To have faith is to trust in an outcome we can’t see.
We have faith in things every day. We have faith that our alarm will wake us up in the morning. That our car will start so we can get to where we need to be. Every time we flip a switch, we have faith that the lights will turn on. We have faith in all these things, yet none of them are guaranteed. My alarm has failed me many times. My car doesn’t always start. And sometimes the lights don’t turn on. Biblical faith is different. It is a gift from God. A guarantee.
Biblical faith is God’s guarantee that we can be fully convinced of His promises.
When Paul wrote his letter to the Christians in Rome, many of them were struggling with the reality that salvation comes through faith alone. They were convinced circumcision was a requirement because it had always been that way, passed down from Abraham, the father of their faith. Paul wanted them to understand that no one has ever been made right with God because of outward acts. Not even Abraham! When God called him righteous, it was before he had done anything other than believe God and step out in faith.
Today many people are still convinced there is something they must do to be made right with God. Even many confessing Christ-followers struggle with the truth that salvation comes through faith alone. But God’s Word is clear. Salvation comes through faith alone in Christ alone! Our deeds before we are saved are useless to save us and our deeds after we are saved are simply demonstrations of our love for God.
Faith that produces righteousness begins with surrender.
Abraham never wavered in believing God’s promise. In fact, his faith grew stronger, and in this, he brought glory to God. He was fully convinced that God is able to do whatever He promises. – Romans 4:20-21 NLT
Abraham believed in God, and He believed God. He believed God despite what he saw, even when there was no reason to hope. He did not waver in unbelief. He trusted in God’s promise and by trusting, he glorified God. He was fully convinced that God would fulfill His promise. It was because of his faith that God called him righteous. This same righteousness is credited to all who put their faith in Jesus to save them.
But to the one who does not work [that is, the one who does not try to earn his salvation by doing good], but believes and completely trusts in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited to him as righteousness (right standing with God). – Romans 4:5 AMP
Even when there was no reason for hope, Abraham kept hoping and believing God.
Abraham was not perfect. He made many mistakes. But he consistently trusted God. From the moment he left his home and everything behind to follow Him, he kept his eyes fixed on God. He had faith. A fully convinced, no-turning-back, all-in-for-God, even when life gets crazy kind of faith.
It has always been only faith that saves. Never let the enemy convince you that you must do something to be saved or stay saved. Trust in Jesus and step out in faith. God will take it from there.
