What is "Saving Faith?"

[Dennis1209]

Saving Faith

Am I the only one who has been attacked? Has a conflicting thought ever crossed your mind, and you wondered where it came from? Has a doubt ever crossed your mind am I truly saved, do I possess enough saving faith for Salvation, how much faith & trust do I need to be saved? A kernel of faith and trust, or everything I have. Saving faith is not addressed in the Bible, or the quantity thereof. Denying Jesus three times, did Peter lose 100% of his faith and assurance?

Our growing goal: Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Three questions pertaining to the assurance of Salvation from ~ R. C. Sproul:

• Do you love the biblical Jesus perfectly?
• Do you love the biblical Jesus as much as you should?
• Do you love the biblical Jesus at all?

It Is Sure Grace-Adrian Rogers

Folks, listen. It is saving grace, it is sanctifying grace, it is surviving grace, and it is sure grace. If you were to ask me, “Adrian Rogers, are you saved?” I’d say, “yes.” You’d say, “Well, you have a lot of confidence in yourself.” I don’t have any more confidence in me than I have in the devil himself. That is, in me and my flesh is no good thing. When I say, “I know I’m saved,” my confidence is in God’s grace. If any part of it depended upon me, I’d have to say, “Well, I think I’m saved,” “Maybe I’m saved,” “I hope I’m saved,” “I’m doing the best I can.” But when I know it’s by grace, I can, yes, I know that I’m saved! Amen?

Now listen. It is by grace through faith—through faith. I hear people talking about the word saving faith. It’s not saving faith. There’s no such thing as saving faith. It’s grace that saves you. Faith is the handle that gets hold of it. Faith is the hand that reaches out and takes hold of it. Oh, yes, it is faith that enables us to be saved—and in that sense you could call it saving faith—but dear friend, listen. It is grace that saves, through faith. Faith just simply reaches up and takes hold of God’s grace. Grace is God’s hand reaching down from heaven and saying, “I love you; I want to save you.” And faith is your hand reaching up and saying, “I believe it, and I want to be saved.” And when God’s hand of grace meets your hand of faith, my friend, that’s salvation—that’s salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” We put our faith in God’s grace. We trust the Lord.

And I want to tell you something else. Even the faith is a gift of God—even the faith is a gift of God. None of us, out of our depraved, devilish, disobedient dead hearts—do you think …?—where’s that faith going to come from? God puts the faith in your heart. That’s the reason anybody can be saved.

Don’t tell me, “Well, I just can’t be saved; I don’t have what it takes.” No, but God has what it takes. Your problem is your stubborn will. God’s not going to force it on you. Listen. You say, “I need faith.” God will give you faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” What is the gift of God? The grace and the faith is the gift of God.

Now listen. The Bible says, “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.” There will be no peacocks in heaven. And then it says this: “For we are his workmanship …”—listen—“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This pulpit—and I love this pulpit—this pulpit is somebody’s workmanship. Now this pulpit did not cut itself down in the forest. It did not clean itself into boards. It did not saw itself into appropriate pieces. It did not glue itself together. Somebody did this. That is somebody’s workmanship. I don’t know who made this pulpit, but he did a good job. That is somebody’s workmanship. Why did he make it? What was his purpose in making it? He made it to be a pulpit.

Now why did God save me? What was God’s plan? What was God’s grace? God created me “unto good works, which he hath before ordained that I should walk in them.” The man who made this pulpit before ordained that it would be a pulpit. He had a pulpit in mind. He wanted a pulpit. But the pulpit didn’t make itself. It was made by another in order to be a pulpit. Why do we do good works? Not in order to be saved, but because we have been saved.

You’re not saved by faith and works, but you’re saved by faith that works. And as James said, “You show me your faith without your works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Friend, you couldn’t have faith without good works any more than you could have fire without heat. But you’re not saved by those good works. You’re saved by the grace that produces those good works.

Now if you keep three prepositions in mind, it will keep your theology just as straight as an arrow: by, through, and unto. Three prepositions: by grace, through faith, unto good works—you got it? You’re saved by the grace of God, through faith, unto good works.

Now it has to be this way—it has to be this way—so that God will get the glory, and not man. You see, in the ages to come, He’s going to show the riches of His grace. When you walk into heaven, they’ll say, “Oh, glory to Him! God saved this man by His marvelous matchless, wonderful grace.”

Now God’s purpose, God’s plan, results in God’s praise. Again, verse 9: “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Verse 7: In the ages to come He shows the riches of His grace.

Conclusion

Now folks, that’s your spiritual biography: what you were—past guilt; what you are—present grace; what you shall be—prospective glory. That’s what makes Christianity different from any other religion. Thank God for the grace of God. Grace is such a wonderful word. I’m so grateful I can preach grace.

Let me illustrate and I’ll be finished. Let me show you the difference between Christianity and the religions of this world. Let’s suppose there’s a man in a filthy, vile, slimy, deep pit. In that pit with him is a venomous serpent. And let’s say that the man is in grave, mortal danger and needs to be delivered from that pit. Let’s say that the animist who believes that the trees and the animals all have spirits, he’s a very primitive religionist. He comes and sees the man in the pit, and when he sees the man in the pit, he just flees back into the jungle in fear of the snake. Let’s suppose that a Confucianist comes, and a Confucianist sees the man in the pit, and the Confucianist who has this religion of ethics and morals says, “Ah so, man walk circumspectly not fall in pit. Next time, be more careful you’ll not fall in pit.” He’s already in it. Well, let’s suppose that a Buddhist comes along, and the Buddhist sees the man in the pit, and the Buddhist says to this man in the in the pit, “Well, the reason that you feel so uncomfortable in that pit is that you won’t get out of the pit. Now what you need to do is to come to the cessation of any desire, and just realize you’re in the pit, and just make peace with the pit.” That’s Buddhism. Well, the Hindu comes, and he says, “You just think you’re in the pit. That’s the error of your mortal mind. That’s because you don’t understand really there is no pit.”

But now let’s suppose that Jesus comes. He sees the man in the pit, and what he does is to leap into that pit with him down in the mire, stand between that man and that serpent; He takes the fangs into His own body and lifts the man out of the pit at the same time.

That’s a crude illustration, friend, but that’s what Jesus does for us. “Him who knew no sin God hath made to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He took the sting of death, and lifted us, and picked us up, and put us out.

From sinking sand He lifted me, With [His own] hand He lifted me. (Charles H. Gabriel)

Now folks, I want you to take that little outline, and I want you to go home, and I want you to think about what Jesus Christ has done for you, and I want you to fill in those examples, and I want you to think what you were, and I want you to think what you are, and I want you to think what you’re going to be, and then you’re going to want to sing what we’re going to sing right now: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” (John Newton)¹

You know, sometimes we hear sermons on “saving faith.” The Bible never mentions saving faith. There’s no such thing as saving faith. Faith doesn’t save; Jesus saves. You’re not saved by faith; you’re saved by Christ. Now faith is necessary for salvation, but it is Christ that saves you. How much faith does it take? Just faith enough to say, “Lord, I trust you.” And listen, friend. That’s all there is.¹¹ 

Rogers, A. (2017). Looking unto Jesus. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Heb 12:1–2). Rogers Family Trust.

[Marilyn C]

`Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,...` (Jude 24)

Only look to Jesus for nothing else is secure.

[AdHoc]

On 11/6/2023 at 11:14 PM, Dennis1209 said:

Saving Faith

Am I the only one who has been attacked? Has a conflicting thought ever crossed your mind, and you wondered where it came from? Has a doubt ever crossed your mind am I truly saved, do I possess enough saving faith for Salvation, how much faith & trust do I need to be saved? A kernel of faith and trust, or everything I have. Saving faith is not addressed in the Bible, or the quantity thereof. Denying Jesus three times, did Peter lose 100% of his faith and assurance?

Our growing goal: Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Three questions pertaining to the assurance of Salvation from ~ R. C. Sproul:

• Do you love the biblical Jesus perfectly?
• Do you love the biblical Jesus as much as you should?
• Do you love the biblical Jesus at all?

It Is Sure Grace-Adrian Rogers

Folks, listen. It is saving grace, it is sanctifying grace, it is surviving grace, and it is sure grace. If you were to ask me, “Adrian Rogers, are you saved?” I’d say, “yes.” You’d say, “Well, you have a lot of confidence in yourself.” I don’t have any more confidence in me than I have in the devil himself. That is, in me and my flesh is no good thing. When I say, “I know I’m saved,” my confidence is in God’s grace. If any part of it depended upon me, I’d have to say, “Well, I think I’m saved,” “Maybe I’m saved,” “I hope I’m saved,” “I’m doing the best I can.” But when I know it’s by grace, I can, yes, I know that I’m saved! Amen?

Now listen. It is by grace through faith—through faith. I hear people talking about the word saving faith. It’s not saving faith. There’s no such thing as saving faith. It’s grace that saves you. Faith is the handle that gets hold of it. Faith is the hand that reaches out and takes hold of it. Oh, yes, it is faith that enables us to be saved—and in that sense you could call it saving faith—but dear friend, listen. It is grace that saves, through faith. Faith just simply reaches up and takes hold of God’s grace. Grace is God’s hand reaching down from heaven and saying, “I love you; I want to save you.” And faith is your hand reaching up and saying, “I believe it, and I want to be saved.” And when God’s hand of grace meets your hand of faith, my friend, that’s salvation—that’s salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” We put our faith in God’s grace. We trust the Lord.

And I want to tell you something else. Even the faith is a gift of God—even the faith is a gift of God. None of us, out of our depraved, devilish, disobedient dead hearts—do you think …?—where’s that faith going to come from? God puts the faith in your heart. That’s the reason anybody can be saved.

Don’t tell me, “Well, I just can’t be saved; I don’t have what it takes.” No, but God has what it takes. Your problem is your stubborn will. God’s not going to force it on you. Listen. You say, “I need faith.” God will give you faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” What is the gift of God? The grace and the faith is the gift of God.

Now listen. The Bible says, “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.” There will be no peacocks in heaven. And then it says this: “For we are his workmanship …”—listen—“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This pulpit—and I love this pulpit—this pulpit is somebody’s workmanship. Now this pulpit did not cut itself down in the forest. It did not clean itself into boards. It did not saw itself into appropriate pieces. It did not glue itself together. Somebody did this. That is somebody’s workmanship. I don’t know who made this pulpit, but he did a good job. That is somebody’s workmanship. Why did he make it? What was his purpose in making it? He made it to be a pulpit.

Now why did God save me? What was God’s plan? What was God’s grace? God created me “unto good works, which he hath before ordained that I should walk in them.” The man who made this pulpit before ordained that it would be a pulpit. He had a pulpit in mind. He wanted a pulpit. But the pulpit didn’t make itself. It was made by another in order to be a pulpit. Why do we do good works? Not in order to be saved, but because we have been saved.

You’re not saved by faith and works, but you’re saved by faith that works. And as James said, “You show me your faith without your works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Friend, you couldn’t have faith without good works any more than you could have fire without heat. But you’re not saved by those good works. You’re saved by the grace that produces those good works.

Now if you keep three prepositions in mind, it will keep your theology just as straight as an arrow: by, through, and unto. Three prepositions: by grace, through faith, unto good works—you got it? You’re saved by the grace of God, through faith, unto good works.

Now it has to be this way—it has to be this way—so that God will get the glory, and not man. You see, in the ages to come, He’s going to show the riches of His grace. When you walk into heaven, they’ll say, “Oh, glory to Him! God saved this man by His marvelous matchless, wonderful grace.”

Now God’s purpose, God’s plan, results in God’s praise. Again, verse 9: “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Verse 7: In the ages to come He shows the riches of His grace.

Conclusion

Now folks, that’s your spiritual biography: what you were—past guilt; what you are—present grace; what you shall be—prospective glory. That’s what makes Christianity different from any other religion. Thank God for the grace of God. Grace is such a wonderful word. I’m so grateful I can preach grace.

Let me illustrate and I’ll be finished. Let me show you the difference between Christianity and the religions of this world. Let’s suppose there’s a man in a filthy, vile, slimy, deep pit. In that pit with him is a venomous serpent. And let’s say that the man is in grave, mortal danger and needs to be delivered from that pit. Let’s say that the animist who believes that the trees and the animals all have spirits, he’s a very primitive religionist. He comes and sees the man in the pit, and when he sees the man in the pit, he just flees back into the jungle in fear of the snake. Let’s suppose that a Confucianist comes, and a Confucianist sees the man in the pit, and the Confucianist who has this religion of ethics and morals says, “Ah so, man walk circumspectly not fall in pit. Next time, be more careful you’ll not fall in pit.” He’s already in it. Well, let’s suppose that a Buddhist comes along, and the Buddhist sees the man in the pit, and the Buddhist says to this man in the in the pit, “Well, the reason that you feel so uncomfortable in that pit is that you won’t get out of the pit. Now what you need to do is to come to the cessation of any desire, and just realize you’re in the pit, and just make peace with the pit.” That’s Buddhism. Well, the Hindu comes, and he says, “You just think you’re in the pit. That’s the error of your mortal mind. That’s because you don’t understand really there is no pit.”

But now let’s suppose that Jesus comes. He sees the man in the pit, and what he does is to leap into that pit with him down in the mire, stand between that man and that serpent; He takes the fangs into His own body and lifts the man out of the pit at the same time.

That’s a crude illustration, friend, but that’s what Jesus does for us. “Him who knew no sin God hath made to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He took the sting of death, and lifted us, and picked us up, and put us out.

From sinking sand He lifted me, With [His own] hand He lifted me. (Charles H. Gabriel)

Now folks, I want you to take that little outline, and I want you to go home, and I want you to think about what Jesus Christ has done for you, and I want you to fill in those examples, and I want you to think what you were, and I want you to think what you are, and I want you to think what you’re going to be, and then you’re going to want to sing what we’re going to sing right now: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” (John Newton)¹

You know, sometimes we hear sermons on “saving faith.” The Bible never mentions saving faith. There’s no such thing as saving faith. Faith doesn’t save; Jesus saves. You’re not saved by faith; you’re saved by Christ. Now faith is necessary for salvation, but it is Christ that saves you. How much faith does it take? Just faith enough to say, “Lord, I trust you.” And listen, friend. That’s all there is.¹¹ 

Rogers, A. (2017). Looking unto Jesus. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Heb 12:1–2). Rogers Family Trust.

 

23 hours ago, Marilyn C said:

`Now to Him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,...` (Jude 24)

Only look to Jesus for nothing else is secure.

Marilyn and I sometimes disagree, but on this one we fully agree. The Bible is a revelation of a Savior. He is appointed and anointed for the duty. AS to faith - it is a GIFT from the AUTHOR of faith (Heb.12:2) and the salvation is "eternal" (Heb 5:9). On resurrection day our Lord Jesus went to the Father and presented His blood in the heavenly Tabernacle. It was approved by the Eternal father. The matter is settled. If we look to ourselves we will quickly succumb to doubt. If we set our standard, we will fall short of it. Salvation is by the works of AN-OTHER. If you look at Him you will walk on stormy water. If you look anywhere else you will sink.

[Neighbor]

On 11/6/2023 at 5:14 PM, Dennis1209 said:

Has a doubt ever crossed your mind am I truly saved, do I possess enough saving faith for Salvation, how much faith & trust do I need to be saved?

Hi, As for myself, no. I have not counted on my faith, for my faith may fail me. I have counted on the faith of Yeshua who will not fail, for Yeshua is God. He has been faithful from before the beginning of His Creation.

[Truswell]

On 11/6/2023 at 10:14 PM, Dennis1209 said:

Saving Faith

Am I the only one who has been attacked? Has a conflicting thought ever crossed your mind, and you wondered where it came from? Has a doubt ever crossed your mind am I truly saved, do I possess enough saving faith for Salvation, how much faith & trust do I need to be saved? A kernel of faith and trust, or everything I have. Saving faith is not addressed in the Bible, or the quantity thereof. Denying Jesus three times, did Peter lose 100% of his faith and assurance?

Our growing goal: Mark 12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Three questions pertaining to the assurance of Salvation from ~ R. C. Sproul:

• Do you love the biblical Jesus perfectly?
• Do you love the biblical Jesus as much as you should?
• Do you love the biblical Jesus at all?

It Is Sure Grace-Adrian Rogers

Folks, listen. It is saving grace, it is sanctifying grace, it is surviving grace, and it is sure grace. If you were to ask me, “Adrian Rogers, are you saved?” I’d say, “yes.” You’d say, “Well, you have a lot of confidence in yourself.” I don’t have any more confidence in me than I have in the devil himself. That is, in me and my flesh is no good thing. When I say, “I know I’m saved,” my confidence is in God’s grace. If any part of it depended upon me, I’d have to say, “Well, I think I’m saved,” “Maybe I’m saved,” “I hope I’m saved,” “I’m doing the best I can.” But when I know it’s by grace, I can, yes, I know that I’m saved! Amen?

Now listen. It is by grace through faith—through faith. I hear people talking about the word saving faith. It’s not saving faith. There’s no such thing as saving faith. It’s grace that saves you. Faith is the handle that gets hold of it. Faith is the hand that reaches out and takes hold of it. Oh, yes, it is faith that enables us to be saved—and in that sense you could call it saving faith—but dear friend, listen. It is grace that saves, through faith. Faith just simply reaches up and takes hold of God’s grace. Grace is God’s hand reaching down from heaven and saying, “I love you; I want to save you.” And faith is your hand reaching up and saying, “I believe it, and I want to be saved.” And when God’s hand of grace meets your hand of faith, my friend, that’s salvation—that’s salvation. “For by grace are ye saved through faith.” We put our faith in God’s grace. We trust the Lord.

And I want to tell you something else. Even the faith is a gift of God—even the faith is a gift of God. None of us, out of our depraved, devilish, disobedient dead hearts—do you think …?—where’s that faith going to come from? God puts the faith in your heart. That’s the reason anybody can be saved.

Don’t tell me, “Well, I just can’t be saved; I don’t have what it takes.” No, but God has what it takes. Your problem is your stubborn will. God’s not going to force it on you. Listen. You say, “I need faith.” God will give you faith. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” What is the gift of God? The grace and the faith is the gift of God.

Now listen. The Bible says, “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.” There will be no peacocks in heaven. And then it says this: “For we are his workmanship …”—listen—“we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

This pulpit—and I love this pulpit—this pulpit is somebody’s workmanship. Now this pulpit did not cut itself down in the forest. It did not clean itself into boards. It did not saw itself into appropriate pieces. It did not glue itself together. Somebody did this. That is somebody’s workmanship. I don’t know who made this pulpit, but he did a good job. That is somebody’s workmanship. Why did he make it? What was his purpose in making it? He made it to be a pulpit.

Now why did God save me? What was God’s plan? What was God’s grace? God created me “unto good works, which he hath before ordained that I should walk in them.” The man who made this pulpit before ordained that it would be a pulpit. He had a pulpit in mind. He wanted a pulpit. But the pulpit didn’t make itself. It was made by another in order to be a pulpit. Why do we do good works? Not in order to be saved, but because we have been saved.

You’re not saved by faith and works, but you’re saved by faith that works. And as James said, “You show me your faith without your works, and I’ll show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18). Friend, you couldn’t have faith without good works any more than you could have fire without heat. But you’re not saved by those good works. You’re saved by the grace that produces those good works.

Now if you keep three prepositions in mind, it will keep your theology just as straight as an arrow: by, through, and unto. Three prepositions: by grace, through faith, unto good works—you got it? You’re saved by the grace of God, through faith, unto good works.

Now it has to be this way—it has to be this way—so that God will get the glory, and not man. You see, in the ages to come, He’s going to show the riches of His grace. When you walk into heaven, they’ll say, “Oh, glory to Him! God saved this man by His marvelous matchless, wonderful grace.”

Now God’s purpose, God’s plan, results in God’s praise. Again, verse 9: “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Verse 7: In the ages to come He shows the riches of His grace.

Conclusion

Now folks, that’s your spiritual biography: what you were—past guilt; what you are—present grace; what you shall be—prospective glory. That’s what makes Christianity different from any other religion. Thank God for the grace of God. Grace is such a wonderful word. I’m so grateful I can preach grace.

Let me illustrate and I’ll be finished. Let me show you the difference between Christianity and the religions of this world. Let’s suppose there’s a man in a filthy, vile, slimy, deep pit. In that pit with him is a venomous serpent. And let’s say that the man is in grave, mortal danger and needs to be delivered from that pit. Let’s say that the animist who believes that the trees and the animals all have spirits, he’s a very primitive religionist. He comes and sees the man in the pit, and when he sees the man in the pit, he just flees back into the jungle in fear of the snake. Let’s suppose that a Confucianist comes, and a Confucianist sees the man in the pit, and the Confucianist who has this religion of ethics and morals says, “Ah so, man walk circumspectly not fall in pit. Next time, be more careful you’ll not fall in pit.” He’s already in it. Well, let’s suppose that a Buddhist comes along, and the Buddhist sees the man in the pit, and the Buddhist says to this man in the in the pit, “Well, the reason that you feel so uncomfortable in that pit is that you won’t get out of the pit. Now what you need to do is to come to the cessation of any desire, and just realize you’re in the pit, and just make peace with the pit.” That’s Buddhism. Well, the Hindu comes, and he says, “You just think you’re in the pit. That’s the error of your mortal mind. That’s because you don’t understand really there is no pit.”

But now let’s suppose that Jesus comes. He sees the man in the pit, and what he does is to leap into that pit with him down in the mire, stand between that man and that serpent; He takes the fangs into His own body and lifts the man out of the pit at the same time.

That’s a crude illustration, friend, but that’s what Jesus does for us. “Him who knew no sin God hath made to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). He took the sting of death, and lifted us, and picked us up, and put us out.

From sinking sand He lifted me, With [His own] hand He lifted me. (Charles H. Gabriel)

Now folks, I want you to take that little outline, and I want you to go home, and I want you to think about what Jesus Christ has done for you, and I want you to fill in those examples, and I want you to think what you were, and I want you to think what you are, and I want you to think what you’re going to be, and then you’re going to want to sing what we’re going to sing right now: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me” (John Newton)¹

You know, sometimes we hear sermons on “saving faith.” The Bible never mentions saving faith. There’s no such thing as saving faith. Faith doesn’t save; Jesus saves. You’re not saved by faith; you’re saved by Christ. Now faith is necessary for salvation, but it is Christ that saves you. How much faith does it take? Just faith enough to say, “Lord, I trust you.” And listen, friend. That’s all there is.¹¹ 

Rogers, A. (2017). Looking unto Jesus. In Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive (Heb 12:1–2). Rogers Family Trust.

Satan is always on the prowl seeking to attack those who are not his own and judging by the attacks of my atheist neighbours, I know to whom I belong. Hallelujah.