Things New and Old: Saving faith is not faith that saves

Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things" 2Ti 2:7.

Saturday, October 10, 2026

Saving faith is not faith that saves

#savingfaith

What is saving faith?

Saving faith is not faith that saves; it is the faith that is an effect of salvation already freely bestowed by God. Saving faith is not the instrument to obtain salvation; it is evidence of that salvation.

Saving faith is the faith that receives and rests in Christ Jesus and His righteousness and blood as the only ground and hope for eternal salvation.

Saving faith is distinguished from historical faith; the latter acknowledges and believes that Jesus was a historical figure who lived and died in the first century. The devil has faith but it is not saving faith.

One is constrained by historical facts; it is only a fool who denies historical facts; the other is a fruit of the salvation freely bestowed by God, in Jesus Christ.

Saving faith is a grace, one of many, worked in the heart of a child of God by the indwelling Spirit, one who is already born of God. It is one of the fruits worked by the indwelling Spirit in the born-again man.

That faith worked in the heart makes possible the believing of the truth of the salvation ALREADY bestowed by God's free and sovereign grace; it is believing what is ALREADY true, not to make it come true.

(Believing the gospel of Jesus Christ does save; it saves from ignorance, lies, superstition, fables, etc.; receiving and resting in Christ enables one to experience the blessedness of his righteousness in Christ, assurance, hope, etc. These are temporal salvation, relating to his well-being as a child of God.) See less