What is Saving Faith?

What is saving faith? Over and over again Paul asserts that faith is “believing God.” Abraham believed that God was able to perform all that HE HAD PROMISED (Rom. 4:20-21). Abraham believed God! Faith is simply believing God and thus believing GOD’S WORD! “THY WORD IS TRUTH.”

What God says about Himself, about our guilt, about His purpose of grace in Christ, about Christ’s person and work, is true. We agree with His Word, rely upon it, and act accordingly. This is faith!

Paul summed up the matter of faith when he stood upon the deck of that doomed ship and declared, “Sirs, be of good cheer; for I BELIEVE GOD, that it shall be even as it was told me” (Acts 27:22-25). Paul believed God and thus believed His word.

Pastor Henry T. Mahan (Bulletin 1987)

I’ve heard it said, “If you wish to be disappointed, look at others; if you wish to be disheartened, look at yourself; if you wish to be encouraged, look to the Lord Jesus Christ.”We’re all frail creatures of the dust and in need to be reminded of these things. As we, “run with patience the race that is set before us,” may the Lord direct our hearts to be, “Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith.”(Heb.12:2). Pastor Marvin Stalnaker

“THIRTY THREE YEARS”

I was reading about some doctors and scientists who said that if you believe them and follow their method you would live 33 more years. What good news right? No, it isn’t! It is the wisdom of the world and false science.

The wisdom of the world and science always leaves God out of their thoughts. They actually believe that they have the power over life and have the ability to give you more of it. They are like the “fool who said in his heart there is no God” (Psalm 14).

God created man and “breathed into his nostrils and he became a living soul”. It is through “him we live, move and have our being”. David said, “Make me to know the end of my days that I may apply my heart unto wisdom.” What fools to believe they can actually cause men to live 33 more years!

Do they not know that, “it is appointed unto man once to die, then the judgment?” The scriptures tell us that God has the breath of every living soul, and He can take it as easy as it is to give. You hear people say; “he died before his time, no every man dies at God’s time.

What a blessing to believe God and trust His Son the Lord Jesus Christ. We have real life, eternal life; we live by faith, and our faith does not stand in the wisdom of man, but of God.

Pastor Don Bell

GOD’S FOUNDATION
Isaiah 28:16

People are no different in Isaiah’s day than in ours. Religious lost men still love to brag and boast of their agreements, pledges, decisions and covenants they have made with death, hell and the grave. Therefore we need to constantly warn every one of the certain and eternal destruction of all those who rest in their refuge of lies (Isa.28:17-18). They willfully choose to disregard the only foundation on which the guilty sinner can find peace with God and go about to establish their own righteousness by their deeds (Rom. 10:1-4). Our Lord Jesus Christ is plainly set forth in scripture as the only provided and secure foundation upon which guilty sinners can rest and find peace with God (1 Cor.3:11; 1 Peter 2:2-7; 2 Cor.5:18-21).

Isaiah describes this foundation with great detail so that none will be misled or mistaken to trust a false Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the "tried stone." When He was manifested in the flesh as the sinner’s Mediator, He was tried, tested, and tempted in every aspect that a man could possibly be tested and yet he never failed (Heb. 4:14-15). He is also called the, "precious corner stone." He is precious to God the Father who sent Him to be the Saviour and Redeemer of His people (Matt. 3:17). He is also precious to those who trust Him as the only true refuge (1 Peter 2:7). Our blessed Lord put away our sin with His precious blood (1 Peter 1:18), granted us precious faith to fully trust Him (2 Peter 1:1), and has given to us His precious promises so that we might know more of this certain foundation. Isaiah also describes our Lord Jesus Christ as the, "sure foundation." I like things that are certain and sure. Nothing can be more certain and sure as that which God has provided for His people (Gen. 22:8). "The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his" (2Tim 2:19). The certainty of this foundation is not us knowing Him, but rather Him knowing us (Rom. 8:29-30).

Those who are given life and grace to flee to the Lord Jesus Christ shall never be ashamed, will never be confounded and will never be forced out. Those who have trusted a false Christ will be confounded and confused, especially on the day of judgment (Matt. 7:21-23; Isa. 45:16-17).