Saving Faith

August 09, 2021

Saving Faith

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” – John 6:47-51

Apparently, the crowd still wasn’t getting it because this is the third time in fifteen versus that Jesus identified himself as the Bread of Life, the path to eternal salvation. The first time, the people demanded he perform a sign or work as proof. The second time, they grumbled because he made such an audacious claim. After all, they knew his family. He didn’t come down from heaven, he was born up the road! Once again, the Messiah was rejected by his own people. Would the third time be the charm? (Spoiler alert: no.)

Jesus also repeated, for the third time, that “whoever believes has eternal life” (v. 47). It sounds simple, right? Well, yes and no. The moment we accept Christ as our Savior we are assured of eternal life. However, the kind of belief to which Jesus calls us is not a one-and-done proposition. We cannot simply proclaim our faith; we have to live it. Every day. In every circumstance. We are to be so overwhelmed by Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf, by the gift of salvation, that we are transformed. We become new creations who think, speak, and behave differently. We pursue God’s will and agenda, rather than our own. We feast on the Bread of Life, rather than the treats of this world.

Over the next few days, we will explore passages that describe this type of saving faith. We will read instructions about how the Lord’s children are to behave toward him and each other. Believing in the Son of God and the eternal life he offers is a critical first step. Living that faith is an ongoing process. Thankfully, we have Jesus’ example, Scripture, and the Holy Spirit to guide us on the journey.

Reflect and Respond:
Does your daily life reflect your saving faith? Ask the Lord how he wants to continue shaping you into a new creation. We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

Related Resource:

The Resurrected Life: Making All Things New - The Bible promises that those who are in Christ are "new creatures." But how does that transformation take place? This unique Easter-season Bible study provides a space in which we can discover what it truly means to live a new life. As we listen, we'll learn how the resurrection of Jesus Christ changes everything - for us. Begin the journey to new life today!