For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Thoughts: There is a difference between faith and saving faith. It is almost like the difference between the person who know there is a cinco de mayo celebration and the person who takes part in it. Saving faith is not just knowing that there is a God. Part of the difference lies in recognizing we cannot save ourselves. The first step to obtaining faith is to recognize we need God's grace and our own efforts are limited.
A second part of the difference between the two kinds of faith is that saving faith trusts that God will reward people. That is, we must be able to trust in the goodness of following God.
Finally, faith is the reward those who seek Him with His presence. Faith is the tentacle reaching out toward God- like a root goes to water. But it is more than that- it is like steel that heads toward the most powerful magnet. Faith and God belong together. Faith naturally seeks God and because it too is a gift of God, finds Him.
Many people have faith. Jesus said many will say to Him, "Lord Lord" but he will say "Depart from me for I never knew you." True, saving faith draws us to know God more and more, and to trust in Him more and more.
LC Q. 72- What is Justifying Faith?
A: Justifying faith is a saving grace, worked in the heart of a sinner, by the Spirit and the Word of God; whereby being convinced of his sin and misery, and of the disability in himself and all other creatures to recover him out of his lost condition, not only assents to the truth of the promise of the gospel, but receives and rests upon Christ and his righteousness, for pardon of sin, and for the accepting and accounting of his person righteous in the sight of God for salvation.
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