Salvation

Faith IS!
Terry R. Baughman

“He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16 NKJ).

The value of faith cannot be overstated in our relationship with God. The reality of His very existence to us is predicated on our ability to believe in Him. Our faith does not determine His existence, but rather informs our understanding of God. The development of our relationship with Him is utterly dependent upon our belief in Him. The writer of Hebrews stated, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is …” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJ).

 All spiritual experience is based on our faith in God. Mark emphasized the importance of faith when He said, “… he who does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:16 NKJ). As we have seen faith provides access into a spiritual understanding of God. Faith gives us confidence to believe in God’s forgiveness of sins, the covering of His blood, and the provision of His Spirit living within us. 

John declared, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NKJ). Repentance is made possible through our faith in Christ, through His atoning sacrifice on the cross for our sins. Forgiveness comes as confession for sins is made knowing that He is faithful to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

The cleansing of the remission of sins comes through faith in the blood of Jesus and the obedience to God’s Word in being baptized in His name. The name of Jesus holds power to forgive sins, heal the sick, and cleanse us from our disobedient past. Baptism through His name is identity with Christ and His burial. Paul stated, “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:3-4 NKJ).

The new life of the Spirit is also activated by faith. It is through our faith that the Holy Spirit is poured out. As we open up our hands and hearts to the wonderful touch of the Spirit of God we are baptized with His presence. The sign of this renewal is speaking in other tongues as the Spirit gives utterance. By faith we receive His Spirit and the new birth is confirmed by this spiritual gift. 

The gift of the Spirit was the promise of the Father. Jesus instructed His followers, “to wait for the Promise of the Father,” and that they would, “be baptized with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5 NKJ). The final promise of Jesus was given just before He ascended into heaven, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth” (Acts 1:8 NKJ).

Faith grants access into the presence of the Spirit. It is the assurance of salvation through the New Birth experience, of repentance, water baptism, and the gift of the Holy Spirit filling and transforming our lives. Faith is … Salvation! 

Theme passage:
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJ).