As I was reflecting on Charles Spurgeon, an article or actually a sermon on faith, I began to ponder the question, "to what object does our faith or belief look to?" Ofcourse the answer is Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the object of our faith.
What is faith?
Well, faith is belief and belief in who Jesus is. It is all the correct things about Jesus Christ. So we might say faith implies a couple of things. At least it implies a knowledge of who Jesus is and not only is it a knowledge though because you can have an intellectual knowledge of who Jesus is and not be saved but it iplies an obedience, a trusting in who Jesus is and what he did.
This trust or obedience is brought about by the grace of God. That's why we are to grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 3:18
Grace has been defined as unmerited favor but it is more than that. As Arthur Pink points out grace is merit shown where there is a positive demerit on the one receiving it. Grace is shown to one who has a positive demerit imputed to him. Not only that, it is the desire and the ability to do the will of God so that we believe on Christ.
We believe the truth concerning who he said he was and what he came to do and we have a desire to trust in this Christ and to obey him. Now when we trust in Christ our faith is not dependent upon ourself or what we do.
Our obedience does not insure our salvation. "For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God not of works lest any man should boast" Ephesians 2:8,9
Christ died for all who would believe on him or to put it another way, he died for the elect. They're the same thing. Only those who would believe on him are the elect.
I trust that Christ died for me because I believe on him. Those who do not believe on him are not yet identified as being among the elect.
Carlton Pruitt ministers the gospel to the Los Angeles area. Formerly a Hollywood actor (SAG member)and junk removal expert he now spends most of his time studying the scriptures, writing articles, hymns and poems and doing street preaching. See his videos on www.YouTube.com LAStreetPreacher. CONTACT at Carlton2061@gmail.com
If you died today, are you absolutely certain that you would go to heaven? You can be! TRUST JESUS NOW
Read more articles by Carlton Pruitt or search for articles on the same topic or others.
