What Is The Basis Of Your Faith?

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world.” - John 6:47-51

So the people of Israel wandering in the desert had to eat the Manna everyday to live.  Eating of the living bread, once for all time, means that you put your faith in Him and His work on the cross. Think about communion - the bread and the wine - figurative body and blood - remembering the cross, His sacrifice for our sins and His resurrection.

"The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):  that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” - Romans 10:8-11

You are a Christian because you believe that Jesus is the Son of God and having died on the cross for our sins, He was raised by the Father on the third day. Old news you say? My concern is that it is not news at all for some or perhaps many who merely identify with the faith.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9

Salvation is a personal transaction of faith between the person seeking salvation and God. There is no other way to be saved. 

"Jesus said to him, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." - John 14:6

There is no other way to the Father except by faith in Jesus. I have spoken to many people over the years about their faith. I am always interested in hearing about their journey to faith in Jesus and their spiritual rebirth. But, I have found that some people think that their salvation can be earned by going to church or by doing something like being baptized. Or maybe their parents were Christians or religious, so they are saved by virtue of their parents faith. Without seeing their into hearts, it is often difficult to make the distinction. Only God can do that. Being raised in a Christian home does not make you a Christian. Salvation starts with a spiritual revelation of who Jesus is and then a person's decision to embrace that truth and surrender their heart in faith. 

When people talk about being a Christian, but say they were saved some other way than personal faith in Jesus (maybe - they say they have always been a Christian) I become concerned. My concern being that perhaps they are merely religious (good people) and like the idea of the Christian faith, but are in fact not born again. Salvation requires spiritual revelation.  I can tell you the month and year that I was born again, even the details of the moment and those that lead up to it, but not the date. Knowing the date is not the point. Knowing Jesus is.

"He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven." Matthew 16:15-17

You may be able to tell me who Jesus is, but not know Jesus. Only when God reveals that truth - when He speaks to your heart through the Spirit - will you come to the point of spiritual understanding and decision. It is at that point you can receive the truth and be saved or reject the truth and continue on in your journey toward the gates of hell.  

So. Tell me about how you came to Faith in Jesus. I can't wait to hear it and rejoice with you.

Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory. 

By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone