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God's Plan of Salvation : Believe

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Of all of the conditions stated by Jesus, none is more accepted by the religious world, as is faith. And yet, it is not a well-understood concept. Just what is the saving faith required by Jesus?

Like love, faith is an abstract entity. It cannot exist as an end in itself. It motivates action. It cannot be contrasted with works, since it is essential to doing the works of God; it is impossible to have faith without works (James 2:17); and it is impossible to come to God without faith (Heb. 11:6). When Jesus was asked, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" he replied "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." (John 6:28-29). True faith is a work of God, since it is based on the revealed word of God: "faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Rom. 10:17).

Faith -- What is it?

The point of belief isn't in the definition. A case can be made that the word "believe" means to "trust in, rely upon, adhere to." Even the Amplified shows this in many places where the word "believe" is used. The Greek word is "pisteuo" (believe) and pistis (faith). Inherent in the meaning of the word is the idea of "obey." To a Hebrew, to believe was to ACT, to obey. If one didn't obey, one didn't believe or have true faith.

To many people, faith is nothing but blind trust. When they cannot explain the reason for something, they assert: "You just have to have faith." Yet, in the New Testament saving faith is just the opposite of this. Consider the words of Paul: "...whatever is not from faith is sin." (Rom. 14:23). The context reveals that this is speaking of a conviction that is based on careful study and measured evaluation, not mere whim.

Exhorting his fellow Christians, Jude commanded: "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." (Jude 3). In this use of the word, faith refers to the body of knowledge that is believed. In addition, this "faith ... was ... delivered." It is not a matter of blindly following something of doubtful origin, but rather, contending earnestly for what was known to have been received.

Hebrews 11 starts out with the only bible definition of faith (to our knowledge): "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." The "things hoped for," and the "things not seen" are one and the same, since Romans 8:24 states: "For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope...". It seems quite clear that these are the promises of God, for what other unseen things are as important as God's promises.

Similarly, "assurance" and "conviction" are similar in meaning. Other versions apply such words as: substance, confidence, and evidence. The commonality of these words is that they convey a sense of what is reality. In other words, even though we do not see the promises of God, they become reality to us through faith.

Have you ever heard it said?? . . .

We are saved by faith only . . . but James said (James 2:24):

"You see that a man is justified by works, and not by faith alone."

Note first that this in no way diminishes the role of faith in our salvation. Just the opposite: James defines exactly what true and living faith is, and this is exemplified throughout the Bible (see Hebrews 11). Never was a person saved by faith without that faith exhibiting itself is some action (works/fruits/obedience). It is faith alone that saves, but the faith that saves is not alone. He who believes is he who obeys and he who obeys is he who believes.

James starts out by asking (James 2:14): "What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?" This question admits that such is impossible, and James goes on to state that demons have such faith (19). Raw belief is not enough; it must motivate action pleasing to God. So, James defines the two types of faith that can exist in verse 26: "For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead."

Jesus uses "believe" in negative parallel with "obey" in John 3:36 where he says, "He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him." This clearly shows that belief and obedience are two sides of the same coin. You simply could not have one without the other. Faith and obedience are one and the same concept.

The faith that we are saved by is living faith, not dead faith. Living faith will motivate us to accomplish the rest of the conditions that God has given, all of which proceed from faith. True and living faith will motivate us to do what God commands (Heb. 11; James 2:26). Faith in God and His word is essential, but it does not exist unless it provides this motivation (James 2:14; Heb. 11:6). It is not the belief of the student studying a problem, but a drowning man grabbing a life-line, believing it will save him.

[ Adapted primarily from David Brown"s "Think on These Things"
Scripture quotations taken from the NASB (New American Standard Bible).

Last updated: Monday, March 06, 2006

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