You did get though, That you did, in fact, quote me out of context, right?
Just checking,
v.
God wanted Israel to believe and trust Him, so they asked the same question that Catholics ask us every time the word “believes” comes up, and that question is, “what does that word mean, to believe?” So Israel found 613 laws, that to them meant, if you were to keep them all, it would prove you believed.
Just as today, laws and regulations and doctrine don’t make you become a believer, only faith can, and only those with faith are able to read what Christ said, and believe it. All others dissect it, and do as Israel did, they develop countless laws and doctrine and traditions thinking that these will surly make them believers, but everything a man attempts to create something that will give him faith, it has the reverse and opposite effect, and destroys the faith you are trying to have..
If you were having trouble believing in God or Christ, because you haven’t the faith, remember what faith is.………….
Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Now, if what you want to have faith in, can be seen and touched, then it is not of faith, but of substance and that thing which destroys faith, and that’s the sight, and touch, and being able to use your human senses to be aware of it.
God wanted Israel to have faith, that when they were in his hands, nothing could harm them. Christ wants us to have that same faith that comes from the inner man, and when we try to qualify as having faith, by the physical works we produce, we are destroying any faith we had.
Once we have true faith in God, all the good works you do will become rewards, and will fall into place in that order, but you can’t do works to create faith, its an oxymoron, it’s putting the cart before the horse.
It's like giving God 24 hours to teach you patience.
JH :-)