Pastor Larry Dela Cruz1

FAITH in CHRIST

FOREWORD2

Faith in Christ the bible says, “By which we are justified and through it righteousness is credited to us.” For without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith. Faith. Faith. This word “faith” is very important to God because faith means trust, hope and belief in what God says, what God has done and what God can do. It is the denial of ourselves, denial of our works and it is faith in Him- faith in Christ the Son of God. “By grace are ye saved through faith.” We have entered and received into this grace through “faith”. Jesus said to the woman who has sinned much, “Your faith has saved you.” We can go on and on with Scriptures showing us the importance of faith. But there are some quarters that teach that man on his own cannot have faith, produce faith or have faith. They say if faith comes from ourselves then we can boast before God. A dead person in the spirit and dead in sin cannot believe God or have faith in God. What then does the bible teaches us regarding this issue of faith? Can man believe? What is faith? Where does faith come from? What is faith in God? What is faith in Christ?

Jesus is the author and the finisher of our faith. God is the source of all pure and good things. Nothing a man can receive without being given from the Father of lights. How can a saving faith begin from a man? Can all men have that saving faith? How does God move in our lives? Does He desire all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth? Why were other people not saved? These questions can all be answered from the Scriptures. It is our desire that we have a complete biblical understanding how God’s words present to us what faith really is? Its source, its recipients, its results and through it what are ascribed to the believers.

For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Rom 4:16

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 5:1-2

CONTENTS3

Foreword 3

Part 1

THE CONDITION OF MAN 5

Part 2

WHAT IS SAVING FAITH? 11

Part 3

CAN MAN HAVE FAITH? 21

Part 4

WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF FAITH IN CHRIST? 31

CONCLUSION 36

Part 1THE CONDITION OF MAN

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Man’s spiritual condition:

Man was made in the image and likeness of God. He is soul, body and spirit. God is a Spirit. Man is both physical and spiritual. When man sinned his spiritual condition was marred and corrupted but God has not left man alone. He is given the natural and instinctive knowledge of God and of good and evil. These capabilities cannot save us. What God wants is for us to have the saving knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ and have faith in Him which is the righteousness of God. This is the relational and experiential knowledge of God possible through Christ alone by the sanctification of the Spirit and power of the gospel. When the gospel is preached God enables and opens the heart of the person who fears and seeks God, seeks righteousness and truth so he can have faith in Christ and be saved.

NATURAL AND INSTINCTIVE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

Man was made in the likeness and image of GodChildren by creation

In the beginning God made Man in His likeness and image. That likeness and image are His holiness, righteousness and dominion. In the garden of Eden man was commanded to obey and have dominion. But the devil has deceived man and continues to deceive humanity today. All men have sinned and death (wrath of God) passed to all men but that imprint of God or that DNA of the likeness and image of God are still inherent in man. For we are made that way though man was corrupted and stained by sin he still strives for excellence and goodness.

Gen 1:26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 God blessed them; and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it; and rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

Act 17:28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we also are His children.’ 29 “Being then the children of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and thought of man.

Man has natural knowledge of the existence of God

Man even he is dead in his spirit because of unrighteousness and transgression has the natural knowledge of the existence of the Almighty. It is seen in His creation and his soul can grope out to Him. Only beasts know not God.

Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which

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is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.Act 17:26 From one man he made every nation of the human race to inhabit the entire earth, determining their set times and the fixed limits of the places where they would live, 27 so that they would search for God and perhaps grope around for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 For in him we live and move about and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’

We instinctively know what is right and wrong

Rom 2:11 For there is no partiality with God. 12 For all who have sinned apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. 13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous before God, but those who do the law will be declared righteous. 14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. 15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them, 16 on the day when God will judge the secrets of human hearts, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.

We are given in us His natural laws

Deut 30:11 “This commandment I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it too remote. 12 It is not in heaven, as though one must say, “Who will go up to heaven to get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 And it is not across the sea, as though one must say, “Who will cross over to the other side of the sea and get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 For the thing is very near you – it is in your mouth and in your mind so that you can do it. 15 “Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other.

Rom 2:14 For whenever the Gentiles, who do not have the law, do by nature the things required by the law, these who do not have the law are a law to themselves. 15 They show that the work of the law is written in their hearts, as their conscience bears witness and their conflicting thoughts accuse or else defend them,

We are bestowed with the will to know and chooseWe are given free will.We can choose between good and evil.

Deut 30:19 “ I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,

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Josh 24:15 “If it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Rom 2:6 He will reward each one according to his works: 7 eternal life to those who by perseverance in good works seek glory and honor and immortality, 8 but wrath and anger to those who live in selfish ambition and do not obey the truth but follow unrighteousness. 9 There will be affliction and distress on everyone who does evil, on the Jew first and also the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, for the Jew first and also the Greek.

Philemon 1:14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.

That is why God commanded all to repent. Act 17:30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent, 2Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because He does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

And though we cannot completely follow His commandments He has placed faith in the lips and hearts of men. So that when the gospel is preached he can believe and those who disbelieve are condemned.

Deut 31:11 This commandment I am giving you today is not too difficult for you, nor is it too remote. 12 It is not in heaven, as though one must say, “Who will go up to heaven to get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 And it is not across the sea, as though one must say, “Who will cross over to the other side of the sea and get it for us and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 For the thing is very near you – it is in your mouth and in your mind so that you can do it. 15 “Look! I have set before you today life and prosperity on the one hand, and death and disaster on the other.… 19 Today I invoke heaven and earth as a witness against you that I have set life and death, blessing and curse, before you. Therefore choose life so that you and your descendants may live!

DEAD IN SINS AND CHILDREN OF WRATH

But because of our sins and sinful nature we are spiritually dead which means we are already have a condemned condition, under the wrath of God and only through God’s grace that we can be saved. We are not saved and do not have life- the eternal life in us. Though we are dead in our sins God has given us that natural and instinctive knowledge of God.

Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered into the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men, because all sinned—

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Eph 2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3 Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Eph 2:12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

1Tim 5:6 But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives.

1Per 2:10 for you once were NOT A PEOPLE, but now you are THE PEOPLE OF GOD; you had NOT RECEIVED MERCY, but now you have RECEIVED MERCY.

 Rom 9:25 As He says also in Hosea,"I WILL CALL THOSE WHO WERE NOT MY PEOPLE, 'MY PEOPLE, AND HER WHO WAS NOT BELOVED, 'BELOVED.'"

God is not partial. He looks at the sinner’s heart.

Rom 2:3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to each person according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.

RELATIONAL AND EXPERIENTIAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD

Our natural and instinctive knowledge of God and knowing what is right and wrong are not enough for us to be righteous before a Holy God for we all have sinned and come short of His glory. We were not His people but children of disobedience. This has made us spiritually dead or under God’s wrath. Therefore our natural knowledge of God is not the basis of true knowledge of God and His righteousness. That belief has to be corrected and made right by directing it to the Son of God. Relational and experiential knowledge of God is only possible through Christ. It is Christ who reconciled the world to God. He made the way and opened the way for us by the sacrifice of Himself. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life and

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no man can come to the Father except through Me.” He must be accepted as the Lord and Savior and His payment on the cross for our sins, for our redemption and forgiveness.

Jn 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

1Cor 1:21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

 Gal 4:8 However at that time, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those which by nature are no gods.

To fully know God is to have a relationship with Him and experience His love. This knowledge man does not inherently have and posses. For repentance and faith n Christ are required. Man humbling himself before God and the Son of God exalted and lifted high. God has shut both the Jews and the Gentiles, all men under sin so that the righteousness of God and man’s justification shall come through FAITH IN CHRIST who gave Himself for us.

Rom 11:32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

Rom 3:21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Gal 3:21 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

The Condition of Man

Therefore the condition of man is he can believe instinctively and naturally on God because God evidently reveal Himself to man. This is the reason there are men who fear God, do what is right and grope for Him. These are the people who come to Light. Then only then The Father draws them to the Son to be saved through the gospel and moving of the Holy Spirit and faith in Christ. From then on his knowledge of God becomes relational and experiential. He is saved.

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Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.

Act 10:1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. 3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, "Cornelius!" 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, "What is it, Lord?" And he said to him, "Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

10:34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: "I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. 36 "The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)--

Act 17:26 and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, 27 that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and exist, as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His children.'

Jn 3:19 "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 "But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God."

Act 16:14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.

Eph 1:12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

Part 2

WHAT IS SAVING FAITH?

GOD DESIRES ALL TO BE SAVED

Our God is a loving God who desires all men to be saved. Hell was not made for men but for Satan and his angels. He wanted and commanded all men everywhere to repent. God never

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shuts the door of salvation to any man. Sad to say many has chosen to rebel and reject God.

Salvation is offered to all men.

Isaiah 45:22 "Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other.

Matt 25:41 “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire that has been prepared for the devil and his angels!

Mark 1:14 Now after John was imprisoned, Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed the gospel of God.Mark 1:15 He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”

Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.Mark 16:16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

Jn 12:31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. Jn 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Jn 12:33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.Jn 12:35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. Jn 12:36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. Jn 12:37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.Jn 12:44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. Jn 12:45 “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. Jn 12:46 “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. Jn 12:47 “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

Acts 17:30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,

Rom 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

Rom 11:32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

1Tim 2:3 Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, 4 since He wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human

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1Tim 4:10 In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.

2Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.

CHRIST’S ATONEMENT

He died for all men.The Bible said that Christ died for the sins of all men and took away the sin of the world. The Scriptures tell us that Jesus did not die only for a few or limited people. He died for all and sufficient for all men. But not all are saved and affected by it because not all receive the Son of God. Salvation is a finished work of Christ. Eternal Life is a gift to be received through repentance and faith in Christ. Man is commanded by Christ to repent and believe the Gospel.

Is 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

Jn 1:29 On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Jn 3:16 For this is the way God loved the world: He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world should be saved through Him. 18 The one who believes in Him is not condemned. The one who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.

1Jn 2:2 and He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for our sins but also for the whole world.

Rom 5:6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

2Cor 5:19 In other words, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s trespasses against them, and he has given us the message of reconciliation.

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Heb 2:9 but we see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because He suffered death, so that by God’s grace He would experience death on behalf of everyone.

Heb 7:27 who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because this He did once for all when He offered up Himself.

1Pet 3:18 For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;

Sin was dealt with and paid on the crossAt the cross our Lord Jesus Christ paid the sins of the world. By the offering of His body and shedding of His blood He has obtained ransom and eternal redemption. He took away the sins of the world thus reconciling the world to God. He finished salvation at the cross and now salvation and eternal is offered as a free gift from God. Whoever believes shall be saved and he who disbelieves is condemned already because he did not believe in the name of the Son of God. At the cross Jesus said, “It is finished” and then He gave up His Spirit and died and rose on the third day.

Is 53:6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all To fall on Him.

 Jn 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming to him and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Heb 1:3 And He is the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power When He had made purification of sins; He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

Heb 9:12 and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.

Heb 9:26 Otherwise, He would have needed to suffer often since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.

Heb 10:10 By his will we have been made holy through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11 And every priest stands day after day serving and offering the same sacrifices again and again – sacrifices that can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, he sat down at the right hand of God,

1Jn 3:5 You know that He appeared in order to take away sins; and in Him there is no sin.

Rom 8:3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh,

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Jn 19:30 Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

Dan 9:24 “Seventy weeks have been decreed for your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to make an end of sin, to make atonement for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal up vision and prophecy and to anoint the most holy place.

Someone may ask: if Christ already paid the sin of the world- meaning for all humanity why there are still people going to hell? If paid already that means all are saved.

Eternal life became a free gift because Christ already obtained eternal redemption and has paid for our sins. He purchased salvation through His blood. After Jesus has finished the work on the cross, he said, “Repentance for forgiveness of sins shall be preached in His name to all nations.” The condition for salvation is repentance and faith in Christ through the gospel.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Lk 24:45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Mk 1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Why is the sin of unbelief not part of what was paid? Many were in the state of unbelief before they heard the gospel. After the gospel was preached those who believed are saved and those who disbelieved were condemned. And one goes to hell not only because of his unbelief.

Rev 21:8 But to the cowards, unbelievers, detestable persons, murderers, the sexually immoral, and those who practice magic spells, idol worshipers, and all those who lie, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. That is the second death.”

Even those who believed yet should they fall away there remained no more sacrifice for sins but severe punishment and judgment.

Heb 10:26 For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us, 27 but only a certain fearful expectation of judgment and a fury of fire that will consume God’s enemies.

HOW SALVATION IS RECEIVED?

THE GOSPEL14

The gospel show us the atonement God made through the Son so we can believe

Rom 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach), 9 because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation. 11 For the scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

So it is mandatory on our part to PREACH THE GOSPEL

Rom 10:14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” 16 But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ. 18 But I ask, have they not heard? Yes, they have: Their voice has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world.

THE PROMISE THROUGH FAITH

Gal 3:6 Even so Abraham BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS RECKONED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS. 7 Therefore, be sure that it is those who are of faith who are sons of Abraham. 8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, “ALL THE NATIONS WILL BE BLESSED IN YOU.” 9 So then those who are of faith are blessed with Abraham, the believer.

Gal 3:22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

CONDITION FOR SALVATION

Even if Christ has taken away and paid man’s sin on the cross, the condition for salvation is repentance and faith in Christ.

Lk 24:47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

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Mk 1:15 He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”

Act 20:20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

Therefore, salvation, atonement, forgiveness and eternal life are available for all men and not all benefit from it because not all have taken heed to repent and believe in Christ.

Rom 10:12 For there is no distinction between the Jew and the Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, who richly blesses all who call on him. 13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”

They say in Eph 2:1 man is spiritually dead in trespasses and sin how he can repent and have faith? And in 1Cor 2:14 the natural man can not understand or receive the things of God.

There is no scripture that says even man is spiritually dead he has no knowledge of God. God has given man the natural and instinctive knowledge of God. Man has an inner and outside witness that God exists. The experiential and relational knowledge of Christ comes through the gospel as God enables the seeker of the truth. The Lord and His apostles could have not commanded the people to repent and believe should they are not able after hearing the gospel. Repentance and faith are brought about by the gospel and are given to the sinner who comes to the light through the Word- the good news. The sinner begins to have faith in the Son of God through the preaching of the gospel and the power and working of the Spirit of God when it s preached. God opens our hearts to respond to the gospel. And through faith in Christ we are made alive and given new birth and saved. In Luke 8:15 Jesus said there are those who have honest and good hearts receive the Word preached bear fruit.

Lk 8:15 “But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.

HOW SAVING FAITH IS PRODUCED

THE WORDS OF CHRIST, THE GOSPELThe Words of Christ are life and spirit.

The Words of Christ - the Gospel gives life and awakens the spirit of the believer who is dead in sin and trespasses. Saving faith is brought about by the hearing and hearing of the gospel. Because man is spiritually dead he is made alive by the word of God through faith in Christ. Upon hearing the gospel faith comes to him because he sees the CHRIST CRUCIFED and the Holy Spirit convicts him from his sins moving him to repentance. He is born again.

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Jn 6:63 The Spirit is the one who gives life; human nature is of no help! The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

THE GOSPEL BRINGS FAITH IN CHRIST

The preaching of the gospel shows us the payment Christ made on the Cross for our sins. People come to realize what He did and faith comes from what they have heard.

1Cor 15:1 Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received – that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, 4 and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day according to the scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.

Gal 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?

Rom 10:14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.” 16 But not all have obeyed the good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

GOD DRAWS TO CHRIST THROUGH THE GOSPEL

Act 10:1 Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, 2 a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually.3 About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” 4 And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God.

Act 10:31 and he said, ‘Cornelius, your prayer has been heard and your alms have been remembered before God. 32 ‘Therefore send to Joppa and invite Simon, who is also called Peter, to come to you; he is staying at the house of Simon the tanner by the sea.’ 33 “So I sent for you immediately, and you have been kind enough to come. Now then, we are all here present before God to hear all that you have been commanded by the Lord.” 34 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, 35 but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what

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is right is welcome to Him. 36“The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)—

GOD OPENS OUR HEARTS

Act 16:14 A woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul. 15 And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house and stay.” And she prevailed upon us.

WE ARE MADE ALIVE THROUGH FAITH

Col 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

THROUGH THE GOSPEL WE ARE REGENERATED AND GIVEN NEW BIRTH

It is through the preaching and faith through the Gospel that we are given new birth.

1Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 25 but the word of the Lord1 endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

Js 1:18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

WE ARE GIVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT

Repentance and faith are the rightful response of the believer upon hearing the gospel. They shall be forgiven, washed by the blood of the Lamb and shall be given the Holy Spirit.

Act 15:7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith.

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Act 10:42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message.

Gal 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?

AND WE ARE SAVED THROUGH THE GOSPEL

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”

1Cor 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Cor 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.

2Thess 2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

Faith works through His Name and His WordSaving Faith Results when directed to JesusThrough the gospel the power of God for salvation

Act 3:16 “And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.

Rom 10:13 For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 14 How are they to call on one they have not believed in? And how are they to believe in one they have not heard of? And how are they to hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And

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how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How timely is the arrival of those who proclaim the good news.”

16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “LORD, WHO HAS BELIEVED OUR REPORT?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Saving Faith

Saving faith therefore is our faith in Christ brought about by the hearing and hearing of the gospel. It is God saving man through His Son Jesus Christ. The man who believed God is moved into faith in Christ. He believes from the heart through the power of the gospel and working of God. It is God working in man opening his heart and revealing Jesus Christ through the gospel. Man having the insight and understanding and believing the Son of God who is the Savior and Lord and paid for our sins.

Part 3CAN MAN HAVE FAITH?

GOD COMMANDED MAN TO BELIEVE

God could not have commanded all men to repent and believe should man is not capable of repenting and believing.

Mark 1:15 He said, “The time is fulfilled and the kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the gospel!”

Mark 16:15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.Mark 16:16 The one who believes and is baptized will be saved, but the one who does not believe will be condemned.

Jn 12:31 “Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. Jn 12:32 “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” Jn 12:33 But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.

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Jn 12:35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. Jn 12:36 “While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” These things Jesus spoke, and He went away and hid Himself from them. Jn 12:37 But though He had performed so many signs before them, yet they were not believing in Him.Jn 12:44 And Jesus cried out and said, “He who believes in Me, does not believe in Me but in Him who sent Me. Jn 12:45 “He who sees Me sees the One who sent Me. Jn 12:46 “I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. Jn 12:47 “If anyone hears My sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.

Acts 17:30 Therefore, although God has overlooked such times of ignorance, he now commands all people everywhere to repent,

Act 20:20 You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house, 21 testifying to both Jews and Greeks about repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus.

Rom 3:9 What then? Are we better than they? Not at all; for we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin;

Rom 11:32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all.

1Tim 2:3 This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

1Tim 4:10 In fact this is why we work hard and struggle, because we have set our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of believers.

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.

2Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some regard slowness, but is being patient toward you, because he does not wish for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

WE ARE GIVEN FAITH

The Word of Faith in man’s mouth and heart

Rom 10:6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 or “Who will descend into the

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abyss?” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we preach),

God has given us a measure of faith

Rom 12:3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.

Jas 2:5 Listen, my dear brothers and sisters! Did not God choose the poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom that he promised to those who love him?

Mark 11:22 Jesus said to them, “Have faith in God.”

People showed their faith

Matt 8:10 When Jesus heard this he was amazed and said to those who followed him, “I tell you the truth, I have not found such faith in anyone in Israel! 11 I tell you, many will come from the east and west to share the banquet with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, 12 but the sons of the kingdom will be thrown out into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Matt 9:2 Just then some people brought to him a paralytic lying on a stretcher. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Have courage, son! Your sins are forgiven.”

Lk 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Matt 9:21 For she kept saying to herself, “If only I touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 But when Jesus turned and saw her he said, “Have courage, daughter! Your faith has made you well.” And the woman was healed from that hour.

Matt 9:28 When he went into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to him, “Yes, Lord.” 29 Then he touched their eyes saying, “Let it be done for you according to your faith.”

Matt 15:24 So he answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” 25 But she came and bowed down before him and said, “Lord, help me!” 26 “It is not right to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs,” he said. 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” 28 Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, your faith is great! Let what you want be done for you.” And her daughter was healed from that hour.

Matt 17:18 Then Jesus rebuked the demon and it came out of him, and the boy was healed from that moment. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why couldn’t we cast it out?” 20 He told them, “It was because of your little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you.”

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Luke 17:15 Then one of them, when he saw he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He fell with his face to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. (Now he was a Samaritan.) 17 Then Jesus said, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to turn back and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to the man, “Get up and go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

FAITH IN CHRIST IS TAUGHT IN SCRIPTURE

Since man has the natural and instinctive knowledge of God, faith in the truth and faith in Christ are directed through the power of the gospel in the working of God. Faith in Christ is brought about by the hearing of the Words of Christ and by the moving of the Holy Spirit. It is God who opens the heart and understanding of the sinner who believes through the gospel. The words of Christ are life and spirit and powerful. It is believing from the heart and confession unto his mouth that Jesus is Lord and has risen from the dead. Faith comes from the gospel and through Him as God works with the conviction of the Spirit.

We have hoped and believed in Him

Eph 1:11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will, 12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists amongyou and your love for all the saints,

Believe in Him

Jn 6:29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

Jn 8:30 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

Jn 9:36 He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"

Acts 19:4 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people t0 believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

Rom 4:24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Himwho raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

Rom 10:14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without apreacher?

Phil 1:29 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

1 Tim 1:16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ 23

might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

1 Pet 1:8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,

Faith in Him

Eph 3:12 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

Act 26:18 To open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

Faith in Jesus

Rom 3:22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction;

26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Gal 3:22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Rev 14:12 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Faith in the Son of God

Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

Faith in Christ

Act 24:24 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 2:16 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that wemay be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works ofthe Law no flesh will be justified.

Gal 3:26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Phil 3:9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on

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the basis of faith,

Col 1:4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;

Col 2:5 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Faith in Christ therefore is brought about by the preaching of the gospel. God opens our hearts so we can respond and believe from our hearts that God raised Him from the dead, call and confess with our lips that Jesus is Lord and we are saved. We had our faith in God in the existence of the Almighty towards faith in His Son through His working.

AFTER THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED

THE WORD OF GOD TEACHES US TO HAVE

FAITH IN JESUS, BELIEVE IN JESUS AND HOPE IN JESUS

FOR ETERNAL LIFE AND SALVATION.

Acts 157After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, "Brethren, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles would hear the word of the gospel and believe.8"And God, who knows the heart, testified to them giving them the Holy Spirit, just as He also did to us;9and He made no distinction between us and them, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Mark 114 Now after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God,15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."

Acts 194 Paul said, "John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus."

1 Timothy 116 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

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John 640 For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."

John 1720"I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;

Acts 1117 Therefore if God gave to them the same gift as He gave to us also after believing inthe Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God's way?"

Acts 1630 and after he brought them out, he said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"31 They said, 'Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."

1 John 323 This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, andlove one another, just as He commanded us.

1 John 513 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, sothat you may know that you have eternal life.

Romans 45 But to the one who does not work, but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, hisfaith is credited as righteousness,

John 2031but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

Acts 2618 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominionof Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance amongthose who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'

Ephesians 112 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory. 13In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,

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Revelation 1412 Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.

Acts 2424 But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 216 nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Galatians 326 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 39 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith,

Colossians 14 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which you have for all the saints;

Colossians 25 For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ.

Ephesians 312 in whom we have boldness and confident access through faith in Him.

John 316 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Acts 1043 Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes

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in Him receives forgiveness of sins."

Romans 933 just as it is written, "Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed."

Romans 1011 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."

1 Peter 26 For this is contained in Scripture: "Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”

Matthew 2742 "He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him.

John 629 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

John 830 As He spoke these things, many came to believe in Him.

John 936 He answered, "Who is He, Lord, that I may believe in Him?"

John 1148 If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation."

Philippians 129 For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,

Romans 422 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness.23 Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him,24 but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead,

Romans 104 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.

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5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law shall live by that righteousness.6 But the righteousness based on faith speaks as follows: "Do not say in your heart,'Who will ascend into heaven?' (that is, to bring Christ down),7 or 'Who will descend into the abyss?' (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead)."8 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart"--that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,9 that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart thatGod raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed."12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him;13 for "Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved."14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believeIn Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are thefeet of those who bring good news of good things!"16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our report?"17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

1 Peter 18 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

1Corinthians 1516 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.21 For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead.22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.

Can Man Have Faith?

Man is endowed with the natural consciousness of God. That is the difference of man with beasts. Animals don’t have the knowledge of God like humans. Animals do not pray or grope for God. God reveals Himself to us through His creations, through our experiences and within our souls He is not far from us. Man has the natural faith. This is shown when Jesus showed miracles and many had faith in Him. Cornelius, Lydia and many others believed God, feared God and have done good deeds but were not yet saved. God came into their lives and brought the gospel and opened their hearts. They believed Jesus and got saved. Man can have faith in God and God draws man to Christ to have faith in Him and be forgiven, justified and saved.

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Part 4WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF FAITH IN CHRIST?

We have shown from Scriptures that God has given man the natural and instinctive knowledge of God but sin caused his spiritual separation from God and was under God’s wrath and judgment. He becomes dead because of his trespasses and sins. Only an experiential and relational knowledge of God and Christ can change him wholly. It is through the power of the gospel and the moving of the Holy Spirit. God calls through the gospel of salvation in Christ’s finished work on the cross. He that believes is saved and he that disbelieves is condemned. God knew all men and those whose hearts He knew He opens their hearts to respond to the gospel, draws to the Son to be saved. Therefore, through the gospel and moving of the Holy Spirit they put their faith in Christ.

Now, what are the important results of our faith in Christ?

1Peter 1:8-9

“and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now,but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining

as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.”

John 3:36

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life, but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides in Him.”

John 1:12

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even those who believe in His Name. Who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the

flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Act 26:18

“to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.”

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THEN IT’S BY GRACE

Rom 4:17 For this reason it is by faith, in order that it may be in accordance with grace, so that the promise will be guaranteed to all the descendants, not only to those who are of the Law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

Rom 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.

SAVED THROUGH FAITH

Lk 7:48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” 49 But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50 He said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is God’s power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, “The righteous by faith will live.”

1Cor 1:18 For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1Cor 15:2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you – unless you believed in vain.

2Thess 2:13 But we ought to thank God always for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. 14 He called you to this salvation through our gospel, so that you may possess the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Eph 1:13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory.

AFTER FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD

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Gal 3:6 For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God through faith.

Gal 4:6 And because you are sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, who calls “Abba! Father!”

Jn 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name,13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jn 3:36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life. The one who rejects the Son will not see life, but God’s wrath remains on him.

Jn 5:24 “I tell you the solemn truth, the one who hears my message and believes the one who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned, but has crossed over from death to life.

MADE ALIVE THROUGH FAITH

Col 2:12 having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your transgressions and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He made you alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our transgressions,

REGENERATED AND GIVEN NEW BIRTH THROUGH FAITH

It is through the preaching and faith through the Gospel that we are given new birth.

1Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he gave us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.23 You have been born anew, not from perishable but from imperishable seed, through the living and enduring word of God. 25 but the word of the Lord1 endures forever. And this is the word that was proclaimed to you.

Js 1:18 By his sovereign plan he gave us birth through the message of truth, that we would be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

GIVEN THE HOLY SPIRIT THROUGH FAITH

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Repentance and faith are the rightful response of the believer upon hearing the gospel. They shall be forgiven, washed by the blood of the Lamb and shall be given the Holy Spirit.

Act 15:7 After there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that some time ago God chose me to preach to the Gentiles so they would hear the message of the gospel and believe. 8 And God, who knows the heart, has testified to them by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, 9 and he made no distinction between them and us, cleansing their hearts by faith.

Act 10:42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to warn them that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. 43 About him all the prophets testify, that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell on all those who heard the message.

Gal 3:1 You foolish Galatians! Who has cast a spell on you? Before your eyes Jesus Christ was vividly portrayed as crucified! 2 The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? Although you began with the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by human effort?

RESULTS OF FAITH IN CHRIST

1. Righteousness of God Is 51.6 Prov 12.28 Rom 3.21-26,28, 10.1-4, 9.30 Gal 3.22,21, 5.4,5 Phil 3.9 2. His Commandment Mk 1:15 Jn 3.36, 6.40 Col 1.4,2.6 1Jn 3.233. Only way to be in Christ Eph 1.13,3.17 1Cor 6.174. Become sons of God Jn 1.12-13,12.36 Gal 3.26,4.6 Eph 1.55. New birth Jn 12.36, 1.12-13 Js 1.18 w/

2Thess 2.13 Tit 3.5 1Pet 1.23,25 6. Cleansed Act 15.7-9,22.16,26.18 2Thess 2.137. Salvation Lk 7.48,50 Jn 20.31 Eph 2.8-9

Tit 3.5, 2.11 2Tim 1.9, 3.15 2Thess 2.13 1Pet 1.4-9

8. Forgiveness Act 10.43, 13.38-39, 22.16 Rom 4.7-8Lk 24.47 Mt 9.2 1Cor 15.17, 19-20

9. Eternal Life Jn 20.31, 3.36, 3.16-18, 6.40,47 1Tim 1.16 1Jn 5.11-13

10. Raised and made alive Col 2.12, 3.1

11. Entrance and access into Heb 4.1-3, 3.18-19, 2.1-3 Rom 5.1-2 God’s grace Jn 10.9 Eph 1.13-14 Col 1.13-14

12. Partakers of the promise Gen 22.18 Gal 3.22, 8,14 Act 13.23, 26,32-33,38-39Eph 3.6 Rom 4.16, 9.8 Tit 1.2 1Jn 2.25

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13. Sons, descendants of Abraham Gal 3.1-2, 7-9, 22,2914. Indwelt by the Holy Spirit Gal. 3.1-2, 26, 4.6 Eph 3.17, 1.13 Act 10.43-44, 11.14-17, 15.7-815. Freed from sin and live Jn 8.34-36, 24 Rom 8.3-4 6.2,14, 18, 22 righteously Gal 5.1,14 1Pet 2.24 1Jn 3.5-9 Rev 1.516. Goodness produced Ezek 36.26-27 Jer 32.40 Lk 6.45 Jn 15.4

Jn 3:21 Eph 2.8-9, 10 2Cor 5.5.17,14 Gal 5.22-23 Phil 2.13, 1.11 1Thess 1.3 2Thess 1.11 Tit 2.14 2Pet 1.1,4

17. Sanctification Act 3.16, 26.18, 15.7-9 2Thess 2.1318. Justification Gal 2.16, 3.8, 14 Act 13.39

Rom 5.1, 3.24-2819. Preserved 1Pet 1.3-5,8 Heb 10.3920. Healing Mt 9.22, 29, 15.28 Mk 5.34, 10.52

Lk 17.17-1921. Accepted by God 1Pet 1.21 Gal 4.8-9 1Cor1.30 2Cor 1.2122. Work of God Jn 6.28-29 Mt 16.16-17 1Jn 3.2323. Christ in you 2Cor 13.5 Rom 8.9 Gal 3.26, 4.6

1Jn 5.12-13

CONCLUSIONIn Conclusion we shall borrow from the words of Apostle Paul in Romans and Galatians.

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Romans 3 21 But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested , beingwitnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God through faithin Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; 23 for all havesinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 being justified as a gift by His gracethrough the redemption which is in Christ Jesus; 25 whom God displayed publicly as apropitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness,because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; 26 for thedemonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be justand the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Galatians 321 Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? May it never be! For if a law had been given which was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. 22 But the Scripture has shut up everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe . 23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. 24 Therefore the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. 26 For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.

In Apostolic Theology God has declared all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God for all have sinned and God has shut all the world under sin. Eternal Life is never given through the obedience of the Law or through our good works. For there is no distinction for we all have sinned and God has shut us all under sin. And for this reason all shall be justified and made righteous through faith in His Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus the Son of God is He who died and resurrected from the dead. Jesus Christ is the one who died on the cross and paid for our sins. God reconciled the world to Himself through His Son not counting their sins. He desires all to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth and gave His Son as a ransom for all. God sent and gave the Son so that the world might be saved through Him. Christ is the end of the Law of righteousness to everyone who believes. Faith in Christ therefore is God’s righteousness and not through the Law or our good works.

God has predetermined Christ to die for man’s sin and obtain our ransom and rise from the dead because of this He has also predetermined righteousness through faith in Christ. Christ became a sin for us so that we may become the righteousness to God in Him and that is through faith. It is Christ who died and through faith in Him God justifies us in Christ, makes us righteous and forgives us. God is not partial. He gives all men the opportunity to be saved. Jesus said, “He who believes is saved and He who does not believe is condemned already because he has not

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believed in the Name of the Son of God.” He has given man the power to believe and disbelieve in the existence of God. He has manifested Himself to man and has made Himself evident. He is not far from all of us. Those who suppress the truth and love wickedness He condemns. Those who seek the truth, grope for God, fear God and do what is right come to the Light and He brings to His Son Jesus Christ to be saved. He brings the gospel for the knowledge of the Lord and Savior and opens their hearts and reveals the Christ, the Son of the Living God. We believe in Christ through the power of the gospel and conviction of the Spirit and God sends His Spirit into our hearts and we are sealed, forgiven, redeemed and saved.

Jesus answered them and said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled 27 "Do not work for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you, for on Him the Father, God, has set His seal. 28 Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent."

John 6:26-29

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