Without getting into a deep theological debate or discussion, I want to talk about the term Saving Faith. The term in evangelical Christianity is usually referred to as something called the born again experience. The term "born again" refers to a theological doctrine called regeneration. In the Catholic tradition, this takes place at baptism, but one must remain in a state of Grace up untill the point of death to enter Heaven. In Pentecostalism or the Pentecost Church the doctrine of being born again is believed, however in this church, it is taught that one can loose their salvation. The difference between an evangelical church and a Pentecostal church is that one must maintain their faith at conversion in order to get to Heaven. There is usually no coming back to the faith, after a period of being away from it, for they hold that one must recommit their life to Christ, or become born again again.
Saving Faith is the faith you have in the present moment, rather than something you experienced in the past. I believe in the doctrine of justification, however I believe this is an ongoing process. When the bible talks about being justified, "and those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Romans 8:30 NIV) it is referring to a time in the past where you might have made a conscious choice to follow Christ, or it can also be referring to a conscious choice in the present where you are already following Christ or the Bible.
I used to believe in the evangelical doctrine "Once saved always saved" but what was missing from my theology was the doctrine of God's perseverance. Notice that I didn't say my perseverance, because my perseverance is finite and human, but God's Perseverance is infinite. This is why Saving Faith is debated in the church, because one person will say it is my faith that saves me, another will say it's the Church that saves me, and some will say that Faith is a gift, given by God, and you can never loose it, this is where Once saved always saved comes from.
Saving Faith is the faith you have in the present moment, rather than something you experienced in the past. I believe in the doctrine of justification, however I believe this is an ongoing process. When the bible talks about being justified, "and those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified" (Romans 8:30 NIV) it is referring to a time in the past where you might have made a conscious choice to follow Christ, or it can also be referring to a conscious choice in the present where you are already following Christ or the Bible.
I used to believe in the evangelical doctrine "Once saved always saved" but what was missing from my theology was the doctrine of God's perseverance. Notice that I didn't say my perseverance, because my perseverance is finite and human, but God's Perseverance is infinite. This is why Saving Faith is debated in the church, because one person will say it is my faith that saves me, another will say it's the Church that saves me, and some will say that Faith is a gift, given by God, and you can never loose it, this is where Once saved always saved comes from.
Wherever you believe you Faith comes from, it is usually not debated that God is the giver of faith. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17 KJV). The Bible clearly states that the word of God is needed and so is faith. Without a belief in God, and actively perusing God through my faith, it would be impossible to please God, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6 NIV).
This is Mike.
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