THE GIFT OF FAITH #318

The Bible makes a distinction between faith that leads to salvation and faith which is useless and dead. Unfortunately, too many people today have this dead faith. The same was true in Jesus' day. "Many believed in His name, beholding His signs which He was doing. But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men" (John 2:24-25). Jesus did not trust certain people. Their faith was superficial. When Jesus demanded their obedience, they departed. "Faith without works is dead" (James 2:26).

James 2:19 compares the faith of such people with the faith of demons. "You believe that God is one. You do well: the demons believe, and shudder." Yes, demons have a kind of faith. However, faith like the faith of unclean spirits will not take you to heaven. Such faith is not derived from the Spirit of God. It is a faith rooted in our own feeble abilities. "That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit" (John 3:6).

Saving faith comes from God when we hear God's Word in the Bible. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God" (Ephesians 2:8). "Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ" (Romans 10:17).

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