THE NECESSITY OF FAITH

By Gary Ray Branscome

Although Christ secured forgiveness for us through His death on the cross, the words, “Without faith it is impossible to please God,” // “He who believes on the Son has everlasting life: and he who does not believe the Son will not see life; but God’s wrath remains on him,” tell us that faith in Christ is not an option (Hebrews 11:6, John 3:36).

That raises a question as to what faith is. And, the Bible answers that question in many passages. For example: the words, “The kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel,” describe faith as believing “the gospel,” and also tell us that repentance precedes faith (Mark 1:15). The words, “I want to remind you of the gospel that I preached to you, that you believed, and upon which your faith rests… how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures,” tell us that faith in the gospel is believing that Christ died for our sins and rose again (1Corinthians 15:1-4). The words, “In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace,” tell us that believing that Christ died for our sins is believing that we have “redemption through His blood,” (Ephesians 1:7). And, the words, “We also have access by faith into this grace in which we stand,” tell us that through “faith” in what Christ did we “have access” to the forgiveness He won for us by His death on the cross (Romans 5:2). Faith is the hand that receives what Christ did for us.

The words, “No flesh will ever be justified in God’s sight by the deeds of the law: because the knowledge of sin comes by the law. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God which comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and upon all who believe: for there is no difference, for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,” tell us: 1) that the “deeds of the law” will never make anyone righteous [justify them] “in God’s sight;” 2) God has revealed a new way to become righteous “apart from the law;” 3) that righteousness comes to us “through faith in Jesus Christ;” and 4) that we become righteous before God [are justified] “through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:20-24). In addition, the words, “We have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,” tell us that the redemption that makes us righteous consists of “the forgiveness of sins” (Ephesians 1:7). In other words, it is forgiveness that makes us righteousness [or just] in the sight of God. As it is written, “The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us of all sin” (1John 1:7).

The words, “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life,” // “He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be damned,” tell us that there is no salvation apart from faith in Christ (John 3:16, Mark 16:16). The words, “Christ is of no benefit to those of you who seek righteousness by the law; you are fallen from grace,” should be a warning to all who profess to believe that they are saved by faith, yet trust in their own efforts to make them righteous (Galatians 5:4). Such thinking is “double minded” (James 1:7). Whatever gives you assurance of salvation is what you are putting your faith in. So if your assurance of salvation comes from what you do, then that is what you are trusting in. And, “All who trust in the law are under a curse,” because they are denying their own sin instead of seeking forgiveness (Galatians 3:10). “There is no other name [than Jesus Christ] under heaven given among men, by which we must be saved,” (Acts 4:12).