Thanks for the ping, and although i have not been following this thread, being "in the faith" is like getting with the program. And to be in the Lord Jesus you must be "in" the faith, versus out of it.
What you do is an expression of what you believe, which as regards Christian faith, testifies to what is not seen.
1 John provides for assurance that one has eternal life based on characteristic attributes of a believer. And by which evidence Paul knew the Thessalonians were elect, (1Ths. 1) as they manifested "things which accompany salvation." In contrast, due to the lack of such testimony, and impenitence from things contrary to faith, Paul stood in doubt of such Corinthians.
Well, when the term *the faith* has reached the point of being a religious system as it seems to have done so in our culture and our country, this kind of message lends itself to a sort of legalism where we get out our check list of do’s and don’t’s, and if we can check off all the right boxes, we can be sure we’re in.
I guess the way the term has been used by some leaves a bad taste in my mouth.
I hate to say that about how someone uses Scripture, but I think that verse, used alone, doesn’t carry the same meaning as in context.
Which is also expressed by James dealing with dead faith.
“1 John provides for assurance that one has eternal life based on characteristic attributes of a believer. And by which evidence Paul knew the Thessalonians were elect, (1Ths. 1) as they manifested “things which accompany salvation.” In contrast, due to the lack of such testimony, and impenitence from things contrary to faith, Paul stood in doubt of such Corinthians.”
I would add though that the emphasis is on the quality of the faith which produces works, and can never be on the quantity of the works, or even on the quantity of sins. Paul was a good example of this himself when he attested in Romans 7 to the sin committed by his flesh, and the war between the flesh and his spiritual mind. Suppose some holy roller got around to Paul and used that as evidence that Paul was not showing the fruits of the spirit? Yet, Paul himself was the very definition of the Elect, literally plucked by Christ off the road to Damascus as we all are by His Spirit. So the quantity of works must not be focused on, but on the quality of the faith which despairs over itself and trusts in the righteousness of Christ.
I’ll also add that it has been my experience that some of the “holiest” sounding people, and the biggest legalists mind you, have also been the worst secret reprobates, destined to be swallowed up by hell. The devil often represents himself as an angel of light for to deceive the faithful.