Blessings to you, the readers of this page, in Jesus Christ our Lord. May He guide you and protect you always.

If We Have "The Faith," We Are Christians And We Are Saved

As I write these words, it is now 9:45 Thursday morning, March 5, 1998. The Lord is getting ready to give me something good for us to have. It concerns "the faith," the concept of something called "the faith," which you either have or you don't have.

I had always understood the word "faith" to mean "belief in, confidence in, reliance upon." And this is true. So we speak correctly of "having faith in the Lord." And Jesus uses "faith" the same way, as when He says, "Your faith has made you whole." So this is the normal, understood way of using the word "faith."

The concept of "the faith," however is a different idea, similar but different. "The faith" is widely used in the Bible, as we will see later in this essay, and it refers specifically to our faith in Jesus Christ as Son Of God, risen from the dead.

IF WE HAVE "THE FAITH," WE ARE CHRISTIANS AND WE ARE SAVED. THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IS IN US BECAUSE OF THIS, "THE FAITH." IF WE DO NOT HAVE "THE FAITH," THEN WE ARE NOT CHRISTIANS AND WE ARE NOT SAVED.

This is of course, the same idea as presented in John 3:16, the most powerful verse in the Bible. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16 KJV)

How do we know if we have the faith? Here is the best test, as described by the Christian writer known as Witness Lee in his book "Life-Study Of Romans." He writes that years ago, he was questioning if he had the faith or not, and the Lord told him, "Do you not believe? Try your best not to believe." He tried and he tried, but he was unable *not* to believe in Jesus Christ. Because of this, he knew that he had the faith and he was saved.

I tried this myself, not to believe in Jesus Christ as Son of God, risen from the dead. I cannot do it either. Praise the Lord! This means that I, too, have "the faith" and am saved!

Now it's your turn. Do *you* have "the faith?" If so, I am very happy for you. If not, you need to get it.

           A Study Of "The Faith," As Recorded In The King James Bible


            Acts 6:7
            And the word of God increased; and the number of the
            disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
            company of the priests were obedient to the faith.

            Acts 13:8
            But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by
            interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the
            deputy from the faith.

            Acts 14:22
            Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to
            continue in the faith, and that we must through much
            tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

            Acts 16:5
            And so were the churches established in the faith, and
            increased in number daily.

            Acts 24:24
            And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife
            Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him
            concerning the faith in Christ.

            Romans 1:5
            By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience
            to the faith among all nations, for his name:

            Romans 14:1
            Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful
            disputations.

            1 Corinthians 16:13
            Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be
            strong.

            2 Corinthians 13:5
            Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your
            own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus
            Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

            Galatians 1:23
            But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times
            past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

            Galatians 2:16
            Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
            but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in
            Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of
            Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of
            the law shall no flesh be justified.

            Galatians 2:20
            I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I,
            but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the
            flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
            and gave himself for me.

            Ephesians 3:12
            In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the
            faith of him.

            Ephesians 4:13
            Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the
            knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the
            measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

            Philippians 3:9
            And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which
            is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ,
            the righteousness which is of God by faith:

            Colossians 2:7
            Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as
            ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

            1 Timothy 1:2
            Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and
            peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.

            1 Timothy 3:9
            Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience.

            1 Timothy 3:13
            For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase
            to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith
            which is in Christ Jesus.

            1 Timothy 4:1
            Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
            some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing
            spirits, and doctrines of devils;

            1 Timothy 5:8
            But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those
            of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than
            an infidel.

            2 Timothy 1:5
            When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in
            thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy
            mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

            2 Timothy 4:7
            I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have
            kept the faith:

            Titus 3:15
            All that are with me salute thee. Greet them that love us in
            the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.

            1 Peter 5:9
            Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same
            afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the
            world.



                *               *               *

May the Lord bless this presentation of His holy Word.

     Rev. Bill McGinnis  <><
     bmcgin@patriot.net
     

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       Rev. Bill McGinnis, Director - LoveAllPeople.org

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