"Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes." (Dietrich Bonhoeffer)
"Faith is not believing despite the evidence, but obeying in spite of the consequences." (author unknown).
"I will show you my faith by my good works!" (James would say this)
"I will show you my good works by faith!" (Paul would put this spin on our salvation)
Salvation is "by faith alone [the rallying cry of the Reformation], but not by a faith that is alone" (as the Reformers taught). It must be fruitful--no fruit means no faith! It isn't how much faith you have, but the object of the faith that matters. True faith is validated in works only, not by feelings or emotions--some people are just sentimental types. Obedience, then, is the only genuine test, as the Jews were found disobedient and therefore lacking faith in Heb. 3:18-19.
Saving faith is always joined and in juxtaposition to genuine repentance--some people don't have a problem believing, but in repenting! Impenitent faith is not saving faith! We are admonished to believing repentance or penitent faith if you will. The most unnatural thing for us to accept is that salvation is by faith alone and all we have to do is simply believe (i.e., with the right kind of belief), as God gives us the gift of faith to exercise and walk through the door--we don't conjure it up by our own efforts (cf. 2 Pet. 1:1).
It would be so much more convenient for most people if only they had to do something for salvation--some work they could manage; however, if ever there were a work involved, we would flunk and fall short. The only way it could be fair to all and make it so that anyone could get saved is if it were by faith alone, through grace alone. I'm not against works, just works religion; i.e., works done in the flesh and not in the Spirit. We venture to boast only of what Christ has accomplished through us and in us (cf. Rom. 15:18). It's so simple that the intellectual, philosopher, and legalist find it to be a stumbling stone, rock of offense, an impediment. Man is incurably addicted to doing something for his salvation (cf. John 6:28-29)!
Yes, we can come to God as we are in faith, but we don't stay that way! God works in our hearts a new life from the inside out--a transformation (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17) of all things new in Christ. Now the key is to remember that faith is only the beginning, though we go from faith to faith (cf. Rom. 1:16-7), and increase in faith, and our living faith is not inert or static, but grows and matures into a seasoned believer with tried and proved faith. One may say with complacency that he does believe, but belief is only the beginning--it's the door, not the final destination! Faith is not certitude: we don't have to be fully persuaded to have saving faith and doubt is not the opposite of faith, but a component.
One disciple told Jesus (cf. Mark 9:24), "I believe, help thou mine unbelief!" You will see that true faith always expresses itself and cannot remain silent (cf. Acts 4:20)! Point in fact: There's no smoking-gun evidence to prove there is a God; on the contrary, there's none to prove there isn't! You need not prove God unless they can disprove Him! There's always going to be a place for doubt, but we must overcome it and walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). All our questions will be answered in eternity (cf. John 16:23).
Salvation is not by knowledge but by faith, and that means one must take the leap of faith and bid his doubts goodbye in looking unto Jesus as Lord and Savior. But, and this is an important contrast: We can know for certain that we are saved--we are not just to hope we are saved, or even believe with doubt attached, but we are admonished to know for certain. But this is what's called a "properly basic belief" or knowledge through a personal encounter with God and experiencing Him. God speaks to our spirit and confirms our faith in us and we know as a result of the Spirit in us convicting us (cf. Rom. 8:16). The Word of God coupled with the testimony and witness of the Spirit is a powerful assurance.
And furthermore: God wouldn't command us to make our salvation certain (cf. 2 Pet. 1:10), if it were not possible to know for sure! Two errors of newborn believers are not to take the Word of God seriously and at face value, and to be ignorant of the Word and its promises. Note that assurance of salvation is not an automatic fruit of salvation and many believers struggle with it and need to be informed of what the Bible teaches: assurance and security are two sides of the same coin and can be distinguished, but not separated--they go hand in hand. If we weren't secure in our salvation, that we couldn't lose it, we could never be sure and certain we wouldn't lose it, and there would and could be no assurance.
When they say simply believe, it's so simple, but not simplistic, and so child-like, but not childish, that everyone from the intellectual to the simpleton and child has an equal chance to receive the gift of salvation by faith alone, not of any work, or we would have grounds of boasting to God. In the gift of saving faith (yes, we don't achieve, we receive), we may have doubts and all our questions may be unanswered, but we believe anyway and take the leap into the light, saying goodbye to the darkness of unbelief. We aren't inclined to believe nor are we asked to believe despite the evidence or with no evidence at all: there's plenty of evidence and reason for credence, but for the skeptic and the stubborn and hardened heart, there's never enough evidence, because one must desire to do God's will (cf. John 7:17) and believe in Him.
It is one thing to believe God exists (cf. James 2:19), or that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and quite another to accept Him into your heart (cf. Rev. 3:20); i.e., trusting as Savior and submitting as Lord all by faith and loving Him in fellowship! You don't need all the answers to believe, because God changes our hearts. It is important to note that we are judged by our works, not our faith (cf. Rom. 2:6). If you don't have accompanying works, your faith is suspect, because the faith you have is the faith you show! In the final analysis, the heart of the matter is that it's a matter of the heart--we must believe in our hearts, not just agree or consent with our minds (which is mere head belief)!
Caveat: There is the temptation to think that believing is all there is to the Christian life and it doesn't matter whether one's life is submitted to the lordship of Christ and one is obedient to the Word, but this is so-called "easy-believism" and brings forth what's called "cheap grace," which justifies the sin, not the sinner! True faith entails leaving behind the life of sin and embracing a new life in Christ with Him in at the helm, as the Master of our fate and Captain of our soul!
Some so-called Christians who live in sin tell their pastor, "It's okay, I believe!" This ought not to be so! The essence of the Christian life is not summed up in belief per se, as if believing were the whole story. The whole point of conversion is a changed life, but one that God gives us, not that we accomplish on our own by "turning over a new leaf," making a New Year's resolution, or making an AA pledge to reform our lives--not self-improvement, but transformation by God. Christ must be born in us, not just born in Bethlehem!
We're not just believing God is there, but in the God who is there, as revealed in the person of Jesus. There is a contrast between believing Jesus died on a cross and rose again, as a historical faith, and believing He did it for you personally! And in conclusion, believing is only the beginning and the door to a new life (not the destination), we are to "follow on to know the Lord" (cf. Hos. 6:3, NLT, tells us to "press on to know the LORD") and walk with Christ as we progress from "faith to faith," as the Lord "... makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image" (2 Cor. 3:18, NLT). (But saving faith is for those who realize and admit they're lost, for Christ "came to seek and to save those who are lost" (cf. Luke 19:10).) Soli Deo Gloria!
"Faith is not believing despite the evidence, but obeying in spite of the consequences." (author unknown).
"I will show you my faith by my good works!" (James would say this)
"I will show you my good works by faith!" (Paul would put this spin on our salvation)
Salvation is "by faith alone [the rallying cry of the Reformation], but not by a faith that is alone" (as the Reformers taught). It must be fruitful--no fruit means no faith! It isn't how much faith you have, but the object of the faith that matters. True faith is validated in works only, not by feelings or emotions--some people are just sentimental types. Obedience, then, is the only genuine test, as the Jews were found disobedient and therefore lacking faith in Heb. 3:18-19.
Saving faith is always joined and in juxtaposition to genuine repentance--some people don't have a problem believing, but in repenting! Impenitent faith is not saving faith! We are admonished to believing repentance or penitent faith if you will. The most unnatural thing for us to accept is that salvation is by faith alone and all we have to do is simply believe (i.e., with the right kind of belief), as God gives us the gift of faith to exercise and walk through the door--we don't conjure it up by our own efforts (cf. 2 Pet. 1:1).
It would be so much more convenient for most people if only they had to do something for salvation--some work they could manage; however, if ever there were a work involved, we would flunk and fall short. The only way it could be fair to all and make it so that anyone could get saved is if it were by faith alone, through grace alone. I'm not against works, just works religion; i.e., works done in the flesh and not in the Spirit. We venture to boast only of what Christ has accomplished through us and in us (cf. Rom. 15:18). It's so simple that the intellectual, philosopher, and legalist find it to be a stumbling stone, rock of offense, an impediment. Man is incurably addicted to doing something for his salvation (cf. John 6:28-29)!
Yes, we can come to God as we are in faith, but we don't stay that way! God works in our hearts a new life from the inside out--a transformation (cf. 2 Cor. 5:17) of all things new in Christ. Now the key is to remember that faith is only the beginning, though we go from faith to faith (cf. Rom. 1:16-7), and increase in faith, and our living faith is not inert or static, but grows and matures into a seasoned believer with tried and proved faith. One may say with complacency that he does believe, but belief is only the beginning--it's the door, not the final destination! Faith is not certitude: we don't have to be fully persuaded to have saving faith and doubt is not the opposite of faith, but a component.
One disciple told Jesus (cf. Mark 9:24), "I believe, help thou mine unbelief!" You will see that true faith always expresses itself and cannot remain silent (cf. Acts 4:20)! Point in fact: There's no smoking-gun evidence to prove there is a God; on the contrary, there's none to prove there isn't! You need not prove God unless they can disprove Him! There's always going to be a place for doubt, but we must overcome it and walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). All our questions will be answered in eternity (cf. John 16:23).
Salvation is not by knowledge but by faith, and that means one must take the leap of faith and bid his doubts goodbye in looking unto Jesus as Lord and Savior. But, and this is an important contrast: We can know for certain that we are saved--we are not just to hope we are saved, or even believe with doubt attached, but we are admonished to know for certain. But this is what's called a "properly basic belief" or knowledge through a personal encounter with God and experiencing Him. God speaks to our spirit and confirms our faith in us and we know as a result of the Spirit in us convicting us (cf. Rom. 8:16). The Word of God coupled with the testimony and witness of the Spirit is a powerful assurance.
And furthermore: God wouldn't command us to make our salvation certain (cf. 2 Pet. 1:10), if it were not possible to know for sure! Two errors of newborn believers are not to take the Word of God seriously and at face value, and to be ignorant of the Word and its promises. Note that assurance of salvation is not an automatic fruit of salvation and many believers struggle with it and need to be informed of what the Bible teaches: assurance and security are two sides of the same coin and can be distinguished, but not separated--they go hand in hand. If we weren't secure in our salvation, that we couldn't lose it, we could never be sure and certain we wouldn't lose it, and there would and could be no assurance.
When they say simply believe, it's so simple, but not simplistic, and so child-like, but not childish, that everyone from the intellectual to the simpleton and child has an equal chance to receive the gift of salvation by faith alone, not of any work, or we would have grounds of boasting to God. In the gift of saving faith (yes, we don't achieve, we receive), we may have doubts and all our questions may be unanswered, but we believe anyway and take the leap into the light, saying goodbye to the darkness of unbelief. We aren't inclined to believe nor are we asked to believe despite the evidence or with no evidence at all: there's plenty of evidence and reason for credence, but for the skeptic and the stubborn and hardened heart, there's never enough evidence, because one must desire to do God's will (cf. John 7:17) and believe in Him.
It is one thing to believe God exists (cf. James 2:19), or that Jesus is Lord and Savior, and quite another to accept Him into your heart (cf. Rev. 3:20); i.e., trusting as Savior and submitting as Lord all by faith and loving Him in fellowship! You don't need all the answers to believe, because God changes our hearts. It is important to note that we are judged by our works, not our faith (cf. Rom. 2:6). If you don't have accompanying works, your faith is suspect, because the faith you have is the faith you show! In the final analysis, the heart of the matter is that it's a matter of the heart--we must believe in our hearts, not just agree or consent with our minds (which is mere head belief)!
Caveat: There is the temptation to think that believing is all there is to the Christian life and it doesn't matter whether one's life is submitted to the lordship of Christ and one is obedient to the Word, but this is so-called "easy-believism" and brings forth what's called "cheap grace," which justifies the sin, not the sinner! True faith entails leaving behind the life of sin and embracing a new life in Christ with Him in at the helm, as the Master of our fate and Captain of our soul!
Some so-called Christians who live in sin tell their pastor, "It's okay, I believe!" This ought not to be so! The essence of the Christian life is not summed up in belief per se, as if believing were the whole story. The whole point of conversion is a changed life, but one that God gives us, not that we accomplish on our own by "turning over a new leaf," making a New Year's resolution, or making an AA pledge to reform our lives--not self-improvement, but transformation by God. Christ must be born in us, not just born in Bethlehem!
We're not just believing God is there, but in the God who is there, as revealed in the person of Jesus. There is a contrast between believing Jesus died on a cross and rose again, as a historical faith, and believing He did it for you personally! And in conclusion, believing is only the beginning and the door to a new life (not the destination), we are to "follow on to know the Lord" (cf. Hos. 6:3, NLT, tells us to "press on to know the LORD") and walk with Christ as we progress from "faith to faith," as the Lord "... makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image" (2 Cor. 3:18, NLT). (But saving faith is for those who realize and admit they're lost, for Christ "came to seek and to save those who are lost" (cf. Luke 19:10).) Soli Deo Gloria!