Where In The Bible Will I
Find:
How One Becomes A
Child Of God By Faith?
The Hebrew writer said, "Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen…But without
faith it is impossible to please him; for he that cometh to God must believe
that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him"
(Heb. 11:1, 6). Faith is seen only in action, "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" (James 2:18).
Jesus explains how one becomes a child of God by
putting faith into action, "Except a man be born of water and of the
Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God" (John 3:5). There
must be the union and combination of the two elements, water and Spirit, to
effect the new birth into the family of God. The Spirit works through the Word
as the begettal agent: "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but
of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever"
(I Peter 1:23).
Through the teaching of God's Word as taught by the
Holy Spirit we develop faith sufficient to put Christ on in baptism: "Know
ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized
into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that
like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Faith, even so
we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3-4). Baptism puts us
in Christ, we become a new creature, and all things become new (II Cor. 5:17).
One is baptized into Christ when he or she
(lets their faith lead them) believes the testimony of the Spirit. "Buried
with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith in
the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead" (Col. 2:12).
Only those who believe (have faith) in the operation of God will be baptized;
and only those who do not believe (will not put their faith in) God's operation
will refuse to be baptized. Belief (faith) only, without baptism, is rejecting
the counsel of God (Luke 7:30; James 2:24). Faith is certainly essential in
becoming a child of God, but without putting it in action it becomes a dead
faith (James 2:17, 20, 26). "For ye are all the children of God by
faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ
have put on Christ" (Gal. 3:26-27).
There is
only ONE way that we can become a child of God and that is by letting our FAITH
lead us in OBEDIENCE to the Word of God, "He that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned"
(Mark 16:16). When we OBEY that "form of doctrine" (Rom.
6:16-18), the Lord will then add us to His church (Acts 2:47). Will YOU not let
your faith lead you to OBEYING the Word of God?
--I.D. Byars
