It All Depends on What Your Definition of “OF” Is

October 5, 2009 at 1:25 pm | Posted in Eternity | 5 Comments
Tags: assurance of salvation, Bill Clinton, defintion of is, depends on what your definition of is is, Ephesians 2, eternal salvation, eternal security, Eternity, eternity in the Bible, faith, faith of Jesus, faithfulness of God, faithfulness of Jesus Christ, Galatians 2, Galatians 3, once saved always saved, perseverance of the saints, President Bill Clinton, Revelation 14, saved by grace, saved through faith

The words “faith” and “faithful” are used in a combined 309 Bible Verses. To say that, with God, faith is a “big deal,” would be an overwhelming understatement. In fact, one of the clearest passages in the Bible on God’s salvation of man is Ephesians 2:8-9: “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” It is clear that no one is going to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ without faith.

But what about those who had faith once, but whose lives, words, or deeds make it seem to mortal men as though they have lost their faith? Did they lose their salvation, too? Not according to the Scriptures. For it is not the faith of man that saves man; it is the faith of Christ Himself. I will highlight a very small, but very important, word in a few Verses, to show just Whose faith we are talking about.

Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Galatians 2:16

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Galatians 2:20

But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.

Galatians 3:22

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Revelation 14:12

The word “of” lets us know exactly Whose faith we are dependent upon for salvation. Many people vainly seek strength in their own faith, and are discouraged when they are lacking. Others point to once-faithful Christians and pronounce them rejected of God due to a perceived lack of faithfulness in their lives. Jesus Christ is the only One Who is truly 100% faithful, and because of His unchanging, unwavering, unyielding faithfulness, those whom He graciously saves are kept eternally secure.