Saving Faith
This topic came up in our Sunday School class. We call our class the "JOY" - Jesus first; Others second; Yourself last - as a reminder of what is important in this life. The subject of what is genuine or saving faith sparked several additional studies. First of all, a Christian soon discovers the purpose of life on earth is a singular goal: to establish an intimate, personal relationship with Christ who is my Lord, Master, Savior, and King. If I miss this opportunity, my life will have truly been lived in vain.
The following video of a young Mother (38 years young) who is dying with cancer, gives a Godly, Life-Changing Final Speech just 4 months before passing.
We should not assume that making a verbal and intellectual ascent that Christ is the Son of God, that He died (voluntarily) for our sins and rose from the dead a victor over Satan, Sin, Death, and Eternity, is sufficient for God to grant to us the gift of Eternal Life. Because, James 2:19 clearly states that demons believe that God is and that Jesus is who He says that he is. But, is there any doubt that Demons are not eternally saved? For me it is settled. Anyone who is against God will not be saved and that includes Satan and his demons.
The next question is what does saving faith look like? The Book of James is the earliest official inspired writing after Christ's ascension to the Father and is a good place to begin an understanding of what is "saving faith or authentic saving faith." James was written and circulated sometime around the early to middle 40's A.D. This date of writing would have been about 5 years after Christ ascended into heaven. Historically assigned to Christ's younger half-brother who became an administrator with the Apostles in Jerusalem.
Obviously the question arose over the extent to which a person's proclamation is or is not genuine saving faith. From the very first chapter it is clear that some believe that a verbal proclamation of the facts about Father, Son and Holy Spirit are sufficient. James says do not be deceived. Until you possess that faith which motivates and propels you to "do" God's will, you have not matured your intellectual understanding into true faith (James 2:14-26).
God justifies us, and begins the sanctification process when we possess saving faith. What God is proclaiming through James is that until your ACTIONS speak of your faith, then you are a babe in Christ or not in Christ at all. The caution given, do not deceive yourselves, is very poignant. Romans 1:5, "...That obedience which comes from faith" is the saving faith James describes. When we are motivated to obey God through our surrender to Jesus, we are manifesting a genuine faith. Whether we "DO" obey correctly or incorrectly is a matter between the individual and God. The effort to obey is a manifestation of an allegiance to Christ that speaks loudly of our position as saved by Christ's gift of redemption (Father's Grace). Surrender is an important key to "being in Christ." John 15.
We need not water down the truth to be politically correct or to avoid offending someone. When we do water it down, we violate the command from Christ; "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you...Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:15-17, 21. Whether we like it or not, a Christian is a doer of the word and not a silent observer. Our daily life and interactions with others will speak louder than any words we can utter.
If all we have is spurious faith or worse, apostate faith, then we may hear these words from Jesus, "...I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers." Matthew 7:23b. I cannot think of a more horrible experience than that. We have several cautions given to us in scripture. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23). That is clear enough for me. (cf, 2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10)
God bless you. Please leave me your thoughts which are important to me. I realize these posts are very cryptic and incomplete representatives of the topic and cannot be confused with a more thorough and detailed treatment that will come in the form of study guides.
Yours in Christ, Richard W. Darnell
ranetree@gmail.com
The following video of a young Mother (38 years young) who is dying with cancer, gives a Godly, Life-Changing Final Speech just 4 months before passing.
We should not assume that making a verbal and intellectual ascent that Christ is the Son of God, that He died (voluntarily) for our sins and rose from the dead a victor over Satan, Sin, Death, and Eternity, is sufficient for God to grant to us the gift of Eternal Life. Because, James 2:19 clearly states that demons believe that God is and that Jesus is who He says that he is. But, is there any doubt that Demons are not eternally saved? For me it is settled. Anyone who is against God will not be saved and that includes Satan and his demons.
The next question is what does saving faith look like? The Book of James is the earliest official inspired writing after Christ's ascension to the Father and is a good place to begin an understanding of what is "saving faith or authentic saving faith." James was written and circulated sometime around the early to middle 40's A.D. This date of writing would have been about 5 years after Christ ascended into heaven. Historically assigned to Christ's younger half-brother who became an administrator with the Apostles in Jerusalem.
Obviously the question arose over the extent to which a person's proclamation is or is not genuine saving faith. From the very first chapter it is clear that some believe that a verbal proclamation of the facts about Father, Son and Holy Spirit are sufficient. James says do not be deceived. Until you possess that faith which motivates and propels you to "do" God's will, you have not matured your intellectual understanding into true faith (James 2:14-26).
God justifies us, and begins the sanctification process when we possess saving faith. What God is proclaiming through James is that until your ACTIONS speak of your faith, then you are a babe in Christ or not in Christ at all. The caution given, do not deceive yourselves, is very poignant. Romans 1:5, "...That obedience which comes from faith" is the saving faith James describes. When we are motivated to obey God through our surrender to Jesus, we are manifesting a genuine faith. Whether we "DO" obey correctly or incorrectly is a matter between the individual and God. The effort to obey is a manifestation of an allegiance to Christ that speaks loudly of our position as saved by Christ's gift of redemption (Father's Grace). Surrender is an important key to "being in Christ." John 15.
We need not water down the truth to be politically correct or to avoid offending someone. When we do water it down, we violate the command from Christ; "If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever - the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you...Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him." John 14:15-17, 21. Whether we like it or not, a Christian is a doer of the word and not a silent observer. Our daily life and interactions with others will speak louder than any words we can utter.
If all we have is spurious faith or worse, apostate faith, then we may hear these words from Jesus, "...I never knew you. Away from me you evildoers." Matthew 7:23b. I cannot think of a more horrible experience than that. We have several cautions given to us in scripture. Jesus said, "Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'" (Matthew 7:21-23). That is clear enough for me. (cf, 2 Corinthians 13:5; 2 Peter 1:10)
God bless you. Please leave me your thoughts which are important to me. I realize these posts are very cryptic and incomplete representatives of the topic and cannot be confused with a more thorough and detailed treatment that will come in the form of study guides.
Yours in Christ, Richard W. Darnell
ranetree@gmail.com
This topic may draw forth differing concerns. The study guide will be complete and address many concerns that come forth. If there are too many that surface, I will come back and add more material to address them.
ReplyDeleteGod bless you, R