bob Yandian
“Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock.
“But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.” Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus said, “Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine… and does them, I will compare him to a wise man who built his house on a rock.” The rock is a type of the Word of God. God wants us to build our life on the foundation of the rock, which is the Word of God. A house built on a rock will withstand everything.
But Jesus also said, “Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. The rains descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and the house fell—and the fall was great.”
This isn’t talking about the fall of a sinner. It’s talking about the fall of a believer who gets born again and then doesn’t study the Word of God. He builds his life on the same sand. Sand is fragments of a rock. So, he may have a fragment of Scripture—just a little piece here and there—but it’s not the whole counsel of God. It’s not the correct application. It might be because he has studied the wrong material or hasn’t studied the right material. Or the pastor isn’t really teaching the Word of God. They teach “life lessons.” They pull something out of life and then throw verses around like sand and think that’s what people need. No—the person needs the rock brought to them.
The rock of the Word of God dissected, looked at, compared with other Scriptures. What Jesus said, what Paul said, Peter said, James said, all of them must be studied. Go back to Moses, Isaiah. That is the Word working together. Hearing and doing the Word gives you stability. Hearing and not doing gives you collapse.
Grace Saves Us—Good Works Show It
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them Ephesians 2:8-10
This verse explains the relationship between salvation and good works. Grace is God’s full hand coming to us. Faith is our empty hand reaching out to God. We talk about faith so much, but honestly, faith is that empty hand. We need to talk more about the grace of God—because it’s the grace of God that brings everything we need for life and godliness in the hand of God.
“It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Works cannot save a person or make someone more spiritual. They do not impress God. But then verse 10 brings the balance: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”
Works cannot save but salvation produces works. And the works are not to prove something to God. God knows our hearts. The works are to prove something to the world. The world can’t see what is in our hearts, but it does see our behavior. They knew us before we were saved and now that we are saved and walking in the Word of God, our lives have changed so much they can see it.
Scripture Produces Maturity and Good Works
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Growing spiritually doesn’t come from just going to church, joining a group, or serving in the church. Growth comes from scripture. Scripture taught in church is important. But then you go home and study it out for yourself. You study other authors on that same subject because you want to know more than what was taught in one message. That’s how you grow.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” From Genesis to Revelation, it is God-breathed. The Greek word is “theopneustos.” “Theo” means God, “pneustos” means breath. All Scripture is God-breathed. And it’s “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
Doctrine - teaches you what is right.
Reproof - shows you where you are wrong.
Correction - gets you back on the right path.
Instruction in righteousness - keeps you on the path.
Then verse 17 says, “That the man of God may be complete.” The Greek word is “teleios” which means “mature.” So the man of God and the woman of God may become mature, “thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Bad Works vs. Good Works
Because the Bible talks about the wrong kind of works doesn’t mean the word “works” should be removed. There are good works and bad works. Bad works are when you try to work for what God offers in grace. God offers salvation by grace. It cannot be earned. You cannot substitute your works for what God offers in grace. Grace is God’s gift. You simply reach out and take it. Once grace changes your character, there does need to be a change in your works—not before God, but before the world.
Why do we work? We work because we love God, and we love people. That’s the key. I don’t want them to see works I produce. I want them to see works the Holy Spirit in me prompts me to do. That way I’m still guided by God.
Good works are the increasing goal of the Christian life. Salvation should produce good works. Spirituality should produce good works. Good works do not produce faith—but faith produces good works.
Faith That Can Be Seen
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? James 2:14
The answer is yes before God—but not before people. James is not talking about your salvation before God. He’s talking about showing your salvation to people—living it in front of them.
If a brother or sister is naked and without daily food, and you say, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you don’t provide what they need—what profit is that? Faith without corresponding actions is dead. You cannot show people your faith without showing them your works. But you can show your faith by your works.
James 2:19 says, “Even the demons believe—and tremble!” Demons believe there is one God. They can’t be saved, but they know God is real. So what makes your faith stand out? It’s when your faith turns into action—when it reaches out to people.
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” James 2:21
Abraham was justified by faith before God years earlier. But when he offered Isaac, he displayed obedience in front of other people. Faith worked together with works, and faith was made perfect—not in front of God, but in front of people.
“Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way?” James 2:25
Rahab had faith long before the spies showed up, but she displayed her faith by her actions when she received them and sent them out another way.
“For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” James 2:26
Your spirit is alive, but God gave you a body to touch the natural world—eyes, ears, hands, and feet—so you can walk out good works in front of people.
Good Works Must Be Visible
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Good works are not to be hidden. The purpose is not to glorify you—but that they glorify God. Good works become your defense in a world filled with evil. 1 Peter 2:12 says, “Having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
There will come a day when the Holy Spirit visits them—when conviction comes—and they start remembering what you were like. They may have made fun of you. They may have intimidated you. But suddenly they will say, “He was right. That guy had the right type of life.” And they may come looking for you. Then you can lead them to the Lord Jesus Christ.
We should also stimulate other Christians to produce good works. Hebrews 10:24, “Consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works.” A good work is one Jesus would do—and it ends up giving glory to God.
The Goal: Disciples Who Win Souls
God’s goal for you is not just to get saved—it’s to become a disciple. If God’s goal was only salvation, He would have taken you out the moment you got saved. But He left you here for a reason: to grow up, mature, and bring others to Jesus Christ. A disciple takes other people with him.
Good works don’t save you. They show what saved you. The Word of God produces maturity. Maturity produces good works. Good works make the gospel visible. And when the gospel becomes visible, people want what you have. Build your life on the rock. Keep hearing the Word. Keep doing the Word. Let the Holy Spirit prompt your actions. Let your light shine.
And let the world see this thing on the inside of you is genuine.
