What do you believe?
"The Faith" is "The Gospel" is the "New Covenant"
of which Jesus Christ is the mediator
The essentiality of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, is usually never questioned. Faith in the New Testament can and is used in different ways. A simple passive faith (without any action) is one type or kind of faith. "The faith" is the system of faith established by Jesus through the writings and teaching of His apostles. It is equivalent to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is to be proclaimed to all the people of the nations. It is The New Covenant, which was ratified by the blood (death) of Jesus Christ.
The Faith is that which the Christian is to be obedient. It contains the "law of Christ" our king. He has been given "all authority," not only on earth, but also heaven.
Faith, is often placed for the "whole" of the will of God for mankind. This is especially true as concerns what man is to do for salvation (the alien sinners' forgiveness of sins). This is called synecdoche.
[synecdoche: noun, a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa.-ORIGIN Greek synecdoche , from sun- 'together' + ekdekhesthai 'take up']
Faith is based upon the evidence given in sacred writings that Jesus is who he claimed to be "the son of the living God."(deity, one with the Father and the Holy Spirit).
Is one saved by "faith alone," nothing added before or after?
Wherefore putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deluding your own selves.
James 1:21-22 (ASV)
This is the covenant that I will make with them After those days, saith the Lord: I will put my laws on their heart, And upon their mind also will I write them; then saith he, 17 And their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Heb 10:16-18 (ASV)
1. The Bible says that all men are sinners. TRUE
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
Romans 3:21-25 (ESV)
2. God says that sin has a penalty. TRUE
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
3. Jesus paid sin's penalty for us when He died on the cross. TRUE
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:24-25 (ESV)
4. How can you personally receive the payment Jesus made?
THE TRUTH SET FORTH
1. God's blessing offered.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
Titus 2:11-12 (ESV)
Then he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" 31 And they said, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household."
Acts 16:30-31 (ESV)
Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" 38 And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Acts 2:37-38 (ESV)
And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth; 15 for you will be a witness for him to everyone of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.'
Acts 22:14-16 (ESV)
It is obvious from the above texts that God offers the promised blessing of salvation. At what point does one receive the blessing promised, i.e. the remission of all past sins.
Is belief of the sinner the only condition set forth in scripture that the promised blessing received?
Does one receive the remission of sins at the point of God's offering the same? Is it at the moment the sinner heard the offer?
God offers salvation to all, but is the offer conditional? Must the sinner respond in a particular way?
2. God's Word–What instructions is given? Must man do anything in order to receive the blessings which He (God) has offered?
Is the free gift unconditional or conditional?
