What Is Saving Faith
Do you have saving faith? It’s free! And it’s eternally important to know the answer to this question. Here is what saving faith really is.
Saving faith is a matter of life and death. Eternal life and death. And knowing what Saving Faith is and how it is available to us is THE most important thing we will ever do! Let’s talk about saving faith.
I am a pretty concrete thinker. Words like sanctified, glory, salvation, hallelujah, atonement, propitiation, and faith are words that, for me, seem to float around my head, cloaked in an ethereal cloud.
I have a general knowledge of what they mean, but their true and deep meaning is often lost in the midst of church speak.
It’s important for all of us, believers and seekers, to know these types of words. We need to de-MIST-ify them and let their true meaning sink right into the marrow of our bones.
Faith is one of those words. Do we really know what it means? Let’s work with the Holy Spirit to blow the fogginess off of it and get to a real and meaningful definition of FAITH.
Faith And Belief
When I think of the word FAITH, I also think of the word BELIEVE. They are somewhat synonymous. Faith is the noun, and belief is the verb. Let’s put it like this: Faith is the “person, place, or thing,” and belief is the doing word.
To talk about a saving faith, we need to look closely at the word believe.
Believe is the Greek word PISTEO. It is a word that signifies a past action that continues to go on into the present.
Believe means to have trust or faith in something… to accept something as true…to accept the word or evidence.
But Christian belief carries an even greater and deeper meaning. The definition cannot stop there! There must be something more!!!
James 2: 19 says …
YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS ONE. YOU DO WELL: THE DEMONS ALSO BELIEVE AND SHUDDER.
Here’s what James is saying.
When we believe God is the only true God, we are right in our thinking. Even the demons believe this, and it makes them shake in their fiery shoes! And here is the really important part: they BELIEVE in God, but that belief does not save them from hell!!!!!
They know who God is, but just knowing Him does not give them grace and forgiveness and a ticket out of their eternal position! Just acknowledging and having a firm assent (belief) that God is real and He is God does not save them!
There is more to saving belief or real faith. Here is a good working definition of believing that leads to salvation…
1. A STRONG CONVICTION OF THE TRUTH
Believing the Gospel is true…
That Jesus, God incarnate, came to planet Earth for the purpose of taking on our sins and dying in our place for them. He led a perfectly sinless life, and He died on the cross and spilled His perfect blood, accepting the punishment of death instead of us.
He was buried because He was dead, but after three days (Jewish days), He arose from the dead, ALIVE. The grave could not hold Him!
Then, after 40 days, He ascended to heaven to the Father.
Even the demons recognized Jesus and believed (intellectually know it as true) in the gospel, but that is where their belief stopped!
I’m afraid that so many of us think that we are Christians, yet our faith, what we believe in, stops there too!
2. A PERSONAL SURRENDER
In light of believing in the gospel and all it says, we can now see ourselves as we really are. We are sinners! Falling so short of what God had intended us to be. Being rebellious and out of God’s will!
Seeing ourselves in the light of God’s truth should bring us to repentance! Repentance begins our personal surrender.
Repentance in Hebrew is the idea of not turning away from our sins but turning back to God. Because we have wandered so far away from Him to swim in the cesspool of sin! And when we run towards our LORD, we run away from sin and the depravity we enjoyed before. What a serious and beautiful truth.
We call Jesus LORD, and so He is. LORD means Creator/Owner. Once we repent of our sins, we can ask the LORD to take and use our lives. We can hand over our lives and ourselves to Jesus. Only in His nail-scarred hands can we begin to really live!
This is the point of belief that the demons are not willing to do!
This is the great dividing line between life and death. Eternal life and death!
They are prideful, wanting their own sinful way. And they will never repent of their sin and hand rightful authority over their lives to Jesus! They run from Jesus! But we need to run to Him!!!!
3. A LIFESTYLE THAT REFLECTS THAT CHANGE
This step in saving faith is amazing!!!!
Once we have a firm conviction in the truth of the gospel, we have asked God to forgive our sins, and we give up the right to lead our lives for ourselves, we will begin to change!!!
It’s nothing we DO. God does it to us and through us!!!
We will begin the lifelong process of SANCTIFICATION. The process of becoming holy (set apart from common things). What that really means is we will, little by little, look more and more like Christ! God will work on us and in us!!!
ABIDE AND OBEY
We just have to keep believing and surrendering and be obedient. God will change our lives!!!!
I love the saying Abide and Obey. The more time I spend with my Savior, the more I want to be like Him, and the more I want to obey Him!
I became a Christian at the age of 33. And I can hardly recognize that girl before I believed! I did not change myself! It was God’s work in me that changed me! I just kept believing the truth of the bible and surrendering my will to Jesus (obeying), and God began to change me! Little by little!!!!
It’s a life-long process!!!
This Is A Faith That Saves
Saving Faith is not just knowing the truth!
Saving Faith is surrendering to it and being changed by it! It is not accepting the truth and then never thinking about it again.
There is nothing we have to DO to go to heaven. We don’t have to be “good” to spend eternity with God. Saving faith is a gift!
A FREE GIFT
Whether or not we accept God’s free gift is up to us. God will never force us to believe, to have a faith that saves, but He offers it to ALL!
John, the disciple who Jesus loved, lived with our Lord during His public ministry on earth. He saw the miracles Jesus performed. John called them signs. They are signs that pointed out that Jesus was the one who would save us from an eternity without God. John wrote about these miracles and believing in Jesus and said…
MANY OTHER SIGNS THEREFORE JESUS PERFORMED IN THE PRESENCE OF THE DISCIPLES, WHICH ARE NOT WRITTEN IN THIS BOOK: BUT THESE (signs) HAVE BEEN WRITTEN THAT YOU MAY BELIEVE THAT JESUS IS THE CHRIST, THE SON OF GOD; AND THAT BELIEVING YOU MAY HAVE LIFE IN HIS NAME. John 20:30-31
In these two verses, John wrote about true belief. Saving faith in Jesus will lead to life.
Eternal life with God! I hope that this definition of Faith has helped you as it helped me by giving you a deeper understanding of the beautiful faith God offers to every single person! No matter what!
Do You Have Saving Faith?
I have this saving faith that saved me, a sinner among sinners! It’s the same faith that our great and good God offers to you, too! Now is the time to grab the gift of eternal life through saving faith. You will be eternally glad you did!
May God be glorified by this post, and may you be richly blessed today!
Verses to ponder…
Many other signs, therefore, Jesus performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book: but these have been written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name. John 20:30-31
OTHER IMPORTANT TOPICS
WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?
Wonderful post, Yvonne! Very well explained. I’ve grown up in church and struggled with whether or not I was saved for years. “Church speak” as you put it (so true) had me confused as a young person- I thought I was saved because I believed in Jesus Christ with all my heart, but I had not surrendered to his will for so long. It’s definitely a life long process of sanctification. Your post explains it so well. Bless you and prayers that it touches others.
Could you email me? would love to talk….kerrim99@hotmail.com
Of course!
Dearest Yvonne,
Thank you for proclaiming the Gospel SOOO clearly! May God use your testimony to draw someone to salvation .
What a blessing you have been in my life since I found your podcast DTT early on. I will take time one day to write you more, but, like thousands of other women, I found a “friend” in you, though we’ll probably never meet this side of Heaven. May God keep showering you with the grace and strength you need to continue on in this ministry. How I do miss your voice and in-put on DTT, but understand being your age and living on my 8 grandkids. Have a GLORYous day worshipping our Savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you Cathy! I am a friend! We don’t have to meet to have a bond! I miss DDT too but I really love the freedom I have now that I don’t have to be at home on taping days.
Such a truthful and powerful post Yvonne. I, like you, didn’t fully understand what my faith in Him truly meant until the total surrendering of my will was given over in all circumstances and situations. The scripture, Proverbs 3 : 5 – 6 ,in the bible image was what He gave to me as a new believer and it took a long time to understand what the trust was , the surrendering of my will and my life totally. I have been so blessed by that passage for over 35 years.
Yvonne, you stated that you were 33 when you embraced saving faith. What circumstances led up to your decision to repent and obey?
Hi Linda, It was the Lord wooing me and calling me from the time I was in my early 20’s. I have a very interesting testimony. Maybe sometime I’ll share it.
Thank you for this teaching- you have many gifts but your gift of spiritual teaching has such eternal signifificance!
God Bless You!
Amen!
I look forward to your Sunday devotional I should say we, because I always read it has a part of our Sunday devotional .has I was reading todays devotional …Hebrew 11:1 kept going over in my mind. .What is Faith? It is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainly that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead. ..Faith through Jesus Christ,gives us that blessed hope,confident and assurance…
We are caregivers for my 95 year old mom, she needs content care now so we don’t get out to church anymore. …
It feels good to be conected to a sister in the Lord even if it is through a blog. Amazing own that is when we are one in Christ. ..
Thank you again for sharing your wonderful insight ..looking forward to what you have for us all next Sunday. .have a wonderful God blessed week. .
Love you with the love of the Lord. ..
Daphne, God bless you for your sweet care of your mom! God bless you!
Yvonne, thanks for sharing! You explained everything so well! I’m somewhat new to your blog and it’s great to know you’re a fellow sister in Christ!
Welcome to the StoneGable family, Tracy!
Thank you, Yvonne for the reminder of the saving Faith Christ has offered us. I pray your words today will plant seeds in the hearts of many that are searching for fulfillment in this life. He is our true and only answer.
Keep Shining!
Yvonne—
Your Sunday posts are so full of our Lord’s message. Thank you for sharing!
Yvonne,
Your Sunday devotional posts always touch my soul, and make me think and reflect. I think the important distinction you make is that faith requires a series of actions, believing, surrendering, following. It is not a yes or no, check the box. This journey of actions is what connects us with God. Happy Sunday!
I typed a comment, but it was deleted by your website. Thank you for your insight on saving faith and belief.
Father God, Thank you again for these words of wisdom from Yvonne. Each week as we read her words, let all who are believers come together in prayer, that those who read her column may but have not yet accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, be drawn to her words. May your Holy Spirit prepare them to have eyes that long to see and hearts that are open and hungry for you. Let these word plant seeds that will be watered and fed so that they will long for You and be convicted and desire to turn their lives over to your care and salvation. Bless Yvonne overflowing for her desire to share you with the world through her blog.
Through the sacrifice of Jesus life and washing of His blood we pray, Amen ??
Amen. Thank you, Glenda. Please continue to pray for me and for those who read StoneGable. God bless you!
Yvonne, I think we do need to be reminded about saving faith and know that it is this faith that makes us whole. I enjoy reading the Mitford series of books about the fictional Father Timothy Kavanagh, written by Jan Karon. In her books, many things happen but Father Tim often shares his faith and leads simple prayers with the people who character Karon’s novels to lead them to Christ.
Here is that simple prayer: ” ‘Thank you, God, for loving me, and for sending your Son to die for my sins. I sincerely repent of my sins, and receive Christ as my personal savior. Now, as your child, I turn my entire life over to you. Amen.'”
Can’t get much better than that, can we? Nothing to lose and everything to gain. 🙂
Thank you for posting and sharing your heart,
Hugs,
Barb 🙂
What a beautiful “sinner’s prayer”!
Yvonne, I can’t believe I have been following Stone Gable for so long and have never realized you have a Sunday Scripture? I flip through my email on Sunday and somehow I have totally bypassed your messages. This morning for some reason, I opened this message. So blessed to have received this message as you have a way with words that helped me so much to have a better understanding. Thank you and God bless you, Sharon
I’m so glad, Sharon. God bless you this beautiful October day!
So good to see this post. I enjoy all the recipes, design and decorations and while scrolling through my email this caught my eye on a beautiful Sunday Morning. Thank you for being you and sharing faith with all your readers.
God Bless
Hi Donna, I share my faith every Sunday morning.
My Dear Yvonne, my daughter and I are new to your blog and cannot tell you how much your teachings inspire us and we are so grateful to have found you. I saw a shirt that says it all, it says “I want to be so full of Christ that if a mosquito bites me it flies away singing, There is power n the blood of Jesus”. May God bless you and al your faithful readers.
I’m so thrilled you found us too! What a fun saying!
Beautiful. Thank you.
Wonderful, as always. Thank you for sharing The Word which so many need to hear during these difficult times. Blessings!
Just think if everyone could hear and believe God’s great truth instead of man’s imaginationings!
Thank you for boldly testifying of God’s saving grace! It was a blessing to read of your salvation at 33. I was blessed to be raised in a home where my parents were saved when I was two years old. So with that exposure I was saved at 11.
To me this is more important than how you decorate and it is the reason I follow you!!
You are right, Sandy. Although I love decorating Sunday’s post are the most important posts of the week!
I’m finding I look forward to your Sunday Guidance, Yvonne more and more each week and they are much appreciated and important to me as well. Thank you for your help in His teachings.
I’m so glad you find Sunday Scriptures helpful, Sue
Thank you for sharing your faith on your blog. It is comforting to hear your testimony of faith. Blessings to you and your family.
Thank you for this post.
I froze when I read this comment about the reader caring for her 95 year old mother. We just lost our precious 95 year old mother. She has met her KING!! We celebrate that eternal blessing…but I will admit that I am very much grieving the loss. I greatly appreciate your gifts of ministry in all that you do. Continue. May I ask your prayers for comfort and peace. Thank you!
Thank you for sharing the good news that Jesus saves! As a Christian, I am so grateful to Jesus for saving my soul and I appreciate you being strong enough to publish this blog unashamedly. ❤️❤️❤️
For I am not ashamed of the Gospel. For it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believes. To the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written the righteous lives by faith. Romans 1:16 and But whoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my Father. Matt 10:33
God Bless YOU, Yvonne….!! Praise our RISEN LORD and SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST..!! I thank God for my FAITH..!!
I thank GOD for your FAITH…!! Glory be to GOD…!!
I do too Diva! God bless you!
I know my Savior Jesus. I am very thankful for your encouragment. You are a special person. Love that you know Jesus. May God Blesss You. My favorite scripture is Jeremiah 29:11.
Thank you Bettyanne, I love that scripture too
Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for Boldly proclamation your faith in Jesus Christ.
we pray many who do not know God personally will realize Jesus is what is missing in their life.
Salvation is free & available to ALL who believe in Him.
I agree, I would absolutely LOVE to hear your salvation experience when you feel is the right time.
Your insight on home & my spiritual daily walk journey has helped me more than I can say!
You are an answer to prayer.. we recently moved & have no local friends yet.. you kindness through your blog has helped fill my day with joy!
God bless you deeply! ❤️
This is a very inspiring and useful teaching , I myself will take inspiration from here to build a teaching also. God Bless You , Your family and Friends and Keep Giving more Wisdom. You are blessed.
Thank You for your Sunday Scripture. I love how you put your thoughts into a lesson and bring it right to the point. This topic draws my attention because it isn’t just about believing. You have to walk the walk. He is our only way into eternal life.
Amen! Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father but by Me.”
Yvonne, I would love to hear your personal testimony! Thank you so much for your encouraging word from God’s Word!
Yes, I really need to write it in a post.