Thursday, July 14, 2011

How can I put my faith into God?

Seek God's help and forgiveness. We should "examine ourselves to determine whether we are "in the faith." (2 Cor. 13:5). This "faith" is the same spoken of in Eph. 4:4-6: "There is one body, and one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all." God is clear on what we must do to be saved: We must be born again (John 3:3-7). We begin by believing the gospel, the "good news" "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:14-17). The gospel is the truth: "For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven; whereof ye have heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel. which is come unto you as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth." (Col. 1:5&6). Faith is believing that Christ is the divine and only begotten Son of God. "I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins." (Jn 8:24). "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name." Christ is the author of our faith and the captain of our salvation (Heb. 2:10). He is the foundation of our faith and salvation; those who build their faith must build it upon the Rock (Matt. 7:24). It is impossible to be saved without faith and a proper foundation “But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” (James 2:20). ‘”Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead being alone.” (James 2:17). “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:26).."Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost." (Titus 3:5). We must repent (turn away from sin). We must be prepared to walk anew in obedience and faithfulness to Christ. "Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:3) We must confess him before men: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 10:32). Also, Mark 12:8: "Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God." Then we must submit to water baptism in order to have our sins forgiven. On the Day of Pentecost, those who were pricked in their heart asked what they had to do in order to be saved, asking "Men and brethren what shall we DO?" (Acts 2:37). Peter makes it very clear in verse 38: "Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized everyone of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Notice the purpose of baptism is for the remission (forgiveness) of sins. Christ said it this way "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mk 16:15&16). Also "Go ye therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19). "And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations beginning at Jerusalem." (Luke 24:47). Jesus Christ commands baptism as a condition of salvation. Obedience is necessary if our faith is to be acceptable to Christ. He would not have emphasized baptism as a condition of salvation if it were not so. Baptism is the work of God; he commands all who will be saved to obey. "Which sometime were disobedient when once the long-suffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God." (2 Peter 3:20-21). "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls." (Acts 2:42). Note the "Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." (Acts 2:47). They did not join nor were they voted in; there's no example of a sinner's prayer to accept Christ into their heart. We only see believers obeying God's terms. "But the hour cometh and now is when the true worshipers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit and they that worship must worship him in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24). So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure (Phil. 2:12-13).

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