Saving faith is one of the most significant realities of salvation. The moment God saves someone, He sheds His grace and activates faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). This incredible gift from the Lord, our God, separates us from the world and frees us from the bondage of sin (Galatians 2:20).

Saving faith goes beyond a simple belief. It’s a conviction deep within the soul where God purifies the heart through Christ and the Holy Spirit. Here we discover an undeniable truth that our innermost self concedes to God’s omnipresence.

Faith and Obedience

One of the markings of saving faith is obedience. Believing in Christ is obeying God’s eternal plan (John 3:16-17). Without accepting Jesus as the Lord’s Savior saving faith doesn’t exist. Faith in Jesus is the only way to God (John 14:6).

The essence of obedience is reverence for God’s commandments. When God brings us to the point of compliance, it takes faith to follow through with the action required to adhere to His commands. Anything less than total commitment to His statutes leads to unnecessary problems.

I know the penalties for disobedience. When I fail or refuse to adhere to God’s commands, my relationship with Him suffers. I find myself distant from His presence and feel guilty for not following His will. This is a lack of faith, and it opens the door to other sins. This disobedient heart continues to plague my walk with Christ unless I repent. But when I do repent, God embraces me with forgiveness.

Obedience is the byproduct of faith. Yes, conformity to God’s will assures us eternal life with Him (John 8:51).

The Essence of Saving Faith

The essence of saving faith is understanding Christ’s Deity. Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension back into heaven show God’s unconditional love for the salvation of humanity. The Lord’s selfless act of mercy, compassion, and forgiveness can only be experienced by trusting in Jesus.

Apostle Paul is an excellent example of a saving faith. Before his salvation, he persecuted followers of Christ. Indeed, when Stephen was put to death (Acts 7:57), he agreed with their action (Acts 8:1). But Christ transformed Paul (Acts 9:3-19).

One of Paul’s testimony to saving faith is in Galatian’s second chapter.

Paul shared:

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, ESV).

As shown above, Paul demonstrates his faith by placing Christ above everything. He shares with us that this saving faith aligns the flesh with Jesus. His conviction in Christ shows us that Jesus’s love and sacrifice are God’s eternal plan. We also experience the same faith as Paul.

Another revelation of saving faith is the Holy Spirit. God uses the Holy Spirit to separate Him from false religions. The Holy Spirit doesn’t act alone. We know this truth from Christ.

Jesus said:

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13, ESV)

In this scripture, Christ unfolds God’s purpose of the Holy Spirit. His authority comes from the Lord, who guides us in God’s incredible holiness. Everything Christ spoke, the Holy Spirit shows us how to live it. When we follow God’s Spirit, our faith becomes unshakeable.

Conclusion

Given these points, saving faith is anchored in the Holy Trinity. It engulfs us in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. This is a brief outlook on saving faith. The Bible has many other ways of highlighting and heightening this crucial blueprint for eternal life with God.

What are your thoughts?