Luke 7
Often, when we talk about how in our church, we carry out baptism, foot washing, Holy Communion and observe the Sabbath among many other teachings from the Bible, we are questioned, sometimes even rebuked for not having faith and by relying on works to be saved.
Many quote Romans 10:9 – that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved – to prove that one needs only to confess with their lips to be saved. Anything more is considered ‘works’ which demonstrates the lack of our faith and cannot save.
Yet, is that so?
In our chapter for today, without trying to use our own logic, reasoning and persuasion, let us see what Jesus Himself says about faith and what it has to do with salvation.
Bible Passage: Luke 7
In this chapter, Jesus talks about faith for the first time (in the book of Luke) in reference to the centurion of Capernaum. His faith was so great that Jesus marvelled at it and said that He had not found such great faith even in Israel.
Although you may say that the centurion’s faith was shown through his words, it was also through his actions of speaking to the Jewish leaders and not requiring that Jesus enter his house that his faith was manifested. Jesus then did as he requested and believed.
More clearly described in the same chapter, is the incident of the sinful woman. Before, we look at the incident in detail, let us see the verdict of Jesus, which is also the end of the chapter.
[…] “Your faith has saved you. Go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)
Clearly, faith enables one to be saved. This, we do not deny. However, what is the kind of faith that enables us to be saved? Is it really just faith we confess with our lips?
Elder James tells us clearly that faith without works is dead and that this kind of faith cannot save. While we carry out all these so-called ‘works’, we firmly believe they cannot save us unless there was first salvation grace through the death of Jesus on the cross.
As Paul says in Ephesians,
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, (Eph 2:8)
The sinful woman, whom Jesus pronounced saved by the end of the chapter is a good example of how one’s faith is shown via actions resulting in forgiveness of sins and salvation.
Did you hear her utter a single word throughout the whole incident? Did she ‘confess with [her] mouth’? Nevertheless, through her actions, she showed her faith in the love and power of Jesus.
Today, when we talk about how we are saved by grace through faith, remember this sinful woman who did not utter a single word but through her actions of faith, received salvation grace.
3 Comments
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In the last passage about a sinful woman forgiven, is the pharisee called Simon or is the Simon referring to Simon Peter? I am confused about this. Because in v 36, Jesus went to the pharisee’s house.. Then in v44, Jesus said to Simon, I entered your house..
biblereadingcompanion
The Pharisee is called Simon and does not refer to Peter.
You can see this from verses 39-40 when this Pharisee saw the woman’s actions and then Jesus called him Simon to explain what was happening.
PS
In story of the centurion (Luke 7:1-10), the motivation for him to trust Jesus was thath he wanted his dear servant to be healed. He had an urgent problem which he was helpless to solve.
In the story of the sinful woman, it was not recorded that she was sick, she is termed “a sinner” (Luke 7:37). The pharisses also called her “a sinner”(Luke 7:39). She might have heard of the story of the paralytic recorded in Luke 5:18-24. She might have also heard other stories too. More importantly, from the story of the paralytic, she must have heard that Lord Jesus could forgive sins. She came and cried bitterly at the feet of Lord Jesus bec she wanted her sins to be forgiven by the Son of God.
She came not for the healing of a physical illnes. She came solely for the forgiveness of sins, removal of shame and healing of her broken heart.
A nameless woman who lived 2000 years ago left an example for us to esteem the forgiveness of our sins.
Thank God that our sins (Rom 5:12 and Titus 2:12) are forgiven at baptism.
“Your sins are forgiven”, we don’t heard them verbally now, we experienced these beautiful words!