What is saving faith?

Question

A common soteriological view among Evangelical Christians (such as myself) is that we are saved by grace, through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, this belief is usually accompanied by a belief that the inevitable effect of salvation is a life that bears fruit, and gradually conforms to Christ (sanctification).

1 John 3:9 (NIV)
⁹ No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.

Matthew 7:18 (NIV)
¹⁸ A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit.

James 2:17-19 (NIV)
¹⁷ In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

James 2:24 (NIV)
²⁴ You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

It seems clear, especially from James, that genuine saving faith is accompanied by works. Of course, since we are not saved by works, we conclude that these works are the fruit of our salvation, and not the cause of it. In other words, we are first saved by grace through our genuine saving faith, and works result.

So it seems that it is possible to have a faith that is non-genuine, or non-saving, and thus does not lead to the bearing of fruit. My question centers around what the difference between these two types of faith is.

I'm interested in non-Calvinist viewpoints, because I believe that I understand the Calvinist one.

I think a Calvinist's answer to this problem would be that it is God who initiates the salvation process in the elect, and saving faith is the result. Non-Calvinists would hold that God initiates the salvation process for everyone and draws all men to him, but we must choose Him. So it is in the non-Calvinist viewpoint that the question arises: If there is such thing as a non-saving faith, or non-genuine "choosing", what characterizes saving faith?

Answer 1

I think the short answer that's easiest to give to another person is that if you really believe the message the Christ brought to mankind, it will change you, and that change will show in your actions. Not that you must do change your behavior to attain salvation, but that coming to believe what saves us by faith cannot but change your behavior.

By contrast, it is very easy to say that one believes something, whether or not it is true. The profession of belief is important, but when one declares a belief and that belief is not reflected in their behavior, it is suspect.

Perhaps I'm arguing semantics here, but I think it's meaningful that James says "You say you believe there is one God," as opposed to, say, "You say you believe Jesus Christ is the Messiah who died for your sins." I think James is pointing out that simply believing in the existence of God is a baseline, not the endpoint of faith. If that's the case, then such a belief isn't nearly as formative of behavior as belief that one is a sinner who can be forgiven. James seems to be saying faith should manifest action because real faith is in something transforming.

Answer 2

faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Doesn't this seem to say that since true faith is accompanied by action, and faith unaccompanied by action is dead, that the dead faith isn't really faith at all?

From your comment on asfallows's answer:

But James seems to argue that people can legitimately believe (as the demons do) but have some saving quality missing

I hate to quote myself, but it's quite relevant, I promise. (plus, what's the difference between quoting myself and just re-saying it?)

Typically faith is split into three categories: knowledge, assent, commitment. Most modern day Americans have knowledge (that is, most know of the gospel of Christ, or at least have heard of Jesus). Many believe that He died for their sins. But as James says, "even the demons believe!" Not so many, perhaps, actually trust God for their salvation. It is one thing to think that Jesus died for you, pray a prayer, and move on. It is another to live one's whole life utterly devoted to God, in light of Christ's death and wholly dependent upon that death for Salvation.

In my opinion, then (from what I've been taught in my PCA church), non-saving faith isn't really faith at all. I suppose you could say it's 2/3 faith, but as James says, it's still dead.

So unless we really, truly believe that Jesus died for us and live for him, we've never really had faith in the first place.

In a sort of strange extension of Paul's "dead" analogy in Ephesians 2, I guess you could say that the dead faith is like hooking a dead guy up to a robot. You can make the dead guy look sort of alive; you can put the gospel right in front of his nose and move him around. But unless he actually comes back to life, he won't be saved. (does that analogy even make sense?)

In Sum,

if God hasn't given the person a new "heart of flesh", it's not saving faith.

Answer 3

I have read the Bible from cover to cover 9 times in the last 10 1/2 years... It is a study Bible in the NKJV format, written by John MacArthur... While I don't 100% agree with every note that John MacArthur makes...I believe the very act of salvation is a mystery that each person must work out on their own...

The Apostle Paul tells us this, in...Philippians 2:12... Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (NKJV)

John MacArthur has written at least 4 versions of study Bibles, and over 80 books... I was amazed at his statement in the following video, that he wasn't even sure as to how his own salvation came about... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mleum3jZ1E

I believe sinners must be drawn in by God first...John 6:44... No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (NKJV)

At this point they have to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the gospel of Christ must be understood and obeyed to be graced by God with salvation...

I spent a day writing on this necessity to become a Christian in the following link...

http://brmfam.wordpress.com/2012/10/20/gods-group-thoughts-for-10202012-gods-grace-through-obedience-to-the-gospel-of-christ/

I also write a daily devotion on Facebook on a page called..."Gods group"

Hope this helps...

bruce r mills

Answer 4

Those who have a ”saving faith” are those who are ”clean”. Everyone is invited to the wedding feast, both good and evil, but those who get to stay are those who have put on the ”wedding garments”.

Quote from Bible.Org Article

The outcome of this man’s situation informs us of the true meaning of the symbolism. We have to say that the proper attire would correspond to all that Jesus said was required for entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven--true repentance for sin and faith in Christ, and then a commitment to love and obey the Lord as evidence of saving faith. In Jesus’ day many people certainly wanted to enter the kingdom, but when Jesus started telling them to come to him and take his yoke upon them and learn of him, they went away. And in the day of judgment many will claim to have done good deeds, but Jesus will turn them away because they will not have dealt properly with the basic issue of salvation--they will not be prepared properly and spiritually to be received by the King at the wedding of the Son.

Imagine going to a meeting called by the new sheriff in town where he lays out the rules: no guns allowed. You check your shooting irons in at the town entrance and reclaim them when you leave. You are ”clean”.

Imagine being found later with a Derringer tucked in your boots. Its the pokey for you, or may be worse.

Everybody followed the rules, except Judas. He wasn't clean. Turned out badly for him: he became a vessel of dishonour, fit for ignoble use. IOW, the role you play is decided by your reaction to the Word Jesus teaches you, and your decision to obey or not, to be righteous or evil.

John 6:70 NET Jesus replied, “Didn’t I choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is the devil?”

John 13:10 NET Jesus replied, “The one who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not every one of you.”

John 15:3 NET You are clean already because of the word that I have spoken to you.