Understanding True Saving Faith

Many people identify as Christians, yet the Bible encourages every believer to examine themselves to see if they are truly in the faith.

Distinguishing between a genuine, living, saving faith and a false or ‘dead’ faith is one of the most critical tasks in the Christian life. True saving faith is not merely a mental acknowledgment of facts; it is a life-transforming trust that manifests in visible evidence.

The Three Pilars of Faith

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Here, Josh Howerton, Pastor of Lakepointe Christian Church, sums up what saving faith is taken from three Latin words: Notitia, Assensus, and Fiducia. Theologically, saving faith is often described through these three distinct aspects. To have a faith that saves, all three must be present:

1. Notitia (Knowledge): This is the basic awareness of the facts of the Gospel—knowing the claims that Jesus is Lord.
2. Assensus (Agreement): This goes a step further, where one agrees that these facts are true.
3. Fiducia (Trust): This is the final, essential pillar. It means placing the entire weight of your life upon the truth of Christ, trusting Him so completely that you would follow Him even unto death.

The danger lies in “two-thirds faith.” One can even have knowledge and even agreement without true trust. For example, the demons have knowledge and agreement—they know Jesus is Lord and they shudder—but they lack the trust and obedience of saving faith.

The Evidence of Saving Faith

True faith is never “word only”; it comes with power and the Holy Spirit. We see a perfect example of this in the early church or Thessalonica. Their conversion was marked by three distinct traits: a work of faith, a labor of love, and a patience in hope.

Paul writes, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-4 NKJV

To know is to perceive with the senses, to notice, discern. When you perceive something, it doesn’t come within. It’s something that has to be seen, experienced, and felt. Paul knew they were saved and elected by God based on the visible evidence of the work of faith, labor of love, and patience of the hope in Christ in their lives

• A Work of Faith: This is the visible conduct that flows naturally out of belief. We do what we do because we believe what we believe. Their justification which removes the penalty of sin.
• A Labor of Love: This is intense, sacrificial effort for God and others, often sustained through weariness of persecution. Their present sanctification which removes the power of sin.
• Patience of Hope in Christ: This is the hope of the future resurrection and glorification when God removes the presence of sin of our old bodies and gives us a new glorified body.

These poured out into the things they did daily, shining as a testament to all. Their faith was beautifully reflected in the actions of the Thessalonian Christians, as highlighted in the inspiring first chapter of 1 Thessalonians.

1. They became imitators of Paul, other leaders, and the Lord (6)
2. They received the word in much affliction (6)
3. They received joy in the Holy Spirit (6)
4. They became examples to believers in Macedonia and Achaia (7)
5. They were evangelistic to the whole known world (8)
6. People on the outside kept telling Paul how strong their faith in God was (9)
7. They repented and turned to God from idols (9)
8. They served the living and true God (9)
9. They waited patiently for the Lord’s return (10)

It’s not that these things saved them in any way, but that because they were genuinely saved, their lives were transformed into the image of Christ and they followed Him.

What it Truly Means to Follow Christ

To follow Christ means to have a wholehearted trust and confidence in the person of Jesus Christ that results from a transformed life. The Thessalonian Christians followed their leadership and the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6), but that word, follow, come with a weightier meaning: to imitate or mimic. We see this in other verses of Paul:

Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. – 1 Corinthians 11:1 NKJV

Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. – Philippians 3:17 NKJV

Paul wasn’t shy about saying, “follow me,” because he imitated the object of his faith, Christ, and therefore knew where he was going. Paul wanted to be followed because he was following the Lord and his heart was like a nursing mother cherishing her own children (1 Thessalonians 2:5-9). But sometimes we balk at the idea of others following us because deep down inside we know we are not following the Lord. We have sin, and so did Paul, but his life was sold-out for Christ. He knew his destination and the Reason why. Do you?

Practical Tests of Saving Faith

The Bible provides practical “tests” to help believers identify the signs of genuine saving faith. According to the first epistle of John, those with true faith will se a consistent trend in their lives:

• Trust in the Biblical Jesus Christ alone: Confidence in the eternal Son of God, the crucified Messiah risen for sinners, and not trusting in yourself. “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.” (1 John 5:13 NKJV)
• Confession of Sin: Admitting and confessing sin rather than walking in darkness.
• Obedience to God’s Word: A sincere love for God’s Word and increasing desire to keep Christ’s commands.
• Love for Other Believers: Demonstrating sacrificial love for the body of Christ.
• Decreasing pattern of sin: While not reaching perfection, a true believer will no longer continue in the pattern of sin as a “way of life.”

Parachutes Are Made for One Thing

A parachute is not designed to help you have a more comfortable flight or help you make friends on the airplane. It doesn’t get you free drinks or ensure the best seat in the cabin. Parachutes are made for one thing—to save your life when you’re falling and to get you safely to the ground.

If you were given a parachute on a plane for a more comfortable flight, most would just neatly place it on their lap or the spare seat next to them within reach, just in case they need it. They look around the cabin and some who have one just have it next to them. There’s no pressing issue to put it on. They just follow the crowd and claim they have it in case things happen and need it.

That’s how most people treat Jesus Christ. They have Him close by just in case of turbulence or when they really need Him. They may look over at the seat next to them and see Jesus as He confidently smiles back. Jesus makes them happy, and it’s comforting to know He’s there. But, they don’t put Him on.

True saving faith is like putting on a parachute; it isn’t enough to just hold it or agree it works—you must put it on and trust it will save you when the plane goes down. You strap in your arms and legs tightly, buckle the waist, and make sure you know where the ripcord is and can get to it. You ask the Stewardess for help because you’ve never done this before, and she obliges.

You take your seat, only to discover that the device is remarkably uncomfortable. You find yourself pressed against the seat in front of you, as the passenger ahead reclines in an inconsiderate manner. The straps around your legs induce discomfort, and fellow passengers are candidly deriding you for wearing such an accessory on an otherwise smooth and uneventful flight. However, the reality is that the engines have failed and the plane is falling fast. You didn’t put on the parachute for a comfortable flight; you put it on to save you from the jump to come.

Suddenly, the door opens, suitcases, meal trays, and people fly out; there’s mass panic. People are trying to put on their parachutes, but the wind in the cabin is too strong. Others lose their chutes and are now grasping for others. But you confidently walk to the edge of the open door and jump. You’re terrified yet joyful, knowing it’s better out here with your chute than in the plane without one. You paid attention to what the stewardess said and count, “Five, four, three, two, one!” You pull that cord of faith tight, and out comes the chute. A jolt rocks you as the leg straps cut in even more. But you don’t care. You let go of the straps because that’s useless anyway. For you don’t have a hold of it; it has a hold of YOU!

Christ Has a Hold of You

True saving faith rests in Jesus Christ alone, not in religious activity, good works, or a past decision. We are saved by God’s grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone; yet that faith does not remain barren. It brings a growing pattern of repentance, love, obedience, and perseverance safely to the end.

In the upcoming article, we will confront the unsettling reality of dead faith: a hollow proclamation of belief in God that utterly fails to ignite any genuine transformation through repentance and obedience. Following that, we will wrap up this mini-series by dissecting how we, as evangelists, can cut through the pretense and distinguish whether the individual before us is truly a believer or just an imposter.