Thursday, February 17, 2011

Saving faith...


If faith doesn't take human effort (works!) to exercise to keep it from failing, then it can't fail, correct?  So one cannot lose one's salvation, correct? One cannot "walk away" from Christ, correct? 


Exactly, faith does not take human effort.

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

You do not have to do anything to have faith. To believe God's Word is literally the only thing that a person can do without doing anything!

Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

You can believe God right where you sit or stand without moving a single muscle. You do not have to say a prayer, nor walk and aisle, etc.  Hearing does not require any effort.

As far as whether someone can walk away from Christ?  Yes, a member of the Body of Christ can choose to not listen to His Word (through Paul) anymore—and sadly, many stop listening to Him. They are called vessels of dishonor in scripture.

2 Timothy 2:19-21
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.  But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.   If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified , and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.

But just because they "walk away" from Him does not mean that they will lose their salvation…

Ephesians 2:8-9
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.

Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

…because our salvation is not based on what we do or don't do, it is based on His faithfulness to himself.

Galatians 2:16
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.

Philippians 3:9
And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Once we trust Christ, the Spirit of God places us [by baptism of the Holy Spirit] into His Body, we become His, and nobody can separate us from Him.

1 Corinthians 12:13
For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.

Ephesians 1:13
In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

A saint who walks away, that is, stops listening to his Master's Word, will not lose salvation, but will lose his reward!

1 Corinthians 3:15
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

1 Corinthians 1:8-9
Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Philippians 1:6
Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

2 Timothy 2:13
If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.



Hopefully this helps...Maranatha!

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