Yes, Faithfulness Is Required

It is certainly true that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8) but it is also true that something is required of us.  One such thing is faithfulness.

 

Jesus in the parable of the talents commended two of the servants in these words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servants,” then by way of contrast He said to a third servant, “thou wicked and slothful servant.”  This third servant then was cast into outer darkness. (Matthew 25:15-30)  Jesus offered no middle ground—either “good and faithful” or “wicked and slothful.”

Paul in his letter to the church at Corinth wrote:  “It is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2)  We might ask, “faithful in what?”  In whatever our Lord asks:  morals, business, family, worship, etc.  In the message to the church at Smyrna, Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.” (Revelations 2:10)  These passages leave little doubt—faithfulness is not optional.

Robert Shank in his book, Life In The Son, entitled the second chapter:  “The High Cost of a Free Gift” and it is certainly true that our salvation comes at a high cost.  There is the divine cost—it cost God the gift of His son, it cost Jesus His blood.  But there is also the human cost—it costs our faithfulness.  As we said at the outset, salvation is by grace through faith.  But we must also remember that there is no “cheap grace.”  FAITHFULNESS IS REQUIRED.

Claude