FAITH DOES NOT ALWAYS SAVE

Do you know that faith does not always save? You are probably shocked, as I am! I don't know why I am typing this, but it sure is true.

James 2:19 (New Living Translation)
"You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! EVEN THE DEMONS BELIEVE THIS, AND THEY TREMBLE IN TERROR."
Can you imagine that? There is an example of a situation where faith doesn't save!

The Amplified Bible, puts it this way: "You believe that God is one; you do well. So do the demons believe and shudder [in terror and horror such as make a man's hair stand on end and contract the surface of his skin]!"

I have only seen this type in horror movies, and it is nowhere close to what those demons pass through at the fear of the power of Jesus Christ. Negative faith.

A scripture comes to mind. But before that, let's iron out definition of terms. Faith. What is faith? Is it positive thinking? A feeling? One’s church affiliation? The belief that Jesus died for your sins? Confidence? Hope? Or is it something far more? The Bible states that “without faith it is impossible to please [God]” (Hebrews 11:6). This is an incredible statement - yet, it is in the Bible! Take it for exactly what it says. Just think! Anything a person does, in attempting to be Christian, means absolutely nothing, if he lacks faith. For without faith, he has no hope - no possibility of pleasing God. Any who are not pleasing God are Christians in vain. That is serious! Consider yourself. Do you have real faith? Is it sufficient for salvation? Can you know?

You are probably thinking of the famous Hebrew 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." 

This is difficult English. Trust the King James version to do that often. But I do love the King James Version, helps to keep certain verse of scriptures simpler, poetic and easy to remember.

Let's use a simpler translation, the New Living Translation: Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.



Four things are evidenced so far, let me give them to you authoritatively:
1. Faith is required to please God.
2. Faith tells you your desired or expected future will happen as expected; it has not happened yet, but it will.
3. Human beings can have faith.
4. Demons have faith.

So the big question now is, what saves a man? I got you right where I want you. Here is the answer. GRACE saves, not faith. Faith is the second level requirement.

Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast." 

Did you see that?! It is grace that saves a man, not faith. But faith is your response to grace. Here you are drowning. Let's say you cannot swim, and you are drowning and gulping water, and losing your breathe, your lungs are filling with water, your brain is getting numbed and the last sparks of life is ebbing out of you. Then suddenly, someone stretches his hands at you. That is grace. That is what is your salvation. But that salvation requires your response. You stretch your hands to the hands, that is faith. But you see, you can be drowning and hoping and having faith that someone will see you struggling and come save you. Yes. That is faith as well. But no one came to save you, grace is missing. So you see that your faith alone is not enough. Grace is required. And that grace we are told is the gift of God. Your salvation is a gift. The grace-gift of God is what saves you, not your faith.

I am tempted to want to go further in this blog to explain some misconceptions about faith, perhaps in another topic, but it will feel good to say that I have known many people who believed that faith is an intangible “feeling” that cannot be defined. It is often thought to be personal, mysterious and unique to each person. This feeling usually has no definition, structure, or clear purpose and, inevitably, is whatever people want or need it to be. In other words, for almost every person, there is a different description and definition of faith. It is strange how many people view faith this way, yet the Bible has never said anything of the sort. Others believe that faith is some kind of “positive thinking.” It is as though as long as people take an optimistic view and remain upbeat about events and circumstances, they are demonstrating faith. The Bible nowhere describes faith with the words positive or optimistic—though these are good qualities of mind.

We live in a generation where we beg men to have faith. And here we are, the adversary of our soul demonstrates faith at such a high frequency that, it doesn't produce salvation or righteous living, but produces "horror"! And this same enemy knowing the power of faith will attempt to make you live your whole life in UNBELIEF!...and sadly many Christians buy into it even at a discount!..gosh!!!

A man should not assume, therefore, because he has faith, even that faith in God which will fill him with alarm or reverence, that therefore he is safe. He must have a faith which will produce another effect altogether - that which will lead to a holy life.