Jesus Messiah
Fellowship
Light To The Nations
Messianic Salvation by Grace Through Faith
Cohen G. Reckart, Pastor
Fulfilled In Acts 2:38Faith is not mind religion as among the ancient Greeks. It is not philosophy or logic. It is not mysticism fashioned into religious theory. It is the total of a person's religious experience directed toward God for worship. Faith becomes outwardly expressed by the human will toward God in every aspect of the Messianic life of Jesus Messiah. The Scriptures reveal the plan for faith salvation. Jesus called this plan "the way" [John 14:6]. Use your faith, follow the way! There is only ONE FAITH that is acceptable to God and that is the FAITH OF JESUS MESSIAH. When you convert to Jesus Messiah you must give up all of your prior religious beliefs and bring a fresh mind ready to be discipled and taught the faith of Jesus. If you do not do this, you cannot be his disciple and you cannot be saved by faith.
As the Lord Jesus reveals to you the Truths of his Messianic Judaism, this becomes your faith. You may add to your faith by receiving more of the truths of the New Covenant. The purpose of a personal faith in the Lord Jesus is to admit and confess that you desire to be fully converted to his faith of Messianic Judaism.
In the text below the word *Christ* which is Greek for the Hebrew word *Messiah* is substituted in the Beth Jesus Version of the Scriptures by the word *Messiah* so that many will better understand Messianic Salvation by grace through faith in Jesus.
I am a sinner: For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]. God be merciful to me a sinner [Luke 18:13].
Repent by faith: Repent therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out [Acts 3:19]. Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Messiah [Acts 20:21].
Confess by faith: If we confess out sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [1John 1:9].
Forsake by faith: Let the wicked forsake is his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, and let him return unto the Lord, for he will abundantly pardon [Isaiah 55:7].
Believe by faith: He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not shall be damned [Mark 16:16]. This is a prophecy of Messiah, not just words to argue whether water baptism is essential to Messianic salvation.
Baptism by faith: Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Messiah for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost [Acts 2:38].
Born of the Spirit by faith: Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God [John 3:5]. And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him [Acts 5:32]. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost [Jude 1:20].
Love by faith: That Messiah may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love [Ephesians 3:17].
A Saint by faith: Called to be saints (holy ones) [1 Corinthians 1:2]. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation [1Peter 1:15]. Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord [Hebrews 12:14].
The new Israel by faith: For in Messiah Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God [GAL 6:15-16].
* * *
The Scriptures teach that everyone who is born is given a measure of faith (Eph 4:7). This measure of faith must be used toward the Lord Jesus as the Messiah. We find both Jews and Gentiles using this small measure of faith toward Jesus in several Gospel accounts. Everyone will give an account for their measure of faith whether they use it, or refuse to use it to come to salvation.
This faith when directed toward Jesus and salvation, becomes our own individual faith. No one can take from us what our own faith has obtained. That which Jesus teaches us and places into our hearts, is the faith by which we live a Messianic life. The Messianic life then becomes a way of faith. Works cannot produce faith, but faith produces its own works. Therefore faith without works is dead. For without faith it is impossible to please God.
Before a person will go to hell for murder, adultery, fornication, worshiping idols, drinking, using illegal drugs, smoking and using tobacco products, lying, etc, they will first have to answer why they did not use their measure of faith to come to salvation. And if they fail on that part to produce evidence of salvation by their name being in the Lamb's Book of Life, then they will automatically go to the lake of fire. These have no need to be judged for any other sin.
Yes, they will be judged as sinners because they did not repent by faith, were not baptized by faith for the remission of sins. And yes, they will still be guilty of all those evils, but the greater sin was to reject Calvary, reject the shed blood, reject Jesus as the Messiah, and reject the love of God. Bible faith when used would have accepted all of that. And because they did not use their measure of faith in this regard, they have no need to be judged for all the other sins, they have already damned themselves.
That is why faith in Jesus as the Messiah is essential to salvation. And that is why works of religion and works of rituals cannot save. It takes faith in Jesus as the Messiah. And when a person uses their faith in Jesus as the Messiah according to the divine will and plan of salvation (Acts 2:38), the grace of God is given as a free gift. That free gift of grace remains with us as we grow in our faith of Jesus Messiah and overcome the world.
As each person receives the grace of God, it is signified by the baptism of the Holy Spirit. This was the evidence of being born again (Joh 3:3-5, Acts 2:1-4).
And when a person is a son or daughter of God, we can say we have been saved by grace through faith and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. When we point to one Scripture that contains all the basic and essential faith for a new believer and convert to obtain grace, it is Acts 2:38.