Text: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Ephesians 2:7-8.
Definition of the term: Nothing interprets, or defines, Holy Scripture better than Holy Scripture. Therefore, we find a profound, yet perfect, definition of the concept of Christian Faith in God’s own Word.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
Faith, thus, can only be understood as a Supernatural quality, something that God alone gives to those whom He desires to give it.
Being defined as ‘…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’; we comprehend that it is a Divinely given gift without which we never can, nor ever will be, Eternally saved.
Faith is defined, in the general sense, by theologian Alan Cairns of Faith Free Presbyterian Church, Greenville, South Carolina, as ‘…the assent of the mind to the truth of something of which we do not have an immediate conception, whereas knowledge is the perception of the truth of something of which we have an immediate conception.’
Faith, according to Thomas Halyburton, one of Scotland’s greatest theologians: ‘…the grace of faith is basically a hearty approbation of God’s method of saving sinners. We may define it as the work of the Holy Spirit, His gift to God’s elect, enabling them to believe as true whatever God has revealed in His Word and to accept, receive, and rest upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and Eternal life. It is never alone, being always accompanied by repentance, and producing good works.’ God’s people say a hearty ‘Amen!’ to this truth.
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
(James 2:17-26)
Faith, the true genuine, God-given article, is ‘…the faith once delivered unto the saints.’ (Jude 3) It is a true faith that will never depart from God’s Word as the only means of obtaining it; and those genuinely possessing such a Divine gift will never, even upon threat of torture or death, ‘…depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils, speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron…’ (1 Timothy 4:1-2)
“So then, Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
In this sense, we understand more clearly what the great apostle Paul was fearlessly declaring when, not long before he would be martyred for having such faith, he cried: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have KEPT the faith…” (2 Timothy 4:7)
The Divine Giver of this Supernatural faith has therefore KEPT Paul Eternally ‘…through faith unto Salvation…’. Praise His Name!
(1 Peter 1:4-5)
Faith is an absolute necessity for Salvation, we cannot be saved without it; and without it, we can never ‘…please…’ God.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him; for he that cometh to God must believe that He is (i.e. that God actually exists!), and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Let’s look at the concept of faith in this manner: we know that ‘…The Lord knoweth them that are His, and let everyone that nameth the Name of Christ depart from iniquity.” (2 Timothy 2:19)
How does the Lord know, and continue to know, ‘…them that are His…’? Because He Himself has given them the genuine gift of faith to believe and to be Eternally saved! If our Sovereign Lord God does not, by His own Sovereign will and grace, chose to give us genuine faith to believe the Gospel of His Son Christ Jesus, we will never even believe we are LOST in the first place! We are saved, by God’s grace, through FAITH.
“But the natural man (unregenerate, uncalled, unsaved) receiveth not the things of God; for they are foolishness unto him; neither can he know them, because they are Spiritually discerned (by God-given faith!).”
(1 Corinthians 2:14)
Happy are you if you are reading about this great doctrine, and believing it is true. May the Lord God continue to build up our FAITH in Him.