The Faith That Saves Part 1 Series

Blessed Lord, we thank You Father once again; thank you Lord, for giving us the opportunity to worship in your presence. You know Father, all about our internal makeup Lord, things we go through during the day Father, during the week Lord; and You are gracious to allow us sufficient time, time to get ourselves together so that we can focus on You Lord. Thank You, Lord, for Your mercy and Your kindness. Thank You, Lord, for the different words You have given us and the music so that we can worship You in spirit and in truth. Thank You, Lord, for giving us the opportunity to reflect on the very words that we sing unto You. Lord, help us always to make it personal so that we can be genuine in our worship before You. Help us to have penitent hearts always that we may walk worthy of Your awesome name. We thank You, Father God. Open the ears of our understanding, I pray, of all of us Lord, that we can gain something even now Lord that will benefit us for all eternity. In Jesus' name we ask You, thank you, Father. Amen!

The Topic is, The Faith That Saves, and the definition of faith, many people say, it's a belief. And it is a belief and it is a conviction, it is a walk, it is a life, and faith is defined in Hebrews Chapter 11. Many Christians will go and point right there to Hebrews 11 verse 1 which says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.” [King James Version] That is true. But if it is something that is tangible as a substance and it’s our belief that Jesus Christ is our Savior and based on our weight on that profound truth we get salvation, what more is involved? That is the question.

What is the faith that actually saves? Ephesians 2:8 says this, " For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” [New King James Version] And many many people take that verse and they praise God for the grace that is given, that grace he gave us, the grace to begin with. He imparted that faith to us and we are thankful for that. We will be eternally grateful for that. It is a gift; but what about obedience? This question has been controversial to many many groups all over the world who are in churches, who do bible studies, and who are teaching the Word of God. And the Word of God is very clear but sometimes we complicate it and we take the meaning from God's Word and compromise it.

So Ephesians says it is by grace but it goes on to say in Chapter 5, Paul says this by the Holy Spirit, Chapter 5 beginning Verse 1, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” We have to follow Him. But lest someone says, “Of course, I should follow Him but that doesn’t determine my eternal destiny. It’s just a plus point as it were.”

He goes on to say this [King James Version]

"And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, (these are talking about sexually immoral) nor covetous man, (those who want the things of this world. They are in love with this world and the things they can get in this world and they have a greed for that. They want more and more what others have also.) nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

That verse right there, the last verse leaves no question, no doubt that when the Apostle says by the Holy Spirit "Follow God as dear children"; he is saying the consequence of not following God which is the same as saying obeying Him or truly and genuinely believing in him. The consequence of not having a faith that works, a faith that obeys is being outside of the kingdom of God, not being able to enter into the kingdom of God. So faith is not just one-time obedience even. It is the continuance of a lifestyle of obedience.

Way back in Exodus 19:5-6 it says this in Old Testament, the Lord Says inExodus 19:5-6, [King James Version]

5. Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant (my agreement, my commandments), then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: