Embrace Faith
How does a person embrace salvation for real? If you’re asking that question, please read below.
Salvation is a miracle
The Bible makes several very sobering claims. From birth, humans are blind to the gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4), ignorant to the truth (Ephesians 4:18), and hostile toward God (Colossians 1:21).
If these claims are true, a sobering question must be asked: how does anyone ever become a Christian? To answer the question clearly, sinners get saved because God performs a supernatural work on their behalf.
In the conversation with Nicodemus, Jesus says in order to see the kingdom of God—which refers to being saved from your sins and living eternally with God—a person must be born again (John 3:3). Nicodemus leaves the conversation baffled at how that could be possible. In the letter to the Ephesian believers, Paul describes salvation as a person going from death to life—what could be more miraculous (Ephesians 2:1-4)?
Salvation is a miracle! When approaching the reality of salvation, we must first develop a sense of awe and wonder that sinful humans could ever be saved.
Salvation is a work of God
It is not enough to understand that salvation is a miracle. We must also think rightly about who deserves credit for that miracle.
In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says, “‘. . .No one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.’” (Matthew 11:27) Jesus makes the point that people who enjoy the beauty of God do so because God removed their blinders enabling them to see His greatness. Paul also emphasizes God’s work in salvation to the Galatians: “Now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God. . .” (Galatians 4:9). Paul emphasizes it is God’s doing that brought the Galatians into a new relationship with Him. In their process of coming to know God, it was God who has come to know them.
It is so important to understand that salvation is made possible not by human efforts, but by God.
Salvation requires a response
When describing salvation, the Bible does not stop with God’s miraculous work. Paul reminds the Ephesian believers they are saved by grace—God’s work of demonstrating free and undeserved favor (Ephesians 2:8). However, he continues, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. . .” (Ephesians 2:8). Faith is the means the Holy Spirit uses to apply God’s gracious saving work to a person’s life. This is where the tension that exists throughout the Bible becomes clear—God is sovereign in salvation, and humans have a responsibility in salvation. While salvation is a miraculous work of God, it demands a human response!
The response is turning and trusting
In Scripture, God calls humans to the following responses: faith, belief, and repentance. Jesus says as much in the beginning of His ministry captured in Mark, “‘. . .The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mark 1:15) But what do those ideas even mean, and how are they interrelated? Similar to the gospel, misunderstandings about faith, belief, and repentance abound. Many may miss the meanings of faith and belief—seeing them as a worldview, a one-time decision, or a subscription to a set of facts. Likewise, many may miss the meaning of repentance—seeing it as a one-time commitment, guilt for getting caught, or an empty promise to “do better.” So what is it?
Repentance refers to turning away from the old way, and faith/belief refers to turning toward the new way. This looks like an initial response of turning from sin and trusting in Jesus for salvation. The form this initial response to God’s prompting takes can look different for different people, but we will know it is genuine when it is followed by continual repentance and faith.
Turning and trusting are gifts
Now that we have a proper biblical understanding of embracing salvation, let us reconsider the challenging question from the beginning. If repentance and faith are necessary for salvation, how can a hard-hearted hypocrite, spiritually dead person ever put his or her trust and confidence in God? How can someone change his mind about Jesus when he is blind to God’s beauty? How can she ever choose to respond in faith to the good news of Jesus if she is innately opposed to it? The answer: God must work on his or her behalf. God must open blind eyes, draw stubborn hearts, and provide faith where faith is lacking.
If you find yourself acknowledging that you are a sinner against a Holy God and inclined toward trusting in Him for salvation, be encouraged. God has opened your eyes to this truth, gifted you with faith, and wooed you to Himself. Respond in repentance and faith! He is working in you. If you have never responded to the sovereign grace of God, we pray that today would be the day—repent of your sins and believe in Jesus!
If you have never embraced faith in Jesus and would like to discuss this with a pastor, click below.