From Facts to Faith

Chuckle: "My doctor told me to start my exercise program very gradually. So, today, I drove past a store that sells sweat pants."

Quote: "Faith consists in believing not what seems true, but what seems false to our understanding." --Voltaire

"This Good News tells us how God makes us right (righteous) in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scriptures say, 'It is through faith that a righteous person has (eternal) life'" (Romans 1:17 NLT). "The righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe" (Romans 3:22 NIV). "So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith" (Hebrews 11:6a NLT).

My heart breaks when I see a person who just cannot (or will not) make the transition from believing the facts about Jesus Christ to placing his/her faith (trust) in Him as personal Lord and Savior. Many of these are good people, morally. The Scriptures, including many words from Jesus Himself, teach us to live clean moral lives as evidenced by integrity, compassion, kindness, and ministry to others. But is living a morally good life enough?

By both words and actions, many have come express their intellectual belief in the facts about Jesus and have adopted His moral teachings as the standard for their lives. In essence they say, "If I do my best to live a good life and treat others as I would like to be treated, then I will be right with God." Nothing could be further from the truth. This attitude begs the question; how good is good enough? Answer: None of us can ever be good enough to please God or earn the salvation of our eternal souls and gain entrance into heaven. Faith is the only way. "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is a gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV).

Trying to earn your salvation by any means except sincere faith in Jesus Christ is to proclaim yourself as God and, as such, see yourself as fully capable of preparing for eternity in your own strength. Please don't let Satan entice you into adopting this mindset. Instead, let the love of Christ draw you into placing your faith in Him and Him alone. If being good was the solution to our sin problem, why did Jesus need to die?

Please go back up to our Scripture passages and read them prayerfully with an open mind and allow God's Holy Spirit to give you the courage to begin living by faith every day. If you have not done so, pray to receive Jesus Christ into your life, trust Him as Savior and Lord, and commit your life to Him by serving Him. Then receive the joy which awaits you in Christ.

Love, Jerry & Dotse