The Enemies of Faith Part 1

The Enemies of Faith Part 1

By Apostle Felix

16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 

Galatians 2: 16

The greatest enemy of faith is religion. It is when man, by his own works and efforts is trying to be justified by God. Religion has been the enemy of faith from the beginning. The devil, oftentimes uses religion to resist the faith of God. Jesus was resisted and opposed not by political leaders, but by religious leaders, the Pharisees and the Sadducces. The bunch of religious people were the ones who did not appreciate Jesus’ teachings and ministry. This was because His teachings were pointing men from their works to Christ. The annoyance of the religious people with Jesus Christ was because they felt Jesus was disregarding and disrespecting the law. Their fear was to witness the masses leave the works of the law and have faith in Christ.

16  Therefore said some of the Pharisees, This man is not of God, because he keepeth not the sabbath day. Others said, How can a man that is a sinner do such miracles? And there was a division among them. 

John 9: 16

Jesus had healed a blind man on the sabbath, but yet the religious people did not appreciate it because He did not keep the sabbath. Their concern was the keeping the law than seeing the demonstration of grace by faith. They wanted God to reward them according to the works of the law. Grace is by faith, while the law is by works. The teachings that are work based, frustrate the grace of God.

21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 

Galatians 2: 21

Salvation is by grace through faith, and everything we obtain from God is by grace through faith. This is the reason why, no amount of works can make God love you more. He loved you before you ever got to do anything good. It is not your good works that draws God to you. But it is His goodness that draws us to Him. His grace is an attraction. The woman caught in the very act of adultery was acquitted by Jesus not because she became a good person. She was forgiven because Jesus is good.

4  They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 

5  Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 

10  When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 

11  She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. 

John 8: 4, 5; 10, 11

The woman was brought to Jesus by the law to be condemned because she had done something that deserved death. But little did the religious people know that they had brought the woman to grace. Grace does not condemn the offender but justifies. He did not come to condemn but to save the lost. The woman was guilt before the law and the religious people. Her faith in the law called for her stoning. She had no faith of her own that could save her soul. Even if she had to plead, the law was not going to pardon her. She was already judged. But Jesus had her faith for the salvation of her life. She did not participate in all the entire process. It was Jesus who handled her case before the law and Jesus acquitted her. He forgave her and gave her the power not sin again. He said to her, ‘… go and sin no more.’ it was no longer her faith but the faith of Jesus that became her faith. It was now the faith of Jesus that justified her and gave her the power over sin. The enemy of faith is the temptation to trust in your faith to live for God. It is His faith.