Where In The Bible Will I Find:

Being Led By Our Faith?

Salvation depends on hearing, believing and obeying the gospel, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Paul devoted his life to "preaching the faith," After his conversion to Christ some of the brethren declared, "But they had beard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed" (Gal. 1:23).

Many heard him concerning the faith, even those in high political offices (Acts 24:24). He never tired of preaching that faith in Christ, saying, "For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel" (I. Cor. 9:16).

Paul was led by faith, he was clear and concise in showing that faith leads one to enter Christ, "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). He shows that their faith led them to obedience, for Christ had said, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved…”  (Mark 16:16).

They believed Christ, they had faith in His promise, therefore, their faith led them to be immersed in water for the remission of their sins and the Lord added them to His church (Acts 2:38, 41, 47). Paul further declares, "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 Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life" (Rom. 6:3-4).

They did this by being "buried with him in baptism, where in also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead" (Col. 2:12). And so, "through the faith of the operation of God" shows that they acted through, or were led by their faith. Faith led them to be buried in baptism, by which they were raised up to walk in newness of life, "For we walk by faith, not by sight" (II Cor. 5:7). On the birthday of the church of Christ, Peter preached faith as the first demand of the gospel; "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts 2:36).

It was also when their faith was made known that they were told to, "...Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins…”  (Acts 2:38). Remission of sins was to be obtained by faith and baptism, "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized…”  (v. 41). They received the word (had faith), faith comes by hearing (Rom. 10:17), and this faith led them to be baptized and then the Lord added them to His church (v. 47). It takes faith, but NOT FAITH ONLY (James 2:17, 20, 24, 26). We must let our faith lead us to obedience (Matt. 7:21; Heb. 5:9; John 9:31).