By the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the work of salvation is complete, yet not all are saved automatically. How can an individual experience salvation?
No amount of work, however good it may be, brings salvation for man. There is only one condition for salvation: that is, faith (Eph. 2:8; Acts 16:30, 31; Rom. 10:10). Remember, salvation is God's work for man, not man's work for God.
Man by birth is spiritually blind, dead, away from God and in enmity with Him, heading towards the eternal hellfire. He is incapable of doing anything good to be saved. God alone must deal with this issue. After accomplishing the work of salvation on the cross He calls upon men and women to believe in it (Jn. 3:16; Mark 16:16; Acts 8:13). An unsaved person is condemned for not believing in the gospel, because believing is the only condition for salvation (Jn. 3:18).
God condemns a sinner primarily because of his rejection of the work of salvation accomplished on the cross (2Cori. 5:14, 19). There is nothing more a man needs to do, but to believe.
However, not all faith saves. Faith is one of the most misunderstood Biblical terms. We use the word 'faith' in different context and connotations. If we are not sure about the true faith that saves us, we may be deceived.
Four different ideas: -
a. The creed.
"Faith that was once for all delivered unto the saints" Jude.v.3. cf. v.20; 2 Pet. 1:1. Here Jude and Peter both refer to the body of truth, the doctrine revealed in the Bible. Saying yes to such creed or belief will not transform anybody. It is not saving faith.
b. Intellectual belief. Jam. 2:19.
Mere mental knowledge of anything, even things concerning the Lord has no regenerative value. Many Christians are aware of the story of Christ and other Biblical truths, but that is not saving faith (Cf. Jn. 2:22; 3:12; 6:69; 8:24, 25; 1Jn. 5:20; Heb. 11:6b). That is only knowledge of a historical Christ. Even the devil has such knowledge. James emphatically says faith that does not affect our life is dead (Jam. 2:26).
c. Secular faith, John 2:23-25.
Everyone believes something or somebody in his everyday life. One believes a doctor and quietly lies before him for a surgery. A passenger believes a driver and sits in the vehicle to reach the destination. Such every day practical faith is very much temporary in nature and it has nothing to do with spiritual life or salvation.
The Lord knows the merit of such faith. That is why though they believed Him, He did not believe them. Still, many misunderstand their secular faith to be spiritual faith. As the days go by either they will show their reality or the Lord will make it public (1The. 3:2; 1Jn. 2:19; Mtt.7:22, 23).
d. Spiritual or saving faith, (Eph. 2:8; Rom. 3:22—25; 5:1).
Saving faith is the given ability to trust God's Word as true and yield fully at His disposal.th is God's gift implanted in us by the Lord (Eph. 2:8). According to the writer of Hebrews, the Lord Jesus Christ is the one who fixed faith in us and it is He who shall perfect faith in our heart (Heb. 12:1).
It is this faith that saves us. By such supernatural faith we see things that are unseen to the normal man. Faith substantiates the invisible things as true (Heb. 11:1). It is by faith we accept all what is said about the Lord Jesus Christ and accept the salvation and other blessings He offers.
Make no mistake; faith in itself is having no merit. Faith is not our effort. Salvation is not a reward for our faith. God gives it freely, but we receive it by faith (Eph. 2:8; Rom. 3:25). All the merit goes to God who accomplished the work of salvation, (Jn. 3:16, 18; 7:31; Acts 20:21; 1Jn. 5:12, 13).
For example, when someone gives a gift, receiving it by faith is not a work. Gift is not a reward for his faith, gift is always free gift. Or when someone in a sinking ship jumps to a life boat; the merit for his safety does not go to his faith in jumping but to the boat which is the object of his faith. It is the boat that takes him to safety.
Saving faith is not our doing but relying, trusting on what Christ has done (Acts 16:30, 31; Gal. 2:16; Heb. 11:6a), wholly committing upon Christ in complete dependence (Jn. 14:6; 5:24; 1Jn. 2:23).
What to believe?
# The existence of God (Heb. 11:6).
#God's promises (Jn. 5:24).
#The Son (Jn. 6:40).
# The uniqueness of Christ in saving (Acts 4:12).
# His name (Jn. 1:12).
# God's power to save (Col. 2:12) etc.
In short, believe all that the Bible says about Christ and His finished work on the cross. Believe the all-sufficiency of His saving grace. Even if little in measurement, faith is precious (2Pet. 1:11; Eph. 1:19).
Living by faith
Such trust in the finished work of Christ is needed not only for salvation, but even for our everyday life thereafter (2Cor. 5:6, 7; Heb. 10:38; Col. 1:23; 2:7; Heb. 11:1). Faith that saves us also sustains us. We must continue to trust and take God at His word. We need to grow in our faith and keep it till the end (2Tim. 4:7; Rom. 8:24). Faith is closely related to hope – trusting Christ for the work He will do in future also.
Only as we keep on trusting in His power, we can experience peace, joy and victory that salvation has brought in our life (Gal. 2:20; 5:6; Eph. 1:19). Our spiritual strength and effectiveness depend upon our continuous relationship with Christ in trusting and abiding in Him (Rom. 14:1; 2Thes. 1:3; 2Pet. 1:5 -8; 3:18; Gal. 5:6; 1Thes. 5:8; Jam. 5:18 -26 ).
G&P
