This week Bro. Leo continues us on a study of Biblical faith by looking at Biblical saving faith.

Jesus defines “saving faith”, in Luke 8:15, as “having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience”. The word “patience” is translated from the Greek word “hupomonē” which means endurance, constancy: – enduring, patience, patient continuance. Saving faith continues, lasts, endures and produces fruit.

In the parable of the four soils, three out of the four soils do not get saved (Luke 8:11-15). In order to understand the difference between the first three soils and the fourth soil we have to understand the definition of the Greek word “pistis” which is translated to “believe” in Luke 8:13. “pistis” has a two part definition, 1) a mental assent to or acceptance of a set of presented facts about something or someone, 2) to entrust, place dependence on and to commit to. There’s a difference between believing about something and believing in something. Three of the soils believed about Jesus but only the fourth soil believed in Jesus. In Luke 8:15 the word ” keep” is translated from the Greek word “katechō” which means to hold fast, seize upon, take possession of with permanence. Saving faith changes our life. When we grab hold of Jesus, He grabs hold of us (John 10:28-29). Saving faith will continue and endure, just believing about eventually turns away (Heb.10:38-39, 1John 2:18-19).

Saving faith enters us into a loving relationship, with Jesus, where we desire to be obedient to Jesus (John 14:15, 21, 23-24, 10, Rom.7:18, Luke 8:15). It is our obedience to Jesus that proves to ourselves and those around us that we possess saving faith (James 1:21-22, James 2:18). God knows our heart and knows when we have saving faith and then He gives us the Holy Spirit and purifies our hearts by saving faith(Acts 15:7-9, Eph.2:8-10, Phil.1:6).

Saving faith creates a desire in us to follow Jesus. In the Scriptures Jesus is recorded saying “follow me” 15 times (Mat_4:19, Mat_8:22, Mat_9:9, Mat_16:24, Mat_19:21, Mar_2:14, Mar_8:34, Mar_10:21, Luk_5:27, Luk_9:23, Luk_9:59, Luk_18:22, Joh_1:43, Joh_10:27, Joh_12:26).

Scriptures used in today’s study:

Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
Luk 8:12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
Luk 8:13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
Luk 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

1Jn 2:18 Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.
1Jn 2:19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Rom 7:18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.

Luk 8:15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luk 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?
Luk 6:47 Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like:
Luk 6:48 He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.
Luk 6:49 But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.

Jas 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
Jas 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

Jas 2:18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Joh 1:43 The day following Jesus would go forth into Galilee, and findeth Philip, and saith unto him, Follow me.