THE FAITH THAT SAVES

Pastor Art Watkins of Coden Bible Church (Coden, Alabama)

September 9, 2013

Faith is absolutely necessary for salvation, for without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 says: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

The faith it takes to get saved is not just any kind of faith. A person could have faith and still be lost, if he didn't have saving faith. What is saving faith? Saving faith is defined in Romans 4:5 which says: But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

According to this verse a person who has saving faith is one who does not work to be saved, but who believes only to be saved. The faith that saves is a faith free from works. True saving faith is total faith in Christ alone for salvation.

There are many people who have faith in Christ, but they are not saved because they don't have total faith in Christ alone to save them. They have faith in Christ, but they also have faith in other things in addition to Christ to save them. Their faith is divided between Christ and other things. Some have faith in Christ, but they also have faith in such things as water baptism, keeping the commandments, living a good life, being faithful to their church, doing good deeds of kindness, or giving to the poor. What’s wrong with these things? Nothing, but if your faith is in these things to save you then you do not have saving faith.

When it comes to faith we must have the right kind of faith and the faith that saves is not a divided faith. It’s not faith in Christ plus good works that saves; it is faith in Christ alone that saves. Saving faith is total and complete faith in Christ alone to save us and keep us saved.

In Romans chapter four God gives us an example of saving faith. The faith that saves is the kind of faith Abraham had. Romans 4:2-3 says: For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Abraham was justified and declared righteous by simply believing what God said. In Genesis 15 God made a promise to Abraham about his children and Abraham believed what God said and God declared him righteous because he did. Abraham is important to us today because God has singled him out as an example of true saving faith. In Romans 4:23-25 Paul wrote; Now it was not written for his (Abraham) sake alone, that it (Righteousness) was imputed to him; But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offenses, and was raised again for our justification.

What was written about Abraham in time past applies to us today for we are justified the same way as Abraham. Note these similarities:

----As Abraham was justified by faith alone without works, so are we.

----As he was justified without the Law, so are we.

----As he was justified without water baptism or keeping the laws of some church, so are we.

----As he was justified without taking one sacrament or joining a church, so are we.

The message we believe is different, but the principle is the same. The principle is faith alone in what God has said to us about his Son. God said he delivered Christ up on the Cross for our offenses and sins and raised him again for our justification. If any man will believe this and this alone, God will save him. True saving faith is total faith in Christ alone for salvation, pardon and eternal life. It's when you place the salvation of your soul into his hands and take your hands off of it.

Read the following verses and notice what they say about faith and about works when it comes to being saved.

Romans 4:5 says; But to him that worketh not but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Titus 3:5 says; Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us.

2 Timothy 1:9 says; God hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.

Romans 5:1 says; Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:16 says; Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Romans 4:6 says; David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works.

Acts 16:31 says; Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

When it comes to salvation the Bible is crystal clear; faith is the one and only requirement to be saved today. There is no work you must do and there is no sacrifice you must make to be saved. God did the work, you do the believing. God made the sacrifice, just believe on the sacrifice.

Next: The Grace that saves.