What is true faith? Many people have a wrong idea of what true faith is. People believe that when you pray for a safe journey and it happens that that is true faith. Or if they are in a crisis and they have a crisis prayer and the crisis is averted, that is real faith. Or praying for a parking at the mall because you are in a hurry, that is faith. Unfortunately if you believe this, you are in deep trouble.
The faith I am talking about is the faith that assures you that when you die, you will go to heaven.
I will try to explain this faith in easy terms and let Scripture speak.
1. Accept that the Bible is the Word of God
The Bible is our source of Truth. If we do not believe that the Bible is true in all aspects, you will not be able to see the Kingdom of Heaven. The latest trend is to doubt the virgin birth of Jesus, that he is not the Son of God that He did not die on the cross, that He was not raised from the dead and that He did not ascend to heaven; you do not have saving faith. I do not say that the Bible does not have difficult parts that are difficult to understand, bit the Gospel is very simple and clear to understand.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 - 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2. Trust the Bible for salvation
We need salvation. We have all sinned and deserve to die the eternal death and hell. There is nothing that we can do to change this fact, but through Christ we can be forgiven of our sins and inherit eternal life.
Romans 3:22-24 - 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 64:6 - 6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.
Romans 5:12 - 12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned
We need to be saved from eternal death. We have to trust God’s Word implicitly, 100% to receive His saving grace. We have to believe that He died for us on the cross for our sins so that through Him we can be saved.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 - For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
It was God’s grace that willfully sent His Son to die on the cross. The price He paid is so great that we cannot “buy” our way into heaven. Our “deeds” is scarred with sin and will not be acceptable to God. We are saved by faith and faith alone.
Ephesians 2:8-9 - 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
Hebrews 9:27-28 - 27 Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, 28 so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.
Romans 5:18-21 - 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. 20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Salvation is only through Jesus Christ. It is a fallacy that there are more ways to heaven than through Jesus Christ. That is a lie from the evil one to deceive people.
John 14:6 - 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 11 Jesus is “‘the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.’ 12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.”
Through His grace, when we become Children of God, He gives us the Holy Spirit as a seal of our conversion.
Ephesians 1:13-14 - 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
We become children of God.
John 1:12 - 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
We are not saved through works.
Romans 3:28 - 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.
3. Believe that true repentance is required for salvation
True repentance is required as part of the salvation process. True repentance means that you accept that you are a sinner and that your sin is the cause of a broken relationship with God. You have to realize that you have hurt the glory of God. It is a deep seated sorrow about how your actions have hurt God. It is not being sorry that you have been caught in the act of indiscretion.
Repentance opens the door to God’s forgiveness through His Son Jesus Christ. If you believe that repentance is not required, you do not need a Savior and that the death and resurrection of Christ was not required. Then we fall into the same category of other religions that believe you can pay your way to heaven with good deeds. All our deeds are tarnished with sin and are not acceptable to God.
We always liken it to making scrambled eggs. You open the eggs one by one and by accident the last egg is a rotten egg and falls into the bowl with the other good eggs. The whole lot of eggs has been tarnished by the one rotten egg. If we wanted to get to heaven through our deeds we would have to be sinless. Then and only then will our deeds be acceptable to God. That is not possible as we have all sinned. Only Jesus Christ was sinless.
Luke 13:2-3 - 2 Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.
2 Corinthians 7:10 - Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
Luke 3:3 - He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
Matthew 11:20 - Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.
Acts 2:38 - Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
2 Peter 3:9 - The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Revelation 3:19 -Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.
4. Believe in the resurrection of Christ
Without the resurrection our faith would be useless. It also assures us that we will arise from the dead and live with the Father forevermore
Romans 10:9-11 - 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.”
We can now live in hope for future that Jesus is alive and we will meet Him in heaven when our time on earth is finished.
Mark 16:10-12 - 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country.
1 Corinthians 15:6 - After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.
5. Believe you can have a changed lifestyle
One of the signs of true salvation is a changed lifestyle. Many people claim to have come to Christ but there is no evidence in their lifestyle. We become a new person and God changes our mind to see the world and life differently.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!
The fruit of the Spirit is one of those signs that show the world that you have been changed by God.
Galatians 5:22-26 - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
A true Christian will not allow the flesh to reign in his life. In the beginning a child of God may make mistakes in his road of justification, but the flesh will not dominate him.
Galatians 5:24-25 - 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit
Actions speak louder than words. It is no use saying that you are a child of God and you do not reach out to others in love.
James 2:14-17 - 14 What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? 15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
The reality is that if we keep on sinning, we will never see the Kingdom of God. We need to make a 180 degree turn from what we were to what we have become. It may be costly. You may lose friends. You may be lonely for some time, but the sacrifice is worth it.
Romans 6:1-4 - 6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Hebrews 10:26 - 26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,
The Holy Spirit is key in the process of a changed life. It is a life long journey until we meet the Lord. Be not discouraged. Give “food” to the Holy Spirit and you will become victorious
Galatians 5:16-17 - 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want.
6. Believe in the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is given to us in its fullness when we become children of God. What we do with the Holy Spirit is up to us. If we give the Holy Spirit “permission” i.e. subject yourself to the Holy Spirit, you will be changed.
The evil one will not conquer you as the Holy Spirit in you, who is God himself, is greater that he, the evil one that is outside you. The evil one was conquered at the death and resurrection of Christ. He can only have a hold on you if you allow the evil one to do so.
1 John 4:1-5- 4 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
John 4:24 - 24 God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
7. Trust the Bible for sanctification
One of the important proofs that we as children of God have that we are God’s children, is sanctification. Without sanctification we cannot please God. Sanctification is a life long journey that only ends when we die or meet the Lord
Galatians 5:19-21 - 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
1 Corinthians 6:9-12 - 9 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
8. Believe that you will be tested
We do not like this part of being a child of God. The reality is that we must go through the process of trials and tribulations. Jesus Himself said:
Matthew 10:22 - You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
Luke 21:16-17 - 16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me.
In fact, unless you are in a very protected environment where you are isolated from the world, if you do not encounter resistance of some form or another because you are a child of God, you must evaluate why that is so. Have you become so aligned with the world and have compromised your faith that you are no longer the light of the world? We must be in the world but not of the world.
James 1:2-4 - 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
1 Peter 1:3-7 - 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
The next question is: How do you respond to trails and tribulation.
Do you see it in a negative way? Do you blame God or challenge Him why it happens to you. You should not be surprised or negative towards trials. God warned us. He never lied to us. It is God’s way of shaping our faith. And we should also remember that God can use adverse circumstances to turn out for our best interest. Trust God. Have faith in Him. He is and remains in control.
1 Peter 1:7-9 - 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
Romans 8:28 - And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
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