The Salvation of Christian Faith - By Jim Tharp

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” (Hebrews 12:1-3)

This divinely inspired writer is instructing the Hebrew Christians, most of whom were seeking to make the change from obeying the laws of Moses to now learning to live by faith in following Jesus Christ and His instructions for living the life of faith. He begins Chapter 1 by expressing the necessity of a strong faith for overcoming the challenges of evil in the world and the weaknesses of our own humanity. Let us take this Scriptural command as seriously as this “great cloud of witnesses” did. But, let us not forget that we are also told to “Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.”
Some important truths about faith are explained below: 

• The Confession of Faith
• The Journey of Faith; and 
• The Power of Faith.

The Confession of Faith 

Our Heavenly Father’s plan for our salvation by faith was in His heart and mind before He created the heavens and the earth as described in Chapter 1 of Genesis. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the foundation for our faith, as recorded in John chapter 3, verses 16-18: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Believing in Jesus Christ is expressed by a new-birth experience of confessing sin and being born again. Jesus told Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews, “unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” After hearing the Gospel, it is the Holy Spirit’s mission to “convict the world (anyone who will hear) of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” (John 16:8) When believing souls respond in faith to conviction with a confession of sin, they are promised in I John 1:9 that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” This means forgiveness, peace, and acceptance into God’s redeemed family!

The Journey of Faith

The way of faith could not afford to be grounded by self-pity and a lack of reliance on the power of the Holy Spirit to keep us on track. While praying for the guidance of the Holy Spirit, born-again Christians are called to grow in grace and find their place in the kingdom of God. It is a way of faith all the way to the finish line, which will be either death or the second coming of Jesus Christ. We are to be faithful throughout the journey—faithful in prayer; faithful in worship; faithful in reading, studying, and obeying the Word of God; faithful in our works of righteousness; for example, loving others, attending worship services, giving of our time and resources, witnessing, and helping the needy.

The Power of Faith

Jesus had a great deal to say to His followers about their relationship with the Holy Spirit, whom He and the Father would pour out on those who would pray for His fullness of power. (Acts 1:8) The Holy Spirit is given to all born-again Christians. As we grow in Christ and mature in prayer and studying the Bible, we soon realize a need for more power to live the Christian life—power to pray, power to understand what we read in the Bible, power to resist temptation, power to find our place in the church. We need the guidance of the Spirit to meet all the challenges of life—the work we are to do, the person we are to marry, the place we are to live, etc. Yes, the Holy Spirit is our Helper!

Actually, we are called to be “filled with the Spirit.” (Ephesians 5:18) When we feel the need of more spiritual power, we are commanded to ask for His cleansing and fullness. We were never expected to live a holy, victorious Christian life on our own strength. We must be empowered to pray, worship, and serve and obey God each day for the rest of our lives. In His fullness and power, He comes to indwell us, become our Holy Guest to help us live a holy life. He is a divine Person, a Spirit, and invisible—but real. He can be grieved, ignored, and disobeyed. At such times, our only course is to humble ourselves, repent, and ask His forgiveness; the Holy Spirit will restore us to peace and fellowship with Jesus Christ.

Let us remember, the Christian life is a way of faith. The Holy Spirit will strengthen our faith as we remain committed to Spirit-anointed praying and obedience. He wants to help us be faithful to the very end, so that we are ready when our Savior calls for us either in death or at His second coming. He is with us to help us be faithful to the end!

Note: All Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible.