The Faith That Saves
Eph. 4:5 - "One Lord, one faith, one baptism."
1. Definition Of Faith:
A. Heb. 11:1, "Now faith is the substance (Assurance) of things hoped for, the evidence (conviction) of things not seen. Faith is derived from "Sub Stare," and literally means "to stand under." It is a firm foundation upon which we build for eternity.
B. "Faith" is also used for the doctrine in the Gospel. Gal.1:23. "But they heard only, that he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith (Gospel!) which once he destroyed. This is the "One faith."
2. How Do We Receive Faith?
A. Acts 15:7, .". . . Peter rose up and said unto them, Men and Brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the Gospel and believe."
B. Rom. 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
C. Note: Faith does not come mysteriously; nor is it one's "Conscience." It is not a "Feeling!" One must hear God's word in order to have faith. John said: "These are written that ye might believe . . ." John 20:31.
D. To say; "I believe," obligates me to find God's word for what I believe!
E. My "Opinion" is not my "Faith!"
3. It Is Said Of Those Who Have No Faith:
A. Mark 16:6, "He that believeth not shall be damned."
B. John 3:18, "He that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
C. John 3:36, "He that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
D. Note: He that believeth not is "Condemned," "Damned" and "Shall not see Life." Surely, Dear Reader, you'll want to believe!
4. What Does Faith Do?
A. It "Purifies the heart," Acts 15:9, "And put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith."
B. Make us "Heirs of God," Rom. 8:17, "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
C. Brings salvation to us, Acts 16:31, "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house."
D. Help us overcome the world, I John 2:14, "I have written unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." I John 5 :4, "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
5. Degrees Of Faith:
A. LITTLE: Matt. 6:30, "0 ye be of little faith."
B. WEAK: Rom. 14:1, "Him that is Weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations."
C. DEAD: James 2:17, "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone.
D. GREAT: Matt. 8:10, ". . . Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, Not in Israel."
E. STRONG: Heb. 11:11t12, "Through faith also. Sara received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age ..."
F. PERFECT: Heb. 11:8-19, Read these verses and then compare James 2:22, "Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by Works was FAITH made perfect."
G. Note: "Little, dead or weak" faith cannot save. It must be a "Strong, Great, Perfect" faith! Such was the faith of Abraham. He is the "Father" of the faithful.
6. Is One Saved The Moment One Believes?
A. Heb. 11:6, ". . . He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
B. Rom. 13:11, "And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed."
C. Gal. 5:6, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but FAITH which WORKETH by love."
D. Note: One must believe before he can come to God. But one may not be saved without coming to God, hence one is not saved at the point of faith only. Paul declared "Our salvation nearer than when we believed" and also that our FAITH must WORK before it avails.
E. If One Were Saved The Moment He Believes, Then He Would Be Saved Without:
1. Love: Surely one must believe in God before one can love Him!
2. Repentance: One must believe before it is possible to repent, Acts 2:38, but without repentance there is no salvation, Luke 13, 3 and 5.
7. Salvation By Grace Through Faith:
A. Eph. 2:8-9, "For by grace are ye saved through faith and that (grace) not of yourselves: It is the gift of God: Not works, lest any man should boast."
B. NOAH: was saved by grace (grace gave Noah directions to build the ark), through faith (faith obeyed commands of grace), when he did what God in his grace commanded him to do! Was Noah saved by "faith only?" Noah knew that he had to do what God said or he would drown with the rest of the wicked!
C. GRACE: is God's part. He has told us what to do to be saved just as he told Noah what to do to be saved. Mark 16:16, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
D. FAITH: is our part. Our faith will lead us to obey as it did Noah. If Noah was saved by faith alone, then we might expect to be saved by faith only. But when Noah believed, he obeyed. When we believe, we must obey.
(See SAVES, Page 11)
8. When Does Faith Save?
A. When it works! When it leads one to "Come" to Christ! When it obeys! Heb. 5:9, "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that OBEY him."
9. Example Of Salvation By Grace Through Faith:
A. EUNUCH: Acts 8:26t39, He "heard" the word of God which produced his FAITH. His FAITH led him to OBEDIENCE, and he was baptized. Being THEN SAVED BY GRACE THROUGH FAITH, HE WENT ON HIS WAY REJOICING.