SAVING FAITH

by Jim Corner

This lesson deals not simply with faith but with SAVING faith. You see, the Bible is quite clear that there is a faith that saves and one that does not. We want to begin by looking at a story from the Old Testament.

In Genesis 12 we are introduced to a man named Abraham. God promised him that a great nation would come from him. Abraham had no children at the time of the promise but because of his faith in God, he would become a father at the age of 100! Abraham named his son Isaac and all was going well until the day that God to Abraham to offer his son as a human sacrifice. I have no idea what went through Abraham's mind when he was given this command, but he trusted the Lord and took Isaac up on a mountain. Just as Abraham was preparing to kill his son with a knife, an angel of the Lord stopped him. God then told Abraham that He was pleased with him because his faith demonstrated that he would always obey God.

We learn from Abraham what saving faith is all about. In James 2:19 we see that demons have faith but their faith will not save them. The faith of demons is nothing more than a mental understanding of the reality of God. There are three parts to the faith that saves.

1.Knowledge is a part of saving faith. What this means is that we must accept the fact that our Heavenly Father and Jesus exist. There are those today who do not believe in the existence of God. This individual cannot be saved.

2.Trust is a part of saving faith. We see in Abraham a man who not only had a mental belief in the existence of God but one who trusted God in all things. While I will never understand God, I must trust Him.

3.Obedience is a part of saving faith. The things that we do have a great impact on our eternal destiny. Now listen very carefully, we are not saved based on our works but we work because we have been saved. James says in the 2nd chapter of his book that a faith that does not work is no faith at all.

I have one overriding goal in life and that is to spend eternity with God one day. The things of this life are truly unimportant because they will perish. God, Jesus, The Holy Spirit, Heaven and His people will never perish. I must have faith in order to be saved but not just any faith. My faith must believe in God, trust God and obey God.

If you would like to know more about how to be saved, contact us through by email or go to Bible Courses and there are several courses you can take to learn more about how to please God.

©2001 Buckingham Road Church of Christ