Christ Promised Results

Our Lord Jesus Christ promised us, "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father" (John 14:12, NKJV). In contemporary times, the apparent failure of this promise to produce results among many self-proclaimed believers has caused the greatest crisis of faith in Christian history.

More than miracles, people are looking for the fruit of the Spirit: "love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5:22-23). In other words, people are looking for the fruit of holiness. When this fruit is absent, one must conclude either true belief is absent or the Gospel has failed. "Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them" (Matthew 7:19-20).

No wonder people are turning away from Christianity! No wonder people want to join other groups that seem to produce better results! "For 'the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of [hypocrites],' as it is written" (Romans 2:24). People want personal healing and better lives, not "adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like" (Galatians 5:19-21). Does the world know us Christians to be like Christ, doing works as great or greater than his? Or have too many of us and the institutions we have built become a scandal?

Therefore, the common assertion that Christianity's truth claims are independent from behavior is false. "By this all will know that you are [Christ's] disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:35). How we live our faith truly matters, because Christ promised results, and "faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead" (James 2:17).