The action and fruit of true faith in a Christian is love and good deeds corresponding to this love. In Christ Jesus, says the Apostle Paul, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has power,
IS FAITH ONE ENOUGH WITHOUT LOVE AND GOOD WORKS?
For a Christian, faith alone, without love and good deeds, is not enough. Faith without love and good works is inactive and dead, and therefore cannot lead to eternal life. He who does not love his brother remains in death (1 John 3:14). What is the use, my brethren, if someone says that he has faith but has no works? can this faith save him? … As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead (James 2: 14,26).
IS LOVE AND GOOD DEEDS ENOUGH WITHOUT FAITH?
You cannot be saved by love and good deeds without faith, because it is impossible that he who does not have faith in God truly love Him. In addition, a person who has been damaged by sin cannot do truly good deeds if he does not receive spiritual strength or the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. It is impossible to please God without faith; for it is necessary that he who comes to God should believe that He is, and reward those who seek Him (Heb. 11: 6). All who are established in the works of the law are under an oath. For it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not constantly do everything that is written in the book of the law” (Gal 3:10). We expect and hope in spirit for righteousness from faith (Gal 5: 5). By grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from you, God’s gift: not
CAN THERE BE TRUE LOVE WITHOUT GOOD WORKS?
Love that is not accompanied by good deeds is false. True love naturally manifests itself in good deeds. The Lord Jesus Christ says: He who has My commandments and keeps them, he loves Me … He who loves Me, he will keep My word (John 14:21, 23). The Apostle John writes: This is love for God, to keep His commandments (1 John 5: 3). Let us love not in word or language, but in deed and truth (1 John 3:18).
WHAT IS FORBIDDEN IN THE TENTH COMMANDMENT?
The tenth commandment prohibits desires and related thoughts that are contrary to love for one’s neighbor.
WHY ARE NOT ONLY DEEDS PROHIBITED, BUT WISHES AS WELL?
Not only evil deeds are prohibited, but also unkind desires and thoughts, firstly, because when there are unkind desires and thoughts in the soul, the soul already becomes unclean before God and unworthy of Him, as Solomon says: An abomination before the Lord is the thoughts of the wicked (Prov. 15:26). And therefore it is necessary to cleanse ourselves from these internal impurities, as the apostle teaches: Let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (2 Cor. 7: 1). Secondly, because in order to prevent evil deeds, you need to suppress sinful desires and thoughts, from which, like from seeds, evil deeds grow, as it is said: From the heart come evil thoughts, murders, prely theft, perjury, blasphemy (Matt. 15:19). Everyone is tempted, carried away and deceived by his own lust. Lust, having conceived, begets sin; and the sin that has been done gives birth to death (James 1: 14-15).
WHAT PASSION IS FORBIDDEN IN THE TENTH COMMANDMENT?
When it is forbidden to desire anything belonging to the neighbor, then envy is forbidden.
WHAT THOUGHTS AND DESIRES ARE PROHIBITED BY THE TEN COMMANDMENT?
By the words: Do not covet your neighbor’s wife – voluptuous thoughts and desires, or inner prelude are forbidden.
By the words:
Do not covet your neighbor’s house, nor his field, nor his servant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor any of his livestock, nor all that is your neighbor – selfish and power-hungry thoughts and desires are prohibited.
WHAT RESPONSIBILITIES SHOULD BE FULFILLED IN ACCORDING TO THE TEN COMMANDMENT?
According to these prohibitions, the tenth commandment imposes the following duties on us: to keep the purity of the heart; be content with what God sends us.
WHAT IS ESPECIALLY NEEDED TO CLEANSE THE HEART?
Frequent and diligent invocation of the name of our Lord Jesus Christ is especially necessary for the purification of the heart.
