When reason ends, Faith begins

I attended my first official dgroup tonight. (Last week was a celebration, this week we were down to business of studying THE book). At a few minutes after 6pm I was already on my way to the elevator and was really excited to catch a bus going to CCF. (Yes, I am on high again in wanting to get to know the lover of my soul more--just wish it stays that way forever!!!) By 7pm I was already walking towards Megamall Bldg B. I thought to drop by the supermarket first to grab a bag of chips to share to the group and get a dinner for myself. I left Megamall with Jamaican Pattie, two bags of chips, a juice drink and my all time favorite mints: Mentos. :)

So armed with food, my bible clasp in my arms, my joyous spirit and teachable heart, I walked towards St. Francis Square ready to dig deep into the word and take away wisdom. Ate Rona texted this morning that we are studying James. (Actually they have been studying James, it seems, I just found out that morning what it was.. Hehehe.. Ate Rona included me again in her regular text blast since I told her I am definitely coming this Friday)

When I entered our usual room at the third floor, just a handful of girls were there. Some are running late. I arrived just in time to eat my dinner and catch up with the latest news on each other. A few minutes later, we started. Then the fun began. :)

I just want to share that I learned a lot on my first session with my dgroup this year. I am so glad I am in this particular Firday night discussion. I just can't go to sleep without documenting the highlights of this night:

- We were reading James 2:1-13. A topic on favoritism. But on a broader light, it is about Faith

- Then we launched into a little debate about the formula on salvation. Our church firmly believes that Faith + Nothing = Salvation. But the formula does not end there. As a by product of being saved, you are expected to do good works. But doing good works alone will not save you. Check on this verse:

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves,
it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
- Ephesians 2:8-9

Being a christian for almost eight years, I've never doubted that there is only one way in getting into heaven - through the lover of my soul: Jesus Christ. Once you have fully accepted the fact that we are all sinners but are washed clean by the blood of Our Lord, we are saved. Simple? No. It does not end there. Living a life of a christian is not hard. It is impossible. Man's human nature is to be tempted and to fall into sin. It is by God's grace alone that we are saved. And once we have fully and completely committed our lives to Christ, it is then that we are expected to start living according to His words. This is where doing good works come in.

This does not follow that as long as you say you believe and accepted Christ as your savior but refuse to do good works you are saved anyway. It simply does not follow that a true repentant born again will not do good works because if you truly surrender your life to Him, you will be overcome with so much love that you have no choice but to simply give it away.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds?
Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,"
but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
-James 2:14-17

- One of our sisters raised a concern on that, she still can't accept the fact that Salvation = Faith + Nothing. In her eyes, it will always be Salvation = Faith + Good works. We put in some time discussing on this. Everyone threw in their views, beliefs accompanied by bible verses. But in the end, we can't convince her. Though we were a little worried on this, I simply admired how she defended what she believes. Made me check myself if I was the one being challenged with my Faith, will I respond with the same conviction that she did?

- That made way for more challenging questions and discussions. And I am so blessed to hear my sisters throw an explanation back and forth. At first I was silent as I listened and wrote down notes (yes, I was recording most of what they were saying, I wanted to remember all of it!) then towards the end, I heard myself defending my Faith too.

- One of the questions that arise is... "What about the case of a Robin Hood? Meaning what if one person is super generous to everyone else like Robin Hood, he steals from the wealthy but gives it all away?" Answer: Our sovereign King is Holy and will never put Himself down to a lower standard. The end does not justify the means.

For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, "Do not commit adultery," also said,
"Do not murder." If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder,
you have become a lawbreaker.
-James 2:10-11

It was definitely a long and healthy discussion and I wish I could really write everything here but this blog is long enough. :) The night ended with me having the fire burning again. I'd like to compare what I felt to a newly born vampire - with unquenchable thirst for more knowledge about the lover of my soul.

This also left me with a great realization that truly, Faith begins where reason ends. I remember back in college a philosopher by the name of Sigmund Freud argued that the existence of God is just a creation of a man's mind driven by his psychological and emotional needs and wants. Someone very famous and influential today is saying the same thing. Have you heard of Oprah? She said, (I watched it in youtube) that man created god. I respect that everyone has their own minds and some smarter than others. I'd say most of the atheist that walks on this earth are probably geniuses who just have the answer to everything.

I thank God for giving me the mind that I have, I thank God that I am not intellectual enough to even question His very existence. I am just content as I am, with the knowledge that I have a loving savior who has saved me from eternal death.

Faith is to believe in something that we don't see.
And the reward for that Faith is to something that we believe.

** If you have questions that arise from reading this blog, you can ask me and I'll try to answer you with the limited knowledge that I have. I am still learning everyday. But you can start here, please go and visit this site  or join us every Sunday at St. Francis Square in Ortigas.