What is true saving faith?

Whether you are a Christian or an atheist, you have heard the word “faith.” Perhaps it sounded in your ears during a church service. Your eyes may have glanced upon it perched upon a billboard. The word “faith,” “believe,” and “trust,” appear in a variety of places. We encounter them during political campaigns, marketing efforts, and even greeting cards. When we face difficult experiences, friends, family, and even strangers tell us to “believe” that it will all work out for our good. We must keep up a positive attitude when difficulty
interrupts our lives.

Because these ideas permeate our society, we think we understand what faith means. This assumption strengthens if we attend church or at least come from a church background. If I asked you, “Do you believe in Jesus Christ?” you may answer, “I do.” To you, this may settle the certainty of your salvation. Of course, as the Bible teaches, the only way a sinner can be saved is by trusting in Jesus Christ. You’ll see, we affirm this earnestly.

Few passages of Scripture roll off the tongue more easily than John 3:16 and Ephesians 2:8. The first reads, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The second, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God…” If you have attended church for any amount of time, you likely finished these verses in your mind before reading to the end. Few verses more clearly express the simplicity of God’s way of salvation than these. The Bible is clear: God rejects our works as a way of gaining acceptance with him. Our best religious works fall infinitely short of God’s standard. If you read this and think that your prayers, service, church going, moral living, penance, good works, or any combination of these secure your peace with God, these verses expose you. To build your hope before God upon your works, whether a Christian, Muslim, Mormon, Hindu, Roman Catholic, or simply a “good person” guarantees your eternal future in hell. Paul confirms this in Romans 3:20 and 28, “Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin…Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.”

You may read this and nod your head, thinking, “Amen! This is true. I am saved because I believe in Jesus.” However, simply knowing that faith alone saves fails the biblical test. You may repeat with emphasis, “That’s right. I believe in Jesus Christ.” Let me challenge you a bit. I do not mean to upset any soul firmly planted in the grace of God. I do hope, however, to expose some who have concluded that they are saved merely because they profess faith.

The Epistle of James addresses some members of the church who were content with their faith. If you had asked them, they would have confessed that God is one, Jesus is the Savior of sinners, and that Jesus died and rose again. All these things are true. They were not like the pagans or atheists of their day. They believed in the word of God. They believed in God. Perhaps they would have been willing to say, “Let God be true and every man a liar.” But notice what James writes in 2:19: “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.” Read that again: “The devils also believe…”

You know that devils are not saved. You admit that devils will suffer the lasting flames of agony. They stand condemned with no hope of redemption. Yet, they “believe.” Indeed, they even “believe, and tremble.” At this point, I’d like to ask you a question. When you assess yourself and examine your faith, what difference exists between your faith and the faith of demons?

Don’t ignore the question. Don’t dismiss it. Consider it. The demons believe. You believe. What’s the difference? The question comes with greater power when we remember that Christ forewarns his disciples, “Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?” (Matt. 7:22). The “many” referred to Christ as “Lord.” They preached Jesus to others. They even used to perform miracles. But Christ will reply, “…I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23). They will depart into the abyss with the name of Christ upon their lips. They will perish eternally, having acknowledged that Jesus is Lord.

None of this rejects the Bible’s teaching that the sinner is saved by grace alone through faith alone in Jesus Christ alone. It clarifies what is meant by “faith.” For us to believe something, we must agree with something. But we don’t have to comprehend every detail about it. However, we need to know something about it and agree with it. Faith is not blind. It is spiritual sight. It discerns what is true. However, this is but an ingredient of true saving faith.

Do you believe that two plus two equals four? Of course you do. Do you know that Jesus Christ is the only Savior of sinners? I hope you would say, “Yes.” If not, I hope you will study the Bible more thoroughly. However, if you said, “Yes,” you said nothing different than what a demon would say. The demons know that Jesus is the Son of God, the Savior of sinners. Notice Luke 4:33–34, “And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.” The demon knew that Jesus is the “Holy One of God.” If you could ask and get a straight answer from a demon, he would admit that he “believes that Jesus is the Savior.” This is what most people mean when they say, “I believe that Jesus is the Savior.” They state that Jesus is the Savior, will save sinners, and that there is no other savior. However, this is only an ingredient of saving faith.

When the Bible teaches that sinners are saved through faith, it means more than sinners who agree with the Bible’s teaching and reject the false teachings of Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Muslims are saved. Indeed, one must reject these false teachings. However, one can deny them all, agree with the Bible, and perish in hell. How?

True saving faith involves casting our soul upon Jesus Christ. It is more than merely agreeing with the historical claims of the Bible or wishing for something to happen. One who believes Jesus Christ unto salvation comes to Christ and cries out, “Save me!” Though emotions may overwhelm us at this time, this is not the panic-induced, emotionally charged eruption of a moment. Instead, knowing that Christ has promised to save sinners, the sinner comes to him and says, sometimes without words spoken, “Christ, have mercy upon me. Forgive my sins. Receive me. Save me. I place my soul in your care.” It is as if the sinner were to cast all that he is upon Jesus Christ. Some speak of the “leap of faith.” What they mean is, “I wish that what I’m about to do works out.” There is no such “leap of faith” involved in salvation in this sense. Instead, persuaded of the promise of Christ, the sinner leaps onto Christ, trusting him to perform his word. Paul writes about this in Rom. 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” They call—or cry out—to Jesus.

Let me return to what I first wrote: The fires of hell will torment the bodies and souls of many men, women, and children who believe that Jesus Christ is the Savior. However, those who have cast their hope upon Christ will not be in hell. Not only do they believe that Jesus is the Savior, they have come to him and said, “I leave all with you. Have mercy on me. I trust you.”

How is it with you? Do you merely “believe” that Jesus is the Savior? Or do you rest your soul upon him? Do you trust him alone? The difference is the difference between heaven and hell. ❦