Riff's Christian Journal

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved “through” faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

I am sure you have heard someone say, “by faith are we saved” or “we are saved by faith” or “I was saved by faith in Jesus”.

However, these statements are quite misleading. Surprised? So was I when I learned these truths and discovered that, while faith plays a part in salvation, ultimately we are not saved by faith.

Here is how we are saved according to Scripture and the role played by faith.

The first thing we need to learn is that in our unsaved state we are spiritually dead in our sins.

Eph 2: 1, 2  And you, who were dead in trespasses and sins; were living according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience:

The problem here is that being spiritually dead in sins we are not able to hear nor understand the Word of God (1Co 2: 14). As Jesus said, we are not able to come to Him unless the Father gives them the ability to respond (John 6: 65).

So, think about this. Before anyone, who is spiritually dead, can respond to what is said to them, what needs to be done?

Spiritually dead people need to be given life before they can respond! For one being saved, how does this happen? The answer is quite simple. Read these verses and may God give you understanding.

Ephesians 2:4, 5 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, has quickened us together with Christ, (by grace you are saved;)

At this first point of salvation we see only salvation by Grace, nothing about faith.

Now the question is this. How does Grace save us?.

The answer can be found in Titus 3: 5.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

We see here that it is by being regenerated (Born-Again) that we are saved. This makes perfect sense that we should be given spiritual life before we can respond.

Once spiritual life enters into us we are now saved, but there is more to be done to show our salvation and this is where “Faith” plays its part, and its reason for happening now.

You see, there are three steps that happens during the act of being saved and they all happen almost simultaneously.

However, we must see what is the end point first to understand the part that “Faith” plays.

In Romans 10: 8 – 10 we read this.

But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Finally, now we see the word “Faith” being used. Before anyone can believe in Jesus and confess Him to be Lord, they must have Faith with which to believe and to say that Jesus is Lord, and we see that “Faith” is found in their heart.

From where does this “Faith” come?

Read these verses from Ephesians.

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved “through” faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

The secret word that many people never consider is the word “through”. Notice that the word “through” is being used (through faith) and not the word “by” (by faith). This is important. The word “through” means “a path, conduit, a way of getting from one point to another point.”

Faith, a gift of God, is just a means of getting from (point A) being born-again to (point B) believing on Jesus.

So how does this Grace, Faith and Believe work?

Being spiritually dead in sins, salvation happens like this.

First comes life. By God’s Grace one is Saved, regenerated, Born-Again, given spiritual life.

Second, once alive we are given the gift of Faith by God.

Third, led through faith, after being given spiritual life, we now have the ability to believe on Jesus and confess Him to be Lord.

Faith does play an important part in one’s salvation, but Faith alone does not save. For one is first saved by Grace, then Faith is given as a gift, to provide the path and the ability for one to Believe on Jesus.

That is the role that “Faith” plays in our salvation.