Over the past couple of weeks we have been looking at the "Causes of Salvation."
We have noticed that God the Father, Christ the Son, the Holy Spirit and the word of God all are causes of our salvation. Today we will notice other "causes of salvation."
The appropriating cause of our salvation is faith. The Hebrew writer said, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"(Heb. 11:6). Faith comes from knowledge of God. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). The study of the word as we talked about last week gives evidences of God and His love for mankind.
The faith we are to have is an active faith. Just believing in God does not bring salvation. In the book of James we read, "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble" (James 2:19). In order to appropriate salvation, our faith must lead us to obey God. God has extended His gift of grace to all men, but they must accept it based on God’s conditions. This is man’s part of salvation. God in His omniscience had James write, "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (James 2:20 - 26).
It is our belief in God that causes us to be obedient, and this is pleasing to God, because He gave His Son to die so that all men might be saved. Jesus is the "author of eternal salvation". "Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;" (Heb. 5:8, 9).
As we saw earlier He rewards them that diligently seek Him. Will you not open your Bible and study to learn about God and His plan for your salvation? You will see that those who obeyed were acting on their faith. They believed in Jesus, repented of their sins, they confessed He was the Son of God and were baptized for the remission of their sins. (Acts 2:37 - 41; Acts 8:30 - 40).