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Saving Faith. Hebrews 10:38 : “ Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:39 : “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”. Observations:.
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Saving Faith Hebrews 10:38: “Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:39: “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.”
Observations: • Heb. 10:38, “the just shall live by faith,” a quote from Habakkuk 2:3-4 (also quoted in Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11. • In this context, “the just” are those who refuse to “draw back to perdition” (2 Peter 3:7; John 17:11; 2 Thess. 2:3) • In contrast, they were such that “believe to the saving of the soul!”
Faith Defined: • “Now faith is the substance (assurance) of things hoped for. • Substance (hupostasis); from hupo (under) and stasis (to stand). • Denotes that which is firm, reliable, sure. • “The evidence (conviction) of things not seen.” • Based on evidence, produces conviction; involves “things not seen.”
Biblical Versus Unbiblical Faith: • Biblical Faith: • Based upon divine testimony, John 20:30-31; Romans 10:17. • Affirms that God “is,” Hebrews 11:6. • Affirms that the Bible is the word of God, Hebrews 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Biblical Versus UnbiblicalFaith (continued) • Unbiblical Faith: • Often involves faith in faith. • Believes the power of faith is in the human mind, and in human potential. • “Anything the human mind can conceive and believe the human mind can achieve,” Napoleon Hill. • “You Can If You Think You Can,” Norman Vincent Peale.
How Saving Faith is Obtained: • Negatively: • It is not obtained through the mystical, mysterious, direct operation of the Holy Spirit. • It is not obtained through some “better felt than told” inner feeling!
How Saving Faith is Obtained (Positively) • John 20:30-31: “…but these are written that ye might believe…” • Romans 10:17: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” • Acts 15:7: “…that the Gentiles…should hear the word of the gospel & believe.” • Acts 18:8; I Corinthians 3:5; 15:11, etc.
Observe: • If“faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” then matters of faith are matters upon which God has spoken. • Our faith must stand “in the power of God,” I Corinthians 2:1,5; this is why we must declare “the testimony of God,” I Corinthians 2:1.
The Value of Faith – Evidenced by what it Does! • Faith is essential to answered prayer, James 1:6. • Faith is essential to character development, 2 Peter 1:5-7. • Faith helps one resist Temptation, Ephesians 6:16. • Faith affects how we live, 2 Corinthians 5:7 • Faith gives access to God, Heb. 11:6. • Faith Justifies, Romans 5:1. • Faith gives Remission of sins, Acts 10:43. • Faith is essential to eternal life, John 3:16.
Faith Provides these Blessings When Coupled with Obedience! • Answered Prayer: “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in His sight, I John 3:22. • Character Development: “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge,…” 2 Peter 1:5-7.
When Coupled with Obedience: • Resist Temptation: “Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation…,” Matthew 26:41; cf. I Peter 5:8,9. • How We Live: “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death. Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death; that as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life,” Romans 6:3,4.
When Coupled withObedience: • Access to God: “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city,” Revelation 22:14. • Justifies: “Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only,” James 2:24.
When Coupled with Obedience: • Remission of Sins: “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…” Acts 2:38. • Eternal Life: “Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him,” Hebrews 5:8,9
Conclusion: • There is much confusion regarding faith. • The world is filled with unsavedbelievers! • Faith Saves when Faith Obeys! Matthew 7:21; Romans 6:17-18; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9