Why Faith?

Why Salvation by Faith?

by David Scott

One of the most explicit statements about faith in the Bible is found in Eph. 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." (NKJV) These verses prove that God's saving grace can only be appropriated by faith, not works. Verse 9 indicates that one reason God intended salvation to result from faith instead of works is to prevent anyone from boasting. Therefore, salvation is a gift. It is not earned. Rom. 5:15-21 and 6:23 further elaborate upon this truth.

However, these verses do not reveal God's intention as to why He does not want anyone to boast about receiving His grace. Boasting is linked to pride in Rom. 1:30 and 2 Tim. 3:2. Pride is linked to arrogance and wickedness in Pro. 8:13. Pride is exposed as the root of contention in Pro. 13:10 and 28:25. In Mark 7:20-23, Jesus included pride in a list of several sins, which defile us from within. Paul said that proud people will end up under the same condemnation as the devil in 1 Tim. 3:6. Thus, God intended to exclude boasting (Rom. 3:27) for our protection.

The opposite attribute of pride is humility. Pride and humility are contrasted in verses like Pro. 11:2; 16:18-19; 29:23. According to 1 Pet. 5:5 and Jas. 4:6, God resists those who are proud, but He gives grace to the humble. Peter and James based this upon Pro. 3:34, which is further confirmed by Isa. 57:15. Thus, God gives grace to the humble, not the haughty (Psa. 10:17). This is because humble people have an attitude of heart, which enables them to respond properly to God (Psa. 34:2; 69:32; Matt. 18:4).

While this explains God's intention to make salvation a gift of grace apart from works, it does not explain His intent to make faith the means to appropriate salvation. Why faith?

The answer to this question is implicitly revealed in Gen. 3. Prior to their temptation to sin against God, Adam and Eve walked with Him in perfect harmony and sinless innocence. Experiencing God's manifest presence made them fully aware of His love for them. It is quite natural to reciprocate such love (1 John 4:19). There is also great joy in God's presence (Psa. 16:11), which makes a personal relationship with Him exhilarating. They walked so close to God Himself that they were not even aware of their own nakedness until after they sinned (Gen. 3:7-11). God's provision for their needs also proved they could trust Him completely.

Their faith in God was shaken, however, when the serpent tempted them (Gen. 3:1-5). The first step to undermine their faith occurred when the tempter questioned God's word (vs. 1). This question was directed to Eve, who did not exist when God spoke to Adam in Gen. 2:16-17. It implied that the rule against eating from the forbidden tree may have been made by Adam instead of God. Thus, this question could have had the same effect as asking, "Did God forbid that particular tree, or did Adam?" This might explain why the woman responded directly to the serpent instead of consulting her husband first. If she thought she could not trust her husband, then she had to deal with the problem herself.

The serpent's question could also have had the effect of making Eve doubt her understanding of God's instructions. This question could have influenced her to think, "Have I interpreted God's warning correctly?" Thus, Eve not only had to resolve the issue of who made the rule, but also whether she properly understood it. Her reply in verses 2-3 indicated that she considered God to be the rule-maker. It also expressed her intention to obey Him.

While I have used a certain amount of conjecture in analyzing what happened in these verses, it is reasonable. This is because I have personally experienced demonic assaults upon my mind, which used these forms of doubt against my own relationship with God. Even Jesus said that demons attempt to steal the seed of God's word from our hearts (Matt. 13:4-19). When Satan tempted Jesus in Luke 4:9-12, he tried to get Jesus to apply God's word contrary to its proper intent. Thus, Satan's tactics against Jesus were very similar in principle to what he used against Adam and Eve. Unlike Adam and Eve, however, Jesus won the confrontation.

In the next step to subvert their faith, the tempter directly contradicted God's word (vs. 4). This indirectly called God a liar. The third step asserted that another way of life was better than God's (vs. 5). This called God's wisdom and fairness into question. In essence, these ideas slandered God's holy character. It was the epitome of making good to seem evil. It also represented the truth as a lie and a lie as the truth. It had the effect of influencing Eve to ignore all the good things God provided for her (vs. 2) and to focus upon the one thing He restricted (vs.6). Though Eve's first response to the serpent resisted him, her second response reveals how deceit broke down her resistance. Believing lies always results in tragedy.

The main reason Adam and Eve acted upon this slander and deceit by partaking of the forbidden fruit was due to a problem with their faith. If their faith in God had not wavered, they would have rejected every aspersion against His character. If they had not doubted His veracity, they would have rejected the serpent's lies. If their faith had not been subverted, they would not have doubted God's wisdom and fairness. They would have kept their focus upon the abundance of His provision instead of the limitation of His one, single restriction. Thus, their personal relationship with God was destroyed through a faith problem. Where there is faith, there is obedience. Heb. 3:7, 4:11 and 11:8 prove this.

There is also a connection between faith and love, according to Gal. 5:6 and 1st Thes. 5:8. The first reference indicates that faith is motivated by love. The second passage illustrates how faith and love act together as a breastplate to protect our hearts. You cannot damage one without damaging the other also. Jesus said that love motivates obedience in John 14:15, 21, 23-24. Thus, obedience is not only the result of faith, but also of love. When the faith of Adam and Eve wavered, their love also wavered, and sin was the result.

Faith problems did not originate in God's earthly creation, however. The tempter used similar tactics to instigate a rebellion in heaven at some point in time prior to the Genesis creation. The Bible provides very few details about how this happened. However, it does reveal that the rebellion in heaven resulted from Lucifer's pride. For the full context, see Isa. 14:12-14 and Ezek. 28:12-19. Lucifer was not created evil (Ezek. 28:12, 15). He corrupted himself through pride (Ezek. 28:17). He became so proud that he thought he was greater than God and desired to usurp His throne (Isa. 14:13-14). The fact that other angels joined in his rebellion can be seen in Jude 6 and 2 Pet. 2:4. Even Jesus mentioned the devil's angels in Matt. 25:41. Jesus also said they were all cast out of heaven in judgment (Luke 10:18).

Lucifer's name was changed to Satan as a result. He was only named Lucifer before he corrupted himself. Because he changed his character, God also changed his name. This is because God chose names for His creatures, which described their inner nature. In most cases, God changed names with a bad meaning to something good. For example, God changed Jacob's name to Israel and Saul's name to Paul. Jacob means "supplanter" or "deceitful," but Israel means "prince with God." Saul means "destroyer," but Paul means "little," which implies he was humble. In another case, God changed a name with a good meaning to something better -- Abram became Abraham. These name changes were the result of character changes in people who responded properly to God.

In Lucifer's case, however, his name was changed from good to evil because he became so wicked. From that point on, he was never called Lucifer again. He was renamed Satan because he became God's adversary. He was also called Devil, which means "slanderer." This name implies that he used slander to instigate the rebellion in heaven. Thus, the angels, who followed him, also developed a faith problem toward God. The angels, who remained loyal to God, did not allow the devil's slander to corrupt their faith. The holy angels retained their faith in God's character. They continued to trust His love, wisdom, and fairness. They knew any of His restrictions were intended for their good and not their deprivation. They were content to abide within their estate. They embraced God's truth, and rejected the devil's lies.

Because of that problem in heaven, God needed to do something, which would convince His loyal angels that they made the correct choice. Something was necessary to solidify their faith in Him to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. God's plan to accomplish this included His creation upon earth. Even though God allowed Satan and his angels to have access to the earth, which resulted in another rebellion, He also made provision to redeem fallen mankind through His Son, Jesus Christ. That is why Jesus is referred to as "the lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev. 13:8). That is also why Paul could write that we were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4).

God's unlimited foreknowledge enabled Him to take all of these things into account to accomplish His ultimate intention. These things were kept secret from the foundation of the world (Matt. 13:35) until it was God's time to reveal them to His prophets and apostles (Eph. 3:5). After Jesus established the church, God began to reveal His mysteries to all people and His manifold wisdom to the principalities and powers in heavenly places (Eph. 3:9-11). Thus, everything God planned has an eternal purpose, which includes all of His creatures both on earth and in heaven.

One aspect of God's wisdom, which has been revealed through the church, is how God is much wiser than Satan. For example, the more Satan instigates persecution against the church, the more it grows in number and in holiness. The strongest Christian churches today exist where persecution has been the worst -- China, Cambodia, Uganda, Sudan, etc. Another example of how God uses the devil's craftiness against him is mentioned in 1 Cor. 2:6-8. This passage explains that the devil and his minions would not have stirred up a mob against Jesus if they realized how His crucifixion would result in their ultimate defeat. Thus, God was able to foresee what Satan and his followers would do so He could fit that into His plan. Yet Satan was unable to understand what God was doing. All of Satan's efforts to thwart God backfired upon him. This is a reason why Jesus promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.

As God's plan unfolds, His holiness, love, wisdom, fairness, justice, and other divine attributes will be vindicated. His holy angels and the saints will become 100% convinced they made the right choice to serve Him. Once His plan is complete, all of His creatures will be so loyal to Him that there will never be another rebellion. In 1 Cor. 15:45, Jesus is called the Last Adam because God foresees there will never be another need for another Redeemer. The new covenant is called an everlasting covenant in Heb. 13:20 because God foresees there will never be another need for another covenant. Faith problems led to the rebellions in heaven and Eden, but God now intends to use faith in such a way that those problems will be resolved in such a way that it will never happen again. Isn't it wonderful to serve a God, Who is so holy, wise, fair, and loving?