Search the Scriptures for Absolute Truth
Question: Do you have faith?

Biblical Answer: "Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee" (Luke 18:42)

Comments: How often have you heard someone tell you to "keep the faith"? This statement implies that you have the ability to muster up belief in something causing it to work out well for your benefit. When it comes to the salvation of our souls from eternal hell the Bible also declares that we must have faith. We see this truth in the verse quoted above as well as others: Luke 7:50 and James 2:21. however, before we draw any conclusions, we must look further into what the Bible, our only guide and source for truth, states.

First: what is faith? Let God tell us by His Word. "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". (Heb. 11:1). The "things hoped for" are of course eternal life and the subsequent joy of being in the presence of our loving heavenly Father. The "substance" is the proof in our lives that the Spirit of God dwells in us. "Wherefor by their fruits ye shall know them" (Mt. 7:20). "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Phil. 1:11).

Secondly: that faith does not come from us. As sinful people we will not seek God of our own volition (Rom. 3:11) . There is nothing you can do to obtain saving faith; you're in a desperate condition. Thankfully, however, the Bible declares that faith is something that is of Christ and only by him do we receive it. You must be warned that many translations of the Bible change God's word and thereby hide this fact. "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified" (Gal. 2:16). Notice it is this faith " of " Christ and not " in " Christ. Everything, even our ability to believe, comes from Christ. "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:22a). Do you have the faith of Christ or are you trusting in your own faith in Christ?

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