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Faith
The word faith, as used in the Bible and particularly in the New Testament, is tantamount (equivalent) to the word believe. In fact when it applies to the doctrine of salvation, there is no difference between the two words. The primary Greek words, all akin to each other, used in the New Testament and which are translated in various tenses of faith or believe, are pistis, pistos and pisteuo.
The primary meaning of both faith and believe within the Bible is a firm persuasion, conviction or confidence. It is an action that is activated within a person’s will (the faculty of conscious and deliberate action), which is one distinct aspect of the image of God that is embodied within every individual. In other words, to place faith in or to believe in a person or thing, according to God’s Word, is more than mere mental assent to a listing of facts regarding that person or thing. It is a genuine and willful act of placing one’s full confidence or trust in that person or thing for a particular reason.
Various forms of the words faith and believe are used approximately 485 times in the New Testament. In relation to the concept of salvation, i.e. granting of eternal life to an individual, there are approximately 150 applications of these words used exclusively as the means of personally apprehending (receiving) the salvation state.
It is unfortunate that religion, which is the antithesis (exact opposite) of Christianity, misses the truth of faith as evidenced throughout the Bible. Whereas the Church (Body of Christ) initially started out strong in faith, over time and due to the pride within man, it degraded to a system of works as the means of achieving the approbation (approval) of God. By the 16th Century the established (Roman Catholic) church, taught only works (self-effort of man) as a means of achieving salvation. Because of this, God brought forth German monk Martin Luther (1483-1546), who was awakened to the truth of faith by Habakkuk 2:4 and various other scriptures, to give rise to the Reformation.
The Reformation began on October 31, 1517, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to the church door in Wittenberg, Germany. This initiated a great revival of Christianity in world history, which reestablished four pillars of Bible doctrine—(1) Christ alone, (2) the Bible alone, (3) Faith alone and (4) Grace alone—all apart from “works.” Luther led the world in its break for freedom at the end of the Dark Ages. When summoned to appear before the Emperor at the Diet of Worms to answer for his writings: Luther gave this timeless reply, “I cannot submit my faith either to the Pope or to the Councils; because it is clear as day they have frequently erred and contradicted each other. Unless therefore, I am convinced by the testimony of Scripture . . . I cannot and will not retract . . . Here I stand, I can do no other. So help me God, Amen.”
Salvation by Faith
Only by faith alone can a person receive eternal life. Only by faith alone can a person be united with Jesus Christ. Only by faith alone can one be saved from the terrible fate of the lake of fire. Only by faith alone can a person be redeemed and justified in the sight of God. A person is “born again” only by faith and nothing, I repeat, nothing else. Without faith there can be no spiritual beginning, so faith is absolutely the only essential element in apprehending God’s life of grace. This is confirmed over and over again throughout the Word of God. Examine the following scriptures. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God . . . (John 1:12, 13)
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. (John 3:14-18)
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:31)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him. (John 3:36)
I tell you the truth, whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent Me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. (John 5:24)
Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” (John 6:28, 29)
I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life. (John 6:47)
On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice. “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.” (John 7:37, 38)
I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the One I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins. (John 8:24)
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes, Lord,” she told Him. “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.” (John 11:25-27)
I have come into the world as a Light, so that no one who believes in Me should stay in darkness. (John 12:46)
Then Jesus told him, “Because you have seen Me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” Jesus did many other miraculous sings in the presence of His disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in His name. (John 20:29-31)
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” (Acts 16:29-31)
Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number. (Acts 5:14)
All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name. (Acts 10:43)
“So if God gave them the same gift as He gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?” When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” (Acts 11:17, 18)
Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through Him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the Law of Moses. (Acts 13:38, 39)
On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. (Acts 14:27)
Crispus, the synagogue ruler, and his entire household believed in the Lord; and many of the Corinthians who heard him believed and were baptized. (Acts 18:7)
I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance [a change of mind or turning from believing in salvation by any other means] and have faith in our Lord Jesus. (Acts 20:21)
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me. (Acts 26:17, 18)
But now righteousness from God apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood. He did this to demonstrate His justice, because in His forbearance He had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—He did it to demonstrate His justice at the present time, so as to be just and the One who justifies those who have faith in Jesus. Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. On what principle? On that of observing the law? No, but on that of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law. (Romans 3:21-28)
. . . know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:16)
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13, 14)
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8, 9)
Of course what one believes or places his faith in is critical. One must truly understand that he can in no way through self-efforts (good works) obtain God’s approval and salvation. He must understand that only God incarnate (God in flesh) could do this for him—Jesus Christ upon the cross took upon Himself and paid the penalty-price for his sins, as his substitute. Christ died both spiritually (became separated from God the Father) and physically on the cross, but after three days in the grave He restored His own life and rose from the grave. The only means by which a person may apprehend salvation is by making a genuine decision to totally trust in or rely upon (place one’s full confidence in) the Person and sacrifice of Jesus Christ for his personal salvation. This is a one-time and permanent event, never to be retracted by God or man.
“Being saved” is not “confessing your sins” to God. If that were so then which sins would you confess? Would you even know all your sins? How long would it take for you to name them? If anything, the acknowledgement that you are a sinner is all that must precede salvation. This comes by the convicting power of the Holy Spirit, who then through “Godly sorrow” brings you to Biblical repentance, i.e., the willingness to “change your mind” from any other means of achieving eternal life and “turning” only to Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Eternal life – the salvation of your soul – is achieved by faith alone in Christ alone. Eternal life is based solely on the atoning, redeeming and reconciling sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary, whereupon in your place He took your sins, became your sins, and died both physically and spiritually in order to pay the price required of a just God for your sins.
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:21)
He suffered the punishment for sin that was your due. Having done this, Jesus Christ conquered sin and the grave by rising from the dead on the third day and ascended to the right hand of God the Father where He now makes intercession for you, and not only for you but for all mankind (Romans 8:34).
If you will turn from any attempt to work your way into heaven, i.e., any self-effort, or works, or church rituals, etc., and by faith alone accept Christ alone for your personal salvation (this is “Biblical repentance”), He will instantly and permanently save you.
Sanctification by Faith
During our Christian life upon earth we will always be plagued by the sin nature that we inherited from Adam, only to be relieved of this plague when we receive our resurrected body. Within our genetic makeup, the sin nature continues to tempt us to sin. It cannot make us sin, but it can tempt us. When we volitionally choose to follow its influence, we then sin and enter into a state of “carnality.” Our choice makes us responsible for our sins. We sin in a number of different ways, e.g., mental attitudes, the spoken word and in overt acts (Proverbs 8:13; Mark 7:21-23; 1 John 2:11).
What is most unfortunate is that our sin nature is capable of producing “human good,” i.e., what appears to be “good works”—but not good to God. It is “divine good” that alone is pleasing to God. Satan actively attempts to sidetrack Christians into “religion” or some form of “legalism;” thereby convincing them that they are good Christians because they are doing good deeds. Human good, which includes charity, altruism, philanthropy, is helpful to mankind; but it has no value to God. Unless a Christian produces “divine good” which stems from the principle of faith and the resulting motivation of the Holy Spirit, he will gain no spiritual value before God.
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts [human good] are like filthy rags . . . (Isaiah 64:6)
If any man builds on this foundation [Jesus Christ] using gold, silver, costly stones [divine good], wood, hay or straw [human good], his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward. If it is burned up, he will suffer loss; he himself will be saved, but only as one escaping through the flames. (1 Corinthians 3:12-15)
After we are saved, Satan will always lead us toward “religion” and “legalism.” Satan is eager to encourage us in this direction, because this direction takes us away from the principle of faith, which is the basis for the control (fullness) of the Holy Spirit in our lives and the production of “divine good.” He will surely move in and convince us that it is “up to us” to keep the various laws outlined in God’s Word, and some that are not. We are quick to adopt various and sundry personal “convictions,” i.e., don’t do this, don’t wear that, don’t go there, don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t, no, never, ad infinitum and ad nauseam.
Then there are the “must do” items, e.g., giving of money a certain way, attending every church service, praying in a certain manner, mimicking the antics of others we deem “spiritual,” etc. And without realizing it, we soon find we become judgmental of all others who fail to pattern our “dos and don’ts.” We drift ever so deeper into legalism, prioritizing minor issues and minimizing God’s priority issues, e.g., love of God and fellow Christians and keeping focused on Christ and bringing others to Him. We give because we are “expected” to do so. We attend church “to be seen.” We dress a certain way because of the “opinion of others.” We use phraseology such as “Amen,” “Praise the Lord,” “God willing,” etc. because we believe this will convey to others our “spirituality.” We substitute emotionalism (feeling good) for true spirituality, which is the acceptance and application to our lives of Biblical doctrine by faith alone.
The truth is that while residing in “legalism,” our entire behavior is motivated by our sin nature. We are only doing “human good,” and this gains us nothing spiritually. It’s not that many of the actions or inclinations mentioned in the previous paragraph are wrong in themselves, but God looks at the heart, i.e., your motivation. If your motivation is not influenced by the Holy Spirit, who is enabled to influence by way of faith, you cannot produce “divine good.” And “human good” will eventually rob you of the joy of your salvation and lead you into despair and, with some, a turning away from God. If this happens you will not lose your salvation, but you will exist in a life of misery and you will be under the disciplinary hand of God the Father until He either brings you back to Him or takes you out of this world.
Why do we so easily drift toward legalism? In addition to not applying the principle of faith, it is because we are lazy in learning Bible doctrine. We spend very little time actually studying the Word of God. The principle of faith is the engine, but the Word of God is the fuel. By faith we apply what we know. Without knowing Bible doctrine, our faith has little to apply to our Christian way of life. As we confront various issues and difficulties in life, without the understanding and application of Bible doctrine (truth), we will not understand how to act. The Word of God has countless promises and truths that God would have us know and believe. These we must take and make our own so that we will be able to properly exercise faith. Faith must be anchored in Bible doctrine. God has given us the written Word, which is able to intimately acquaint us with the Living Word even beyond that which was available to the original disciples when they walked with Him. Yet, we often do not take advantage of it.
Many churches place so little emphasis on learning Bible doctrine. Messages from the pulpits have the objective of creating emotionalism among the listeners, i.e., making the congregation “feel good.” There is little depth or “meat” being provided to Christians from Sunday school classes or the pulpits in this age. This must change. If we live properly by the principle of faith, we will hunger to study God’s Word. If we truly study God’s Word, we will learn doctrine that we will be able to claim by faith and our exercise of faith will be in truth. God has given us His promises in writing – promises we can take by faith and use, which will stabilize us and insure success in our earthly Christian journey.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every [divine] good work. (2 Timothy 3:16, 17)
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth [Bible doctrine]. (2 Timothy 2:15)
How can we combat Satan and his hordes? How can we be assured that we will fulfill our ambassadorship for Jesus Christ? How can we know spiritual success? The answer is in the principle of faith and the consumption of Bible doctrine.
With faith we start the Christian life, and it is by faith we must live the Christian life if we are to do any spiritual (divine) good, for which later we will be rewarded. This principle for living the Christian life, i.e., by faith and not by works, is seen in the following Scriptures.
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord [by faith alone], continue [by faith alone] to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6, 7)
Yet to all who received Him [Christ Jesus], to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God – children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. (John 1:12, 13)
You didn’t receive Christ through a system of works or some religious ritual. You didn’t receive Him by attending church, being baptized or confessing to some minister or priest. No! The only way you could receive Christ Jesus was to turn from all self-effort and systems of works by exercising faith alone in Christ alone for your personal, eternal salvation. It was by utilizing the “principle of faith” and nothing more.
And in order for you to “live in Him,” i.e., live the spiritual life, you need only exercise the same kind of faith that saved you. This is the only spiritual “work” that God will recognize and honor. Just as you received your personal salvation by faith alone Christ alone, you now need to claim by faith alone the truths and promises of God’s Word for your personal spiritual life. Do you still think it is up to you to do the works of God? Then here is the “work of God:”
Then they asked Him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent.” (John 6:28, 29)
It’s not how much you give to the church. It’s not how much you agonize in prayer. It’s not how many times you visit the sick. It’s not how often you enter the church’s doors. It’s not about giving up strong drink, tobacco, movies, TV or driving on Sunday. It’s not how many times you can repeat “amen” during the minister’s sermon or raising you hands in a church service. NO! A spiritual life does not emanate from or is necessarily evidenced by these actions. Some of these may be your lot once you are living properly by faith in Christ; and, maybe not. The point is that simply doing “works” to please God will not get the job done. He only recognizes the principle of faith. Once you start living by faith, and provided there is no “known sins” in your life (more on this later), the Holy Spirit is then free to fill (control) you and “divine good” will be the result. Only then will you have the kind of works the Apostle James speaks of when he said, I will show you my faith by my works. (James 2:18) Those who rush to this verse to validate their legalism never seem to understand the opening verses of this epistle, which say, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.” (James 1:5-8) Only the works that emanate from doing the “work of God” (exercising faith in God’s promises and truths) are the type of works (divine good) that will count with God.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)
Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalms 37:4-6)
Yet he [Abraham] did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He had promised. (Romans 4:20, 21)
Over and over again throughout the Word of God the principle of faith is presented to us as the only means whereby we can please God. Faith alone can bring us to Christ, and faith alone will permit us to live properly in Him. To understand how God can work through us by faith alone, we need stop “our works” and “wait” (another term of faith in the Old Testament) upon the Lord.
They that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
In the NIV version of the Bible it is expressed as “they that hope in the Lord,” but it means the same, i.e., to trust in the Lord for the work at hand, for only He is capable of doing what is right and (divinely) good.
Space does not permit but should you have any doubts that faith is the key, go to the book of Hebrews and read chapter 11. Note that this entire chapter strongly emphasizes the principle of faith, over some odd 20 times. It establishes that the mighty men and women of God that we have read about in the Bible could only do acts that were pleasing to God by utilizing one principle – the principle of faith. The key verse to this chapter and probably to the entire book of Hebrews follows.
And without faith it is impossible to please God . . . (Hebrews 11:6)
The Bible teaches that there is only one way whereby we may be saved – by faith. It further teaches that there is only one way we may live the spiritual life – by faith. You say that the Bible teaches that we are to be “filled” with the Holy Spirit in order to live the spiritual life. You are correct; for it is “Christ living through us” by means of the Holy Spirit that divine good is accomplished. The word “fill” or “full” as used in regards to the Holy Spirit within us only means “control.” It’s not like we have part of the Holy Spirit sometimes, and more of Him at other times. At our salvation experience the Holy Spirit indwells us and seals us. At that moment we were “full” of (controlled by) Him. But in time and because of our spiritual immaturity (due to lack of Bible doctrine resident within our mind) we fail to exercise faith and we choose to sin and thereby “quench” (limit the control of) the Holy Spirit.
So how do we turn it around and maintain the fullness of the Holy Spirit in our lives? The steps are simple, yet quite profound.
First, we must confess (acknowledge) any “known sins” in our life, i.e., admit to God and take responsibility for the sins we know we have committed. By doing so, God will automatically forgive us our known sins and; in addition, the sins that we are unaware or have forgotten within our life. He then automatically restores within us the “fullness” (control) of the Spirit of God.
If we confess our [known] sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our [known] sins and purify us from all unrighteousness [unknown and forgotten sins]. (1 John 1:9)
Second, we must accept by faith alone God’s promise that we are filled with (controlled by) the Holy Spirit and that Christ is not only able but will live through us by means of the Holy Spirit. Accept this as matter of fact. Don’t trust your feelings for you may or may not have feelings in the matter. Simply trust God’s promise – His Word. Continue to study God’s Word, so that you will have no end of truth (Bible doctrine) in which to place and by which to exercise your faith. Make this a daily event. You will then see how God directs your life. Don’t get ahead of Him. Don’t attempt to lead or direct Him. By faith alone allow God to do the work through you.
. . . for the battle is the LORD's . . . (1 Samuel 17:47)
Delight yourself in the LORD and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. (Psalms 37:4-6)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)
Though he slay me, yet will I trust him . . . (Job 13:15)
For nothing is impossible with God. (Luke 1:37)
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5, 6)
If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. (Colossians 2:6, 7)
If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
For we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
ALWAYS REMEMBER:
The just shall live by faith
(Habakkuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38) |