Of all the amazing realities of knowing Christ by faith alone and His glorious gospel (the only true good news), nothing makes me worship more than the doctrine of “saving faith.” Contemplating and understanding what saving faith is, is one of the most important truths we could ever learn and embrace as Christians.  

Let me begin with Omaha Bible Church’s confessional statement, namely the London Baptist Confession of 1689, chapter 14. For centuries, the church has confessed and defended this most blessed doctrine. It is not a new doctrine that was invented by 21st century Christians.

We today concur with this most precious confession, which was born out of the Reformation and established against the backdrop of Romanism.

In Chapter 14, entitled Saving Faith, the Church rightly confesses that saving faith is a grace of God given to every Christian, whereby they are enabled to believe and be saved by the work of the Holy Spirit in their hearts by the Word of God.

Therefore, Christians are enabled to rightly understand and believe the true significance of this objective truth. Namely, that Jesus Christ alone, being the Son of God, was born into humanity as our representative in this life to obey perfectly the righteous law in totality, thus fulfilling the greatest commandments.

It is His law keeping and righteousness that is credited by faith to all those who would believe in Him as Savior and Lord. Not only that, his obedience unto death upon a cross also is credited to Christians, securing the payment of the penalty for our sins committed as lawbreakers.

Only Christians receive this grace in saving faith. Salvation comes from the Lord. This might seem like too much to understand, but it is not. It is simply the gospel.

Saving faith is a never-ending, grace-based reality. By God’s design, it is a faith that continues to increase and strengthen by knowledge and understanding of the gospel. This growing faith occurs through the ordinary means of the ministry of the Word.

This ministry of the Word is primarily accomplished when the body of Christ gathers every Sunday for corporate worship. God in his wonderful plan and power, by His all sufficient Word, graces the believing church members by the revelation of the object of the faith, Jesus Christ.

Scripture says faith comes by hearing of the preached word (Romans 10:17). Not only does saving faith increase in knowledge, it also affords the Christian with, unlike any other kind of bending of the will and mind.

This is grace in action. Never take for granted the privilege of this overwhelming reality. When we sing in church, we are not just singing words, we are worshiping with saving faith! We by grace, sing with fully convincing faith, thus changing worship and life altogether.

Saving faith also embraces the sermon, knowing the very authority of God Himself is behind every truth, command, and promise. Heaven’s callings are forever in my heart and mind always affirming and assuring me of the excellencies of Jesus Christ.

His person and work are the most valuable and prized realities that I possess and can ever behold. What a blessing saving faith really is. The Christian willingly casts his very soul on Him alone with complete and utter confidence of Him who is the author and perfector of our faith.

Somehow, we as believers take this saving faith for granted, or never wholly understand the privilege we have to not only see this wonderful Son with eyes of faith, but that by seeing truly, to fully believe and trust in Christ.  

Surely, this saving faith has many different stages and may be weak or strong. But nonetheless, Christians have victory in Christ! He alone is faithful and we stand in Him.

My prayer is for all of us to grow in this saving faith (a gifted grace). May we all spur each other on with a lifetime of blessed daily faith. We are so thankful that saving faith was never a one-time decision or a faith that has no ongoing results, but rather a saving faith.

A faith where the beauty and glory of the risen Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work changes the believer’s daily life with grace and all the fruits of the Spirit.