Hi rogerg. As I see it from Scripture, we are saved now by faith in Lord Jesus (
John 3:16).
Hi setst77,
I believe that we are saved by the faith OF Jesus Christ, from/by which, we receive faith IN Jesus Christ; that is, for the true believer - the elect, their faith has been given to them as gift from God. Jesus, being faithful, obedient and successful in the mission the Father gave him to accomplish, thereby brought salvation to fruition. From His faith, our faith is imputed to us along with His righteousness. Please observe:
[Gal 2:16 KJV]
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith
of Jesus Christ, even we have believed
in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith
of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
[Phl 3:9 KJV]
9 And be found in him,
not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law,
but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
If we remain faithful to the end, manifested by sowing to the Spirit, then the Spirit, who indwells the believer, grants Eternal Life in the Heavenly Kingdom - for "The Promise" and "The Guarantee" is by Faith.
If we are of His chosen then we cannot be unfaithful because it is God Himself (not of ourselves), who made guarantee that we are not unfaithful.
[1Pe 1:4-5 KJV]
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven
for you,
5
Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
I believe that salvation/eternal life must first be given by God, by which, we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit. So,in having the Holy Spirit, we also have eternal life.
I believe the guarantee is of Christ's faith, not of man's.
Galatians 6:7-9 (WEB) 7
Do not be deceived.
God is not mocked, for whatever a man
sows, that he will also
reap. 8 For he who
sows to his own flesh will from the flesh
reap corruption. But he who
sows to the Spirit will {{{
from the Spirit}}}
reap eternal life. 9
Let {{{
us}}} not be weary in doing good, for {{{
we}}} will
reap in due season, {{{
if we}}}
do not give up.
Yes, but only the saved can, and do, sow to the Spirit. Before and until that happens, we all sow to the flesh.
Hebrews 3:12-15 (WEB) 14 For
WE have become
partakers of Christ, {{{
if we}}}
hold the
beginning of our confidence
firm to the end. 15 while it is said, “Today if you will hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion.” [
Psalm 95:7-8]
Only the saved hold their confidence (faith) until the end, and that, per 1 Pet 1:5, is guaranteed by God, not by man, and therefore, their hearts cannot be hardened.
Many people hear the gospel with human hearing, yet many (of their) hearts nevertheless eventually become hardened. Why? Because they were not of the chosen, and therefore, their hearing was not mixed with (Christ's) faith. However, spiritual hearing is given by the Holy Spirit to the elect along with Christ's faith when they become born again, and their heart cannot become hardened, and so they grow to yield a hundredfold.
[Heb 4:2 KJV] 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached
did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].
Hebrews 4:1 (EWEB)
Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have
come short of a {{
promise of entering}} into {{
His Rest.}}
Those who do come short of it, were/are not of the saved - the chosen:
[Heb 4:2-3 KJV]
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them,
not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it].
3
For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
Hebrews 4:11 (WEB) 11
Let us therefore
give diligence to
enter into that Rest, lest
anyone fall after the {{
same example of disobedience}}.
In other words, be quick to enter into that rest - be quick to cease from working for salvation, and instead rush to trust in Christ (who is and gives that rest).
[Heb 4:8-10 KJV]
8 For if Jesus had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day.
9 There remaineth therefore
a rest to the people of God.
10
For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God [did] from his.
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 (EWEB) 11 Now all these things happened to them by way of example, and they were written for
our admonition, on whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands
be careful that he does not fall.
Yes, all true believers - the elect - are given admonitions in the Bible regarding what they should do and what they should not do. That is how they become edified and learn. No one wakes up one morning knowing everything of the spiritual. However, the saved follow them as a result of being saved but not to seek gain from doing so. The unsaved, however, are spiritually blind, and believe that by doing them, they will attain unto salvation.
