Are You, 'in the faith'? Tues/Thurs Weekly Series, 'In the Sanctuary', Post 1, July 16, 2019

Old Faithful is a cone geyser located in Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, United States. It was named in 1870 during the Washburn-Langford-Doane Expedition and was the first geyser in the park to receive a name. It is a highly predictable geothermal feature, and has erupted every 44 to 125 minutes since 2000. ​

​Welcome, welcome, welcome my friends.

Coming in from my recent travels and observations, let me venture with you into a 'series' of posts for a Tuesday/Thursday series here in the 'quiet and solitude' of 'Sanctuary', on matters dear to my heart.

'Faith' is central to Christianity. You and I know this, right? The New Testament repeatedly calls people to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. But, since there is a definite body of content to be believed, which is part and parcel of our religious activity, what exactly is - 'saving faith'. Let's explore this topic together. 

I find this is important for I ran into so very many people who 'believe' they are 'in the faith', but, as we shared what exactly we believed, they and I became aware that they were not.  The conversations were, as you can imagine, 'lively', indeed, but, mutually respectful. For at all times, we are, according to 1 Peter 3:15, 'But sanctify the LORD God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear..'[ audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html] 

[audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html] 

​However all were encouraged to 'check out from the sources of your faith and search the Holy Bible, to be sure that what you believe is going to lead you to - 'eternal life' with the 'One, True God'. Jesus Is Eternal Life.  Jesus the Son of God is Eternal Life. "Jesus said unto her, I am the Resurrection, and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he Live" (John 11:25).

This is fundamental to the Christianity of the Scriptures, and those, who by faith place their confidence in Jesus, have Eternal Life. Eternal life is the life everlasting in the presence of God. 'This is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent..' (John 17:3). This life begins the very moment one comes to 'saving faith' in God through Jesus Christ and 'continues' - forever and ever. 
'Eternal life' is having an intimate, close, personal relationship with God. That’s awesome!

Some Holy Bible verses related to Everlasting Life from the King James Version (KJV) include Matthew 25:46 - 'And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.' 

John 3:36 - 'He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.' [Further along in this series, you will understand 'the fierce wrath' of God.  Please stay tuned.] [Acts 17:11 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html] 

For the purpose of clarifying 'what we believe', let us all do some examining of exactly what it is we believe - What is - 'Saving Faith'? A Little History, First.  Post 1, July 16, 2019; Post 2, July 18, 2019

At the time of the Reformation, the debate involved the 'nature' of saving faith. What is saving faith? The idea of 'justification by faith alone' suggests to many people a thinly veiled antinomianism that claims people can live any way they like so long as they believe the right things. Is this the truth?

The 'brother' of Our Lord, Jesus Christ, James, wrote in his epistle: “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?…Faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (2:14, 17 Read more audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html).

Luther said that the sort of faith that 'justifies' is fides viva, a “living faith,” one that inevitably, necessarily, and immediately yields the fruit of righteousness. (Galatians 5:16-24)
[Read more audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html].  

​'Justification is by faith alone', but not by a faith that is alone. A faith without any yield of righteousness is not true faith.  Jesus did say, as it is written at Matthew 7:15-23, to wit, audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html : ​

'15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.'

We shall 'slowly' continue our 'search' on our post on Thursday, July 18, 2019.  Thank you in advance for returning to study with me and Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, Our Mutual Teacher.
[John 14:26 audio-bible.com/bible/bible.html ] Amen.  Amen.

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