that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that
believing ye might have life through his name.
John 20:31
...Then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:26-31.A person cannot be saved--a person cannot receive salvation for their soul--without faith. There is only one way to be saved, and that is through Jesus Christ. Without believing in Him and believing on Him, we cannot receive forgiveness of our sins. So if you are saved, if you are resting in the ASSURANCE of your salvation, you have F-A-I-T-H!!
To clarify a point of confusion in [many] doctrines (and we know who the author of confusion is, don't we?)--there are those who will tell you that it is not faith that saves you. That part is true, but they don't follow up and explain that even though faith does NOT save, WITHOUT FAITH YOU CANNOT BE SAVED! How/why is that? Because it takes FAITH to believe in God. It takes FAITH to believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God. It takes FAITH to believe that Jesus Christ is the only door to Salvation. It takes FAITH to accept the fact that we are sinners in NEED of salvation. It takes FAITH to receive that GREAT salvation. It takes FAITH to believe we have received forgiveness of our sins through salvation. It takes FAITH to keep it and LIVE the WITNESS of it everyday of our lives.
Here's another astounding fact: Salvation is THE GREATEST miracle of all. Shall I repeat that? Aw come on, say it out loud with me, won't you? Salvation is THE GREATEST miracle of all! So if you have asked forgiveness of your sins and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you already have F-A-I-T-H, because it is ONLY through Faith that we ask for forgiveness of our sins and accept that we have been forgiven of them. And seeing as to how Salvation is the biggest, grandest, most marvelous miracle of all, why do we keep trying to "work up faith" for all the minor things of life?
The reason folks have such a problem understanding (or exercising) Faith is because it is so S-I-M-P-L-E. Seriously, it's a fact. We say to ourselves, "Oh, it can't be that simple!" (easy), but it is! It is as straight-forward and uncomplicated as anything could ever be, yet for that very reason, we insist that there must be some great unattainable secret to it.
I think we can all agree that we've read things time after time, but then there comes the day when we read it once again, and suddenly, it "leaps off the page" at us. I believe you will never have the same problem understanding so important an issue as FAITH, something we need to exercise each and every day of our lives, after you read this statement: "If you are saved, you have already prayed for the impossible, because salvation is impossible with men. God has already done something for you that no man can do anywhere." * (see reference below)
Think about that just for a moment. Please, it is so important, I ask you to read it out loud and listen to the words: let it sink in, absorb the magnitude of those two statements. Do you understand what it is saying? "IF YOU ARE SAVED, YOU HAVE ALREADY PRAYED (AND BELIEVED FOR) THE IMPOSSIBLE, BECAUSE SALVATION IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH MEN (mankind). GOD HAS ALREADY DONE SOMETHING FOR YOU THAT NO MAN, ANYWHERE, CAN DO!" If you are saved, did you believe in what you were asking God to do for you: forgive you of your sins? Did you? I'm asking you again, are you saved? It takes Faith to believe it! So IF YOU ARE CONVINCED of your salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, here comes the simple part: that is F-A-I-T-H!
There is NO greater miracle than the Miracle of Salvation. The deal is, we don't "see" Salvation as a "miracle" because we, with our foolish notions and carnal eyes, see miracles only as thunder-and-lightning, take-our-breath-away, dramatic events. Everyone of us can name at least some miracles which Christ performed: turning the water into wine, healing the lame and blind, casting out demons, the loaves and fishes. Yet, I wonder, how many of us would include Salvation in that list? John summed it up nicely: And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen. John 21:25.
But my friends, there is NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING GREATER than to see a life surrendered to the Lord Jesus Christ, a soul snatched from the clutches of sin and redeemed through the precious blood of Jesus Christ! EVERYTHING ELSE PALES IN COMPARISON TO THE AWESOME, CLEANSING, LIFE-CHANGING MIRACLE OF SALVATION! Let the Word of God tell you how truly significant a sinner's repentance is, through two parables which Jesus told:
What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it? And when he hath found it, he layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he cometh home, he calleth together his friends and neighbours, saying unto them, Rejoice with me; for I have found my sheep which was lost. I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.You shoutin' yet? Just think about it for a moment: A sinner's repentance is so IMPORTANT that even the angels are aware of it, and there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repents!!! Now the whole point of asking you to realize the significance of Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ is to ask you this once again: IF WE HAVE THE FAITH TO BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN SAVED, WHY DO WE KEEP TRYING TO WORK UP FAITH FOR OTHER THINGS? I tell you again, THERE IS NO GREATER MIRACLE THAN THE MIRACLE OF SALVATION!
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. Luke 15:4-10.
Romans 12:3 tells us that God has dealt to every man "the measure of faith". What faith? Faith in Jesus Christ, that when we asked Him to forgive us of our sins, He did just that. And it is through that Faith that we know the Lord Jesus Christ as our personal Savior!
That just starts the old tears to flowing all over again: remembering who I was, and that Jesus would perform the most marvelous miracle of all in my life? Wretched and vile, lost and undone, all those years that I wasted in rebellion against Him, yet when I cried out to Him for mercy, He heard my cries. What love, what WONDROUS love!
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. Romans 5:1-9.Come on, read it again. Did you see it there? "Justified by faith", "access by faith into this grace". My friends, we need to return to our first love, and renew ourselves in Him, each and every day. When we asked Jesus Christ to forgive us of our sins, we asked for the impossible. Remember: When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved? But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but WITH GOD ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. Matthew 19:25,26. More than anything else we could ever remember, we need to remember that.
Now get this: 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. Hebrews 11:6. First of all, we have to believe that God IS. He exists, we believe in Him. We believe that He has preserved His Word from generation to generation. We believe that we can stand on the promises of God, in faith believing, And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. Matthew 21:22. Right? Right? Hello?
So if we prayed, in faith believing, for something as miraculous, as mighty, as Salvation, why don't we have the faith to believe God when we ask other things of Him? "Well, Lord, I believe you can, BUT. . ." WHY do we keep putting "buts" in our prayers?
Let's look at something I want you to get.
And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit...And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. Mark 9:17, 20-24.The father of this child did NOT say, "Well Lord I believe, BUT...!" NO! He didn't put any BUT in his request. Instead of BUT... and then losing by default (lack of faith and giving up because of it!!), he cried, "Help thou mine UNBELIEF". Let's get the BUTS... out of our prayers, and humble ourselves to say to the Lord, "Increase my faith, Lord! Take away any unbelief there might be in me!"
We need to quit "looking for signs" and take Him at His Word: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) II Corinthians 5:7. ...The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38). We need to stand fast on what we know, and for those of us who have been redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, we know we are saved. Now if we have the FAITH to believe and accept that, we need to use that "measure of faith" which each of us have been given and apply it in our Christian walk each and every day of our lives.
So if we have the Faith to believe in Jesus Christ for the salvation of our souls, we need to remember, But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19. We need to meet each day with our wills in submission to God's Will. 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. Hebrews 11:6.
We can have a closer walk with Jesus Christ through faith. We say the hardest person to have faith for is ourselves. IF we will only remember our Salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, that greatest miracle of ALL, we hold the key to the "secret" of Faith and living a life of victory. We are overcomers by the Blood of The Lamb and the word of our testimonies. Fertilize the "measure of faith" you have already been given by talking Faith, not doubt. AS YOU GO IN FAITH, YOU WILL GROW IN FAITH! You WILL have a closer walk with God!
"A Closer Walk Through Faith" Copyright © 2000 by Patricia Sikes.
All Rights Reserved.
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