Faith is not something you work or work on!

When we come to know Christ, as it is our privilege to know him, our lives will be lives of continual obedience.

Many people are confused about the relationship between faith and works? How is one saved? “Believe in Jesus” is the common response. But how do you “believe” in Jesus? Is this an act of sheer spiritual willpower? Do you force yourself to believe?

I remember asking this question: “What does one do to believe in Jesus?” They told me in response: “Give your heart to Jesus.” “How do I give my heart to Jesus?” I asked. “Come to the foot of the cross,” was the reply. Frustrated with the metaphors, I asked “How do I get to the foot of the cross?” The circular response was: “Give your heart to Jesus.”

I am an engineer and I like concretely defined things. Answering my questions with metaphors, let alone a circle of metaphors, frustrates me tremendously.

So finally, after years of thinking, reflecting, and consulting with trusted advisors, I have come up with the following scheme. Forgive any theological nuance, as I am not a professional theologian.

1. All human beings (except Christ, the Eternal Son of God) are born sinners with a sinful nature that separates us from God. Although a baby may be too young to deliberately sin, she is still born with a sinful nature. In other words, it is her sinful nature that gives rise to sins. Your sins do not make you a sinner, but the fact that you were born a sinner makes it possible for you to commit sins. As a result, we all need to be saved. This was accomplished through the atoning and substitutionary death of Christ on the cross. (see Romans 3:23-26)

2. Salvation is, and always has been, by grace through faith alone in the work and Person of Jesus Christ. That is, salvation has always been through the gospel. In Old Testament times they did not know the coming Redeemer by the name of “Jesus Christ”, but they did know the gospel in some shape or form. (cf. Hebrews 3:1 – 4:2)

3. Grace means “unmerited favor.” Faith means “confidence, based on evidence, resulting in action.” Regarding the relationship between faith and works, John Calvin hit the nail on the head when he said It is faith alone that saves, but the faith that saves is never found alone. That, in my opinion, is the best resolution of a single line between Paul (cf. Rom 3,20) and James (James 2,24).

4. Salvation consists of three things: (a) Justification, (b) Sanctification, and (c) Glorification.

(a) Justification — is to go from being a condemned sinner to a saved sinner. It is Christ’s righteousness, not ours, put to our account. In other words, it is the imputed righteousness of Christ. It is obtained by grace through faith alone in the work and Person of Jesus Christ. Its function is to save us in heaven.

(b) Sanctification – is typically called “spiritual maturity” these days. In short, it is growth in Christ, by the power of the Holy Spirit, where, among other things, we overcome our sinful habits and (hopefully) sin less and less as we mature spiritually. It is Christ’s righteousness, not ours. In other words, it is the righteousness dispensed by Christ. It is obtained by grace through faith alone in the work and Person of Jesus Christ. Its function is to give glory to God (that is, “so that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven”).

We do not earn salvation by our obedience; because salvation is the free gift of God, which is received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of faith. Therefore, I strive to keep the Ten Commandments for this reason, that is, as a result of my salvation, not as the cause of my salvation. Faith is the root, while obedience is the fruit of salvation.

(c) Glorification — It is when Christ returns, raises the dead in Christ and takes both the resurrected saints and the living to heaven in our immortal bodies. He is obtained by grace through faith alone in the work and Person of Jesus Christ.

Or, in short, justification is freedom from the condemnation of sin, sanctification is freedom from the power of sin, and glorification is freedom from the presence of sin…all of which are accomplished by grace through the faith solely in the work and Person of Jesus Christ. I can no more rise from the dead by my own efforts than I can justify or sanctify myself by my own efforts.

Finally, how do you get this faith? I like the following explanation.

Faith is a gift. It’s not something you work or work on. You don’t work for a gift. Faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Faith is not a spiritual illusion, or forcing yourself to believe by sheer force of will and shutting down the intellect.

Faith is confidence, based on evidence, that results in action. Faith in Christ is trust in Christ, based on evidence, that results in action.

However, although faith is a gift, is there a role that the individual plays in faith? Yes, and here’s the analogy I like (although it’s imperfect):

How do you come to trust someone? By meeting them. And if that person is trustworthy, all you have to do is get to know them, and you can’t help but trust them.

Likewise, if that person isn’t trustworthy, all you have to do is get to know them, and you can’t help but not trust them.

One thing I find in my Bible is the premise that Jesus Christ is absolutely trustworthy.

So how do you come to have faith (trust) in Jesus?

When you get to know him.

How do you get to know Jesus?

As with any other person. You talk to them. They speak to you. And you two go out and do things together. Then you will meet them.

How do you talk to Jesus? Prayer. How does Jesus speak to you? Study of the Bible and the works of the Spirit. How do you hang out and do things together? Christian fellowship, church, missionary activity, etc.

Or, as one of my favorite pastors says: Prayer, fellowship, and tell someone else what you got from the first two.

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