Biblical Faith is: "Trust and Obey"

This started out as a reply to Taylor in the "Thick as a Brick" post, but I got a little long for a haloscan post. Have a good weekend ya’ll.

Taylor,

There is a theme I see throughout scripture it is simply: obey.

We are to have faith and we are to put that faith into action. Sometimes that means abstaining from things. More often it means doing things in service to God. A legalist will come up with a list of do’s and don’ts to ensure salvation. Mostly it’s full of don’ts and very short on doing. It is a religion of his own making.

"If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles of the world, why, as if you were living in the world, do you submit yourself to decrees, such as, "Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!" (which all refer to things destined to perish with the using) — in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men? These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence."
Col 2:20-23

Living by faith is a combination of believing in salvation through Jesus and obeying Him according to His Word.

"If you love Me, you will keep My commandments."
John 14:15

“Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him, and make Our abode with him. "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me”
John 14:23-24

Who are we to obey and what are we to do, is it men or is it God? Jesus proclaims we are to obey Him and keep his commandments. What is it He is looking for?

"Then the King will say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 'For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.' "Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You drink? And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 'And when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?' "And the King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'"
Matt 25:34-41

Faith in Christ is a faith of works and not just a belief professed with lip service (James). The path to salvation isn’t through a doctrine of men it is through faith and obedience to the Gospel of Christ. The old hymn sums it up this way: “trust and obey, for there is no other way”.

"For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner? Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right."
1 Peter 4:17-19