GOSPEL NUGGET # 59

Ac 16:30 And he brought them out and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
31 So they said, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved...

FOUR CHARACTERISTICS OF SAVING FAITH
(This is not exhaustive. This is a study based only on verse 31 of Acts 16)

1. Saving faith is to trust on the Savior.

The word "believe" in verse 31 means to trust, rely or depend.

2. Saving faith is specific

Saving faith is not general like "I am going to trust God now for everything in my life like my finances, school life, love life, health etc." Trusting God for everything in our lives has a proper place in the Christian life. But it is not saving faith.

Saving faith is specific. Look at verse 31, it is trusting on the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

3. Saving faith has Christ as its object

Saving faith is not believing that you are saved. It is not saying and believing: "I am saved! I am saved! I am saved!" No, look at the verse 31, it does not say: "Believe that you are saved and you will be saved." No, rather, it says: "Believe, trust on the Lord Jesus Christ (the Christ who died on the cross for our sins, who rose to life again) and you will be saved."

4. Saving faith is only saving because of the Savior

Faith is not the basis of salvation. Salvation does not sit on top of faith. Rather, salvation hangs on the cross of Calvary. And faith rests on the Savior: "Believe ON the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved."

Faith is only the means of salvation "For by grace you have been saved THROUGH faith..." (Eph. 2:8).

Faith is only the conduit pipe that connects you to the source. Even if your pipe is the largest in the world, if it is not connected to the Savior, it is not saving faith. When the Bible says: "Your faith has saved you", it is speaking elliptically. You must read between the lines: Your faith (in Christ) has saved you."