WHAT DOES SAVING FAITH LOOK LIKE?

For one thing, saving faith connects us to the Savior:

·          "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24-25; 3:16)

Saving faith also continues to the end:

·          “All men will hate you because of me, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22; Col. 1:22-23; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 6:11-12)

It is a faith that is accompanied by obedience (the fruit of the Spirit):

·          “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20; 25:46; John 5:29; 15:14; James 2:24; 1 John 2:4)

The close and inseparable relationship between faith and obedience means that we can assess another’s faith by their willingness to follow the Lord. Therefore, James instructs the Church that they can identify faith by observing his attempts to walk in obedience, the evidence of his faith:

·       But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! (James 2:18-19)

The demons also have faith – faith that they will face judgment. However, this isn’t saving faith, which should show the evidence of obedience. For instance, if they refuse to confess Jesus and to be baptized, it is likely that they don’t have saving faith. Saving faith is a willingness to trust in and to follow Jesus. Therefore, it is written:

·          Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16)

Water baptism doesn’t save. However, it is one evidence of saving faith. We can say the same about confession, which accompanies water baptism:

·       That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)

While confession doesn’t save, it is the evidence that one has saving faith. This again demonstrates the inseparable connection between faith and obedience:

Faith ßà Obedience

While obedience doesn’t save, it is the fruit of faith and a regenerated heart (Titus 3:5; Ezekiel 36:25-27). (James uses the term “justification” to include both saving faith and its fruit, obedience - James 2:24-26.) If obedience is entirely absent, and the one who claims to have faith refuses to repent and confess their sins, and to be water baptized, the Church has every right to doubt their faith.

An example might be helpful. If someone wants to be water baptized to join the Church and claims to have faith but refuses to repent of his adulterous affair, he needs to be instructed that such a faith is not a saving faith. Instead, a saving faith repents of known sin and resolves to turn from it, however difficult that might be.

How does repentance relate to saving faith? Is it necessary for salvation or just the effect or fruit of salvation? Repentance is the opposite side of the same coin from faith. The same regenerated heart that gives rise to both faith, also gives rise to repentance, the resolve to turn away from the old life unto the new. One turn! Likewise, both faith and repentance also play integral roles in our post-salvation life. We have to continually repent from sin and to turn in faith to our Savior.

As such, repentance is not another requirement for salvation but a different perspective on faith. If faith is the resolve to turn to God, repentance is the resolve to turn away from sin. Again, just one turn! We cannot have one without the other. Fundamentally, repentance is not a work. Paul distinguished between the two:

·       “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” (Acts 26:19-20)

Paul distinguished between repentance and “performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.” We can also make the same distinction between faith and the works of faith, the evidence of faith. This is because the two are indistinguishable. Consequently, when someone refuses to repent, they also are refusing to trust in the Lord.

Both are also given as the gifts of God. This should be clear regarding faith (Eph. 2:8-9), so let me just provide serveral references that repentance is also part of that same saving gift:

·       God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. (Acts 5:31; 3:26; 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:24-25)

There are also many other verses that teach that repentance is necessary for salvation:

·       “And repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.” (Luke 24:47)

·       "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38; 3:19-20; 2 Tim. 2:25-26)

• For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Cor. 7:10; Romans 2:4-5) 

The evidence is incontestable that repentance is necessary for salvation. In light of this, we are giving those who refuse to repent of their sins a false and self-destructive hope, and we will have to give account for this to our Lord (Job 42:6-8). Instead, we have to counsel repentance (Luke 13:1-5)!