Saved By Faith Alone

Many sinners are under the delusion even wishful thinking that they are saved.  There is a great problem in the church of false brethren or teachers creeping in and fellowshipping with the sheep--goats. Too many preachers water down the gospel message and even dumb it down to be consumer driven and market aware because their goal is growth, not salvation. Our mission is the Great Commision, not to build mega churches for their own sake as the measure of a godly church. The greater error lies in sinners thinking they are saved more so than being saved and doubtful of their salvation or skeptical in general. 

What are we saved by?  Christ alone is the Savior!  Faith doesn't save, love doesn't save, knowledge doesn't save, good works don't save, and churches don't save.  We are saved by faith in Christ alone not by works, but not without works either but as a people zealous of good works that we are ordained to do to validate our faith. Many people deceived are saying., "Yes I love Jesus! I must be saved!" Or I am a preacher or have done great works for God!  or I know the Lord!  Even, I believe in Jesus (but a different Jesus than the Bible teaches!).  You must believe in the true Son of God as Lord and Savior. The Reformers had a formula: We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone. If we have no works, our faith is suspect and spurious. 

It is written: Not that you know Christ, but that he knows you!  Christ will pronounce as condemned those to whom he says:" I never knew you!" and presumably some of these thought they knew him!  We must ask Jesus into our hearts to be saved and when we do, we who have been forgiven will have a God-given love for the Lord. We are known by our works and not necessary by our profession though we must profess Christ before men or Christ will not acknowledge us as his brethren. 

You have to think of Venn diagrams. Many claim to love Jesus or know Jesus or believe in Jesus but in reality, don't--they are deceived into another Jesus, or they deceive themselves. Few there be that actually love their Lord and know him and believe in him!  If you are saved, you will doubtless love the Lord but if you love the Lord, you still may be lost! And so forth. 

Some will object that saved by faith alone is unscriptural.  Yes, faith without works is dead and cannot save.   We are talking about the kind of faith not adding works to faith to get saved. Real genuine faith will produce works no doubt. When they see no works or fruits from our lives, they have a right to doubt our salvation or profession. We are not saved by faith in faith now. 

As some would say: "Keep the faith," without regard t what the faith is in! Faith is only as valid as its object. Strong faith in the wrong thing or person will not save. We get fanatics who have strong faith but are misled and put it to wrong application.