How are we saved?
Faith alone.
Ephesians 2:8 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
What is faith? The gift of God - His gift of grace.
Where do we find this faith? The Word of God - Jesus Christ
Romans 10:17 KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Who is the Word?
John 1:1 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 1:14 KJV And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
How much does this gift cost? It is free!
Romans 5:14-15 KJV Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come. (15) But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
Who paid the price? Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
Is belief included with this gift of faith? Yes!
Romans 10:17 KJV So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Jesus is the Word and gives the Word that brings the faith that gives us the power to believe.
John 17:8 KJV For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me.
The “spirit of faith” believes.
2 Corinthians 4:13 KJV We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
Is the gift of God a functioning gift? Does it work? Yes!
James 2:18 KJV Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
God’s gift of faith works!
Philippians 2:13 KJV For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Who begins and completes this “work?” Jesus Christ. Our works cannot save us!
Philippians 1:6 KJV 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:
Does the gift of God called faith include repentance? Yes!
Acts 11:18 KJV When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.
The truth can not be made clearer! We are saved by true faith that comes from a free gift from God in Jesus Christ.
It is a faith that believes, works, and repents.
Why is it impossible to please God without faith?
Hebrews 11:6 KJV — But without faith it is impossible to please him…
Because faith is His gift to us, not our gift to Him.
Ephesians 2:8 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
One says their salvation is based on belief alone, well the devils believe and tremble.
James 2:19 KJV Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
One says their salvation is based on repentance alone, Well Judas repented when he saw that he was condemned.
Matthew 27:3 KJV Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself..
Another says their salvation is based on works alone. Well the Scripture is clear that works in themselves do not save.
Ephesians 2:9 KJV Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It is when we see belief, repentance, and works all together what we find the gift of God called faith, a faith that does not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God. 1 Corinthians 2:5 KJV
This is why we read,
Romans 10:9 KJV — That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
This is why we read,
2 Corinthians 7:10 KJV For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of..
This is why we read,
James 2:20 KJV But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
And finally this is why we read,
Romans 1:17 KJV For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
How does one know if they have received the gift of God called fatih?
It is a gift that transforms the entire being and life of the believer. It begins and is marked with a simple prayer of belief from a heart of repentance that is ready to work for the Glory of the LORD.
