Biblically-Defined Saving Faith

[Khristeeanos]

In my opinion, one of the most important questions in the Bible is found in Luke.

• Luke 18:8
  ...However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?
  
  
  What was faith in His day, according to His definition?
  • Matthew 15:21-28
    Jesus went away from there, and withdrew into the district of Tyre and Sidon. And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and {began} to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed." But He did not answer her a word. And His disciples came and implored Him, saying, "Send her away, because she keeps shouting at us." But He answered and said, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and {began} to bow down before Him, saying, "Lord, help me!" And He answered and said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." But she said, "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus said to her, "O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed at once.
    
    
    Here is another great example of faith according to Jesus. A sinful woman came into a Pharisee's house and anoited Jesus by cleaning his feet and kissing them, thus showing humility and brokenness over her sins.
    • Luke 7:48-50
      Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." Those who were reclining {at the table} with Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this {man} who even forgives sins?" And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."
      
      
      It is the same for you and me. Our faith saves us and allows us to be at peace with God.
      • 1 Peter 1:3-5
        
    Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to {obtain} an inheritance {which is} imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
    

    Here we see that we are protected by God through faith.

    Romans 5:1-2

    Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.

    We have also been justified, gained peace with God, and have access to grace because of faith.

    So that beggs the questions:

    [*]What is this Biblically-defined saving faith?

    Any thoughts, comments?

[Khristeeanos]

Luke 18:8

...However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?

Anybody care to talk? Why would Jesus say this?

[Dad Ernie]

Greetings Dimeministeries,

Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

I have found the best definition of faith to be:

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

This is the bottom line as it applies to every man:

Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Actually "faith" is "trust". It is whom or what you place your trust in, that is in view here. We can put trust into things or men or even our own selves, but the only reliable trust (faith) is that which is placed in Christ.

Here in the U.S. we put our "faith" in the Republican or Democratic party et al. We put it in our newscasters, we put it in evangelists and preachers and teachers. We all too often put it in ourselves, and this is the worst place it can be put because of our own biasness.

But let me link this with another verse:

2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

In the last days, even in these days, we see a worsening of this as more and more turn to their own way of thinking and interpretation of God's Word, instead of REALLY listening to God. Too many people think of themselves much more highly than they ought and even on this board wolves have come in with all sorts of heretical "doctrine".

BUT, this is just as the Lord said it would happen:

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Matthew 24:11-13 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

When Jesus returns He will find all too many who have departed from the "faith in Him", and have trusted things, men, or themselves.

Blessings,

Dad Ernie