Know the Bible
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It is the responsibility of every Christian to know and understand what God has revealed through the Holy Scriptures. If you don’t already have one, obtain a copy of the Bible. Please examine these points regarding first what the Bible says about itself; then, what the Bible says about faith…
I. What does the Bible say about itself?
A. The Scriptures are the inspired, God-breathed words of the living God that have been written and preserved. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (2nd Timothy 3:16-17) The phrase “inspiration of God,” in the Greek (the language in which the New Testament was written) literally means ‘God out-breathed’. Therefore, “All Scripture is ‘God-breathed’” Scripture is the result of God’s breath.
B. The Holy Spirit, using humans, penned them. “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2nd Peter 1:20-21) As a master musician can pick up any instrument and play it well, God used a diverse orchestra of human instruments to record His Word.
a. Jesus understood this: “For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.” (Mark 12:36) In that verse, Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1. Jesus knew that the Psalm was penned by David, but only as the Holy Ghost moved him. Again, 2nd Peter 1:20-21 illustrates this.
b. The apostles also understood this:
i. Peter: Acts 1:16 states "Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake before concerning Judas, which was guide to them that took Jesus." Peter must have understood this concept of inspiration to make such a statement. Again, see 2nd Peter 1:20-21.
ii. Paul: Acts 28:25 states “…spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers,” The Holy Spirit breathed through Isaiah and Isaiah recorded God’s words. Paul must have understood this concept of inspiration to make such a statement.
iii. Luke must have understood this truth because he penned these two verses in the book of Acts.
C. The Scriptures alone are authoritative. Since God authored the Bible, it has His authority. It is the revelation of God to His people.
a. Jesus understood this:
i. Being tempted by Satan, Jesus used the authority of Scripture to overcome the evil one. (See Matthew chapter 4:4,7,10)
ii. There are several other instances where Jesus demonstrates the fact that Scripture is authoritative: (See Matthew 5:17; 8:1-4; 12:1-9, 12-14; 19:3-6; 22:29; 26:54-56; Luke 24:25-27,44-46; John 5:39,45-47)
b. The apostles understood the supreme authority of Scripture:
i. Peter’s authority for selecting a replacement for Judas was exercised by the quoting of Holy Scripture. (See Acts 1:15-16, 20)
ii. James quoted Scripture in resolving a dilemma at the very first Church council. (See Acts 15:13-18)
As demonstrated, the body of written Scripture is, in fact, the Word of God and has Divine Authority.
With this in mind, here's what God says concerning saving faith…
II. What does the Bible say about saving faith?
A. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone:
a. Salvation: Salvation is literally the deliverance from sin. The bible says, “the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Death (Eternity in hell) is our wage, our merited, hard-earned payment for sin. The only thing we can ever earn from God is eternity in the Lake of Fire. (Revelation 20:10-15; 21:8)
b. Grace: Grace literally means unmerited favor. Therefore, in order for God to bestow His Grace upon man, by definition, man can’t deserve it. If man does deserve Grace, it is, by definition, no longer unmerited. “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” (Romans 11:6) Grace therefore cannot include even one work and no work can be Grace. They are separate and mutually exclusive. True gifts can never be earned.
c. Faith: Faith, according to the Bible is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) And, "therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." (Romans 3:28) True faith includes belief and trust and is the result of the unseen. Faith does not make anything that is not real, to be real. Faith is the only way one can accept God’s free gift of salvation. If we tried to earn it by good actions, it would not be a gift. It would be a payment. We would then be trusting in those good works to earn salvation. You cannot trust in faith and works. You can only trust in faith or works. Any trust in works destroys all faith.
d. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2) We cannot have access to God’s saving grace through any good deed or many good deeds. (Genesis 15:6) We can only access his gift of eternal life through faith.
e. “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12; c.f. John 14:6, 1st Timothy 2:5)
f. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
B. God Is Holy and demands Justice!
a. Jesus equated unrighteous anger with murder and said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: but I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.” (Matthew 5:21-22a) A sin is not merely a rebellious act that separates man from God and puts him in the lake of fire, but can be a rebellious thought as well. Have you ever been wrongly angry? If so, according to God, you’ve committed murder.
b. Jesus equated lust with adultery and said, “Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28) Have you ever lusted after someone who is not your husband or wife? If so, you’re guilty of adultery.
c. The unrighteous shall not inherit the Kingdom of God. (See Revelation 21:8; Galatians 5:19-21; 1st Corinthians 6:9-11)
C. Since the beginning of history, God has required a proper sacrifice to bear the punishment and restore the relationship He desires with man.
a. When Adam and Eve first sinned against God, they made aprons of fig leaves with their own hands to hide their sin. (Genesis 3:7)
b. God had to provide them with animal skins for a proper covering. (Genesis 3:21)
c. When Cain and Abel each brought an offering to God, Cain’s was rejected. Not just any attempt to worship God is acceptable in His eyes. (Genesis 4:5)
d. In the days of Moses, animal sacrifices performed by priests were required to cleanse sin. (Leviticus 6:25) The act itself was not what saved. It was the faith behind the obedience to God’s Word that saved by the grace of God. (Galatians 3:6; Hebrews 11:1-40) Faith produces obedience. Obedience is not what saves.
e. God’s holy sense of justice must be satisfied. (Hebrews 9:27) Anyone who wishes to avoid His condemnation and wrath must have a substitute. (Hebrews 9:28)
f. Jesus Christ, the sinless Son of God then became our high priest (Hebrews 7:22-28) and the once-for-all sacrifice to pay the penalty for the sins of mankind (Hebrews 9:25-28) so “that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
g. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
h. “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
i. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)
j. “Truly, truly, I (Jesus) say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death to life.” (John 5:24)
As you can see, by reading the Scriptures and prayerfully understanding it, you can rest assured of two things:
The Bible is God’s Divinely Inspired (God-Breathed) Word.
You can have eternal assurance of Salvation simply, through faith by Grace alone by accepting Christ Jesus’ substitutionary, atoning, all sufficient, perfect and finished work on the cross.
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