Sin is an overwhelming reality across the world, permeating every aspect of human life with deception so thorough that many are unaware of their actions. Amidst this pervasive sin, overcoming it remains a deeply personal challenge, as each individual must confront their flawed character and strive to stop sinning. This effort, however, can only be achieved through a close relationship with God, who provides the enabling power to overcome. The question arises: what must one do to address the sinfulness within? This implies activity, a willingness to expend energy and work to halt sin in one's life. God's Word appeals to the disciple to keep His commandments, which is itself a form of work. Despite objections from the world that works are not required for salvation, God's Word commands the doing of works, stating that we will be judged or rewarded according to them. Faith itself is identified as a work, alongside repentance and producing fruit, all of which are spiritual labors essential to the process of accessing God. These works, though, do not earn justification, as both justification and sanctification are freely given by God's grace. While justification imputes Christ's righteousness to us without our works, sanctification involves our active effort, requiring sacrifice, striving, and labor to conquer sin and become fit to dwell in God's Kingdom.

Faith is a spiritual work, foundational to all spiritual works connected to the true God. It is active, something we do, as it involves believing in Him whom God sent. Living by faith means trusting God even when complete answers or full information are lacking. This trust requires setting our will to obey what we do know, ensuring safety in our decisions despite unclear circumstances. Such obedience, even without perfect clarity, always pays off in making life profitable, aligning with the pursuit of gain in our endeavors. Choosing to obey God, even when in a quandary, is not the same as doing nothing; it is an active expression of faith, a work that undergirds all spiritual efforts.

Faith is itself a work, as Jesus emphasizes that godly work for the individual lies in believing in Him as the Messiah. Labor is involved in faith because living faith requires activity to be genuine. Faith without works is dead, and such faith is, in reality, not faith at all. Merely believing or agreeing with God is of itself no better than being dead, for dead things produce nothing since nothing is working to create results. If a person only agrees, he merely has a preference, and his works will be at best inconsistent and sporadic. However, if a person has living faith, his belief will be a conviction, and works will inevitably follow.