daron

Q4: How, exactly, does genuine, tested faith bring glory to Jesus? The Holy Spirit guides Peter to use a great word here in the Greek noun peirasmos, "test/trial." A test does two things: It proves that the one being tested has sufficiently learned the material, and It improves the one being tested by requiring that he or she learn new material. Our tested faith brings glory to Jesus because it proves to us that he is working in us and proves to him that we are working for him; it also improves our Christian character so that we learn to be more like him.

Good works do not produce salvation. Salvation produces good works. Apples do not produce apple trees. Apple trees produce apples. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit. Apart from me you can do nothing ... This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples" (John 15:5,8).

A Christian who identifies with this world more than heaven seeks lasting fulfillment, satisfaction, and meaning from temporary turn-ons. Like the prodigal son, this Christian doesn