Faith

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Today in the churches and seminaries and Bible colleges it is a commmonly held idea that to become a Christian one has only to "believe" in Jesus Christ. However, just what this believing entails is not always clearly explained.

One person who may stand opposed to Lordship salvation (which was a hot topic about 10-15 years ago),for example, says all you have to do is accept Jesus into your heart and ask him to save you. Then a verse such as Romans 10:13 is quoted
"Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Maybe Acts 16:31 is given "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved."


Then the question is asked, "Do you believe that Jesus Christ died for you sins?" Some will say yes and others will say no. If you answer no then this person will proceed to convince you that you are a sinner (most will agree to this but believe it or not not everybody will) by showing you Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God"

Okay, Christ died for sinners. You're a sinner. He died, was buried and arose from the dead and you've just established that this person is a sinner so if Jesus Christ died for this person and paid for all of their sins then this person must be saved right? They are told by some evangelist or preacher or professing Christian that God's word is true and that He can not lie so if this person has come to accept these facts and believes them he is assured of instant salvation and a place in heaven and an escape from hell.

This is the modern misconception of what it means to believe.

Let's looks at some commonly quoted scriptures to set the pace in our understanding of this important doctrine of saving faith and what it really means to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 3:36 "He that BELIEVETH on the son hath everlasting life."

Romans 1:16 Paul says, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that BELIEVETH; to the Jew first and also to the Greek."

Ephesians 2:8,9 "For by grace are you saved through faith..."

Stop for a minute and ask yourself what is that faith by which we are saved? Is this faith merely an intellectual assent to a set of facts about Jesus and his death, burial and resurrection? If a person believes these things about Jesus does that mean he or she is saved? In other words will this kind of faii? Is your faith dynamic in the sense of will it justify you and bring you to heaven? Romans 5:1

"Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God.
To be justified is to be declared righteous before God and so fit for heaven. Ofcourse sanctification is also necessary but justification and sanctification can never be separated. While justification is a one time event sanctification is a continual work that is wrought inside the true child of God. This faith
brings a peace between God and the sinner so that there is no more war. By nature the sinner is at war with God being dead in trespasses and sins (Eph.2:1) but this faith creates a peace
with God.

Jesus told a woman who was a sinner and who washed his feet and anointed them with ointment "Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Luke 7:50

This woman had a dynamic or saving faith. This is why the Lord commended her for her faith. Her faith which was really his faith working inside her. Without this kind of faith we can not please God as it says in Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him..."

A faith which doesn't save is a temporary faith and thus a demonic faith as we shall see. This is why so many fall away who thought they were saved when in fact they never were saved to begin with.

All true believers will persevere to the end because they are kept by the power of God and the faith of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:5



One of the most important questions you can ever ask youself is, how you as a sinner can find acceptance with an omipotent God so that when you die instead of breaking hell open you'll be welcomed into God's presence.

Reflect on that very carefully because there are some relevant scriptures that condemned many at the Judgment Day who while they professed an attachment to Jesus Christ, he will profess to them that he never knew them. He never knew them because they were workers of inquity or rebellion or lawlessness.

This passage found in Matthew 7:21-23 should shut the mouths of all those opposing Lordship salvation and who hold to a free will, easy believism gospel. My brethren this is a false gospel and no good news whatsoever if you end up rejected by Almighty God on the day you thought to be received by the Lord.

Depart from me for I NEVER knew you. These are frightening words indeed that ought to sober up your proud heart and humble any arrogance and self-confidence you may be putting in the flesh.

We often talk about accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior. The better educated and more Biblically astute student will add that you must accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior.

Let's get one thing clear. You don't make Jesus Christ your Lord because he is already Lord.
You simply acknowledge Jesus Christ for who he says he is.

If you are to be saved and have a saving faith then you must come to a complete and true Jesus whom the Bible says is both Lord and Christ. God has made him both Lord and Christ we are told in Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that GOD HATH MADE that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."

After hearing those words the Jews were pricked in their hearts and Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

Now the other side of repentance is faith. These two go hand in hand. Whereever there is evangelical repentance you have evangelical or saving faith. Repentance is turning away from sins and having a change of mind. The Greek word is metanoia. However, it's not enough to turn away from sins. That in itself never saved anybody. You must embrace and believe in Jesus Christ as the solution to your sin problem.

Some mistake repentance for a reformation of life. No it's a mourning over past transgressions and a hatred of breaking God's law or commandments. Saving faith is trusting in your only hope of salvation by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as your righteousness and seeing the beauty of his person and work.

Look at John 2:23. Now when he was in Jersusalem at the passover in the feast day, many BELIEVED in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. verse 24 But Jesus did not commit himnself unto them because he knew all men.

You may say but I'm a believer and Christ may say no, you are of your father the Devil. You see there is a faith that is no better that the faith of devils. Look at James 2:14 "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

If a brother or sister be naked and destitue of daily food and one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it proft? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

There is you see a faith which does not profit and profit in this context means saves. We see this for example by comparing Proverbs 11:4
"Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death."

Now lets look at John 8:30 "As he spake these words, many believed on him. 31. Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Notice where these Jews real trust was. They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? vs 34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily (truly, truly) I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.

Jesus acknowledges these Jews are the physical descendants of Abraham but this wasn't good enough to save them from their sins because salvation is by grace and not by race. See John 1:11-13 We are born not of blood but by God.

Jesus goes on to say that if these Jews were Abraham's children they would do the works of Abraham but instead they sought to kill Jesus, a man that told them the truth. This along with others verses such as those in James which prove that faith must be backed up with works for such a faith to save.

In verse 44 Jesus tells these Jews plainly that they are of their father the Devil, and the lusts of their father they will do. Again in verse 45 Jesus says they believe him not.

So here are believers who are children of the Devil. But these believers were not true believers with a dynamic or saving faith. The character of their faith was

1. Hatred for the truth or Truth (Jesus who is the Truth Jn 14:6)

2. They commit or practice sin. vs 34. 1 John 3:8
"He that committeth sin is of the Devil."

3. They are murderers vs 32, 40 "Ye seek to kill
me"

4. They do not have spiritual ears to hear vs "Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my words

In summary to have saving or dynamic faith you must have a love for the truth which presupposes a knowledge of the truth instead of an argumentive spirit of debate and twisting of scriptures to please yourself.

You must keep the commandments of God by not practicing sin. 1 John says "These things have I written unto you that you sin not" Ofcourse we still have a body that lusts after sin occasionally so John say "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

Faith without works is dead says James and if you say you believe in God you do well for so do the demons believe and we know they are not saved but they shall be damned.

Take heed to these precious truths and be exhorted to "examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?"






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. Type in LAStreetPreacher in the search bar. CONTACT at [email protected]

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