Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The question that has puzzled so many minds. Many reasonable arguments can be made for both cases. The egg first, because that is how the chicken was born. Chicken first, because someone had to lay the egg. It is an endless cycle of which one actually came first.This whole cycle thinking happens a LOT in the world. One such example of this endless circular thinking was brought up between my companion and I; faith and works, which one comes first?
Constantly we are taught that we need faith. Faith is confidence. Faith leads us to action. As it says in James, "1Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone." A-ha, so faith before action. Right?
Well, later in that same chapter it says "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?" So, works perfect our faith.
As my companion and I pondered all of this. We kept thinking "okay, so we need faith to take action. But our actions can lead us to faith." We then thought of another scripture in James that says: "1If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." Action that helps us to have faith.
But, I would love to hear your thoughts on which came first for you. Post a comment!
5 comments:
My considered answer is....yes. :D
For me, it's faith. I have the faith to act and when I act, I gain even more faith. We have some good discussions, don't we?? (Hermana Haslam)
I agree with Hermana Haslam. Faith is the catalyst of action!
What came first? The chiken or the egg? The Bible solves this puzzeling riddle. Genesis 1:20 says that God made birds and they flew. Eggs don't fly very well except at a bad Miley Cirus(sp?) concert :) Thus, the chicken came first. Plants came before seeds also (1:11,12).
What comes first? Faith or works? The Bible answers this riddle too. The famous book of James passage gives us some clues. What comes first? Genesis 15 or Genesis 22? James quotes both these passages to make his point. In 1:23 he quotes Gen. 15:6 which speaks of Abraham's faith an in 1:21 he quotes Gen. 22:9 which speaks of Abraham's actions. So which came first? Faith came first and actions followed. This simple math is backed up by two parallel passages on Abraham's life. Romans 4:1-12 and Galatians 3:1-12.
I was at an open casket funeral the other day and was asked to help push the casket. I politely asked the dead lady if she could get out and help push this heavy thing. Imagine my dismay when she did nothing. She offered no actions to help. Why? Because she is dead. Paul the apostle uses this same picture of mankind. He said to the saved believers in Ephesus "And you He made alive who were DEAD in trespasses and sins..."(Eph. 1:1)Dead people can offer no actions: They can't swim, climb ladders etc. When God, by his grace saves the dead person, that person responds with works (Eph. 2:8-10).
What came first? The chiken or the egg? The Bible says the Chicken. What comes first? Faith or works? The Bible says faith.
Pastor James hurricaneyouth@gmail.com
They are inseperable. The seed of faith is instilled in all of us which means that every person has the potential to have strong faith, but without doing anything for it, it won't sprout.
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