Go back
The Faith of the Centurion

The Faith of the Centurion

Spirituality


In Matthew 8:5-13, a Centurion came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his very sick servant. Jesus was going to go to the Centurion's home, but the Centurion said that he wasn't worthy of that, and that he knew if Jesus just said the word, his servant would be healed.

Jesus was "impressed" by this man's "great faith", and told him to go home, for the servant is healed.

Moral of story: The Centurion did nothing, except show great faith, and Jesus was impressed. NO works, just "faith".

Jesus wants us to have faith in Him.


More geeing oneself up by insisting that followers of Jesus are not obligated to obey his commandments or do good works or demonstrate that their faith is not "dead".


@fmf said
More geeing oneself up by insisting that followers of Jesus are not obligated to obey his commandments or do good works or demonstrate that their faith is not "dead".
What did the Centurion do, except show great faith.

Would you care to comment about the OP?
Or would you rather continue with assumed accusations.


@chaney3 said
Would you care to comment about the OP?
I have.


@chaney3 said
The Centurion did nothing, except show great faith, and Jesus was impressed. NO works, just "faith".
48 hours ago on this very forum you were adamant that "Belief is required along with works".


@fmf said
48 hours ago on this very forum you were adamant that "Belief is required along with works".
That means it's NOT just about works.

Faith, belief, grace, etc., all play their own roles.

The Centurion, just like the thief on the cross, only needed to display their faith, and Jesus responded.

1 edit

@chaney3 said
That means it's NOT just about works.

Faith, belief, grace, etc., all play their own roles.

The Centurion, just like the thief on the cross, only needed to display their faith, and Jesus responded.
If one looks at the NT as a whole, works and obedience is surely how a Christian demonstrates "faith". Can one "walk the walk" of a Christian life based only on thinking things (i.e. belief)? If that's the ideology, then it sounds mundane and manmade. The people who believe they can Think Their Way To Heaven may be interested in The Very User-Friendly Diet.

Vote Up
Vote Down

@fmf said
If one looks at the NT as a whole, works and obedience is surely how a Christian demonstrates "faith". Can one "walk the walk" of a Christian life based only on thinking things (i.e. belief)? If that's the ideology, then it sounds mundane and manmade. The people who believe they can Think Their Way To Heaven may be interested in The Very User-Friendly Diet.
My OP refers to verses in Matthew, regarding a Centurion, right? What did he do to earn the favor of Jesus?

And yes, the NT "as a whole" demonstrates, through this story, that it's NOT all about works. Faith is part of that "whole story", and in this case, faith alone was sufficient. Actually, more than sufficient, Jesus was "very impressed"!!!


@chaney3 said
My OP refers to verses in Matthew, regarding a Centurion, right? What did he do to earn the favor of Jesus?

And yes, the NT "as a whole" demonstrates, through this story, that it's NOT all about works. Faith is part of that "whole story", and in this case, faith alone was sufficient. Actually, more than sufficient, Jesus was "very impressed"!!!
Does the story say that the centurion went to "Heaven" after he died? As you know, "faith" is meaningless without works.


@fmf said
Does the story say that the centurion went to "Heaven" after he died? As you know, "faith" is meaningless without works.
Works is meaningless without faith.
Nobody can "work" their way into Heaven.


@chaney3 said
Works is meaningless without faith.
Nobody can "work" their way into Heaven.
Do you think someone who declares they believe in Jesus - and/or his teaching - can do so without obeying his commandments and doing good works?


@chaney3 said
Works is meaningless without faith.
Nobody can "work" their way into Heaven.
Does the story say that the centurion went to "Heaven" after he died?


Vote Up
Vote Down

@fmf said
Do you think someone who declares they believe in Jesus - and/or his teaching - can do so without obeying his commandments and doing good works?
The Centurion "believed" that Jesus could heal his servant.

The Centurion "asked" Jesus for help.

Jesus was "very impressed" with his faith.

Jesus healed the servant

Nowhere in this story are we told how the Centurion conducted his life after this event, or even if he followed the teachings of Jesus after that encounter.


@chaney3 said
Nowhere in this story are we told how the Centurion conducted his life after this event, or even if he followed the teachings of Jesus after that encounter.
So, as a basis for some theology and religious ideology, it's not much use, right?