We have looked at the grace of God, and how He has taken the initiative by sending His Son Jesus to die on our behalf. We have seen that although we do not deserve His goodness and mercy, He offers us salvation nonetheless. I would like to next look at man's response to this great salvation that is offered us in Christ Jesus.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB
While we see that our salvation is a gift of God offered to us by His grace, yet we see we receive this gift through faith. It is not an automatic thing. We read in John's gospel that he who believes in Him (Jesus) is not judged, but he who does not believe is judged already, because he has not believed in God's Son (John 3:18). Mark tells us in his gospel that he who believes and is baptized shall be saved, but he who does not believe shall be condemned (Mark 16:16). So what is faith? It is essential that we have an accurate understanding of what it means to believe in Jesus. Does it mean to believe in the historical facts about Jesus and His life? Does it mean we believe correct doctrine? Perhaps it goes even deeper than this?
Lets go back to the concept of sin. Sin is rebellion against God. It is called enmity, or hostility toward God (Romans 8:7). Sin flows out of unbelief. One who does not know or understand the claims of God will not fear God, or walk in His ways. It is the same with one who acts in unbelief. He may know of God, he may know that God requires obedience, and he may know that God will punish evildoers, but the fact that such a one persists in disobedience in spite of this knowledge, proves that this individual does not believe in God. He is acting in unbelief. What he has heard and known about God does not matter to him. It is like a man sitting in a burning house. Someone may pound on his door, urging him to flee his burning house, but if he buries his nose in the newspaper, and does not get up and try to flee, he is acting in unbelief. So, what does it matter what we believe about God, if it does not move us to act upon that belief? James tells us that even the devils believe and tremble (James 2:19). No doubt they understand all of the historical facts about God, maybe even more than many of us. Yet they are not saved beings! All of the knowledge that they have of God profits them nothing. They are devils bent on doing evil. They know of God's laws, and they know of God's wrath, yet this type of belief profits them nothing.
The faith that God is looking for is a faith that not only trusts, but also obeys! A man who believes in Christ will be a man who obeys Christ. Correct doctrine, and correct biblical understanding are important, but our faith must lead us to act upon our belief.
When a man is brought to see the depths of his wickedness he will say like Paul "Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24) In our desperation to be set free from sin we will flee to Christ, trusting Him not only for pardon, but for deliverance as well. What kind of man would seek pardon while still holding on to his sinful ways? That is no faith at all.
Believing that Jesus died on the cross and rose again is much more than a mere formula to repeat in the hopes of gaining pardon from sin. To believe in the death and resurrection of Christ is to cease from our self efforts, and flee to Him for pardon, knowing that He is the only way. It is to know and understand that only in Him can the soul find deliverance from sin. The individual who has truly come to the end of himself will turn from his sin (repent) and turn to Christ with a submissive trust, longing to be delivered from sin. Such a one believes that just as Christ died and rose again, so to we also die to sin and are raised to newness of life by the virtue of Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:1-10, 8:1-4). Biblical faith also recognizes that as Jesus is alive from the dead, we are called to follow Him. Once again, this is a submissive, trusting faith, that works itself out in loving obedience. "Lord" is not a mere title that we place before a name like we do for doctors or professors. Jesus is Lord, and He is alive. If we believe this from our hearts, we will act upon this belief, and submit ourselves totally to His rule in our lives (Luke 14:25-33).
Faith is much more than believing things with our minds. It is a continuing, active principal that moves us to act upon what we believe. Faith is our connection to the life and power that flow from Jesus. To trust in Him is to be connected. To disbelieve, is to be unplugged from the life that can only be found in Christ.
See also The Nature of Biblical Faith.
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