Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. – 1 Peter 1:3-5 (NASB)

Recently, at a Bible study I attend, we focused quite a bit on salvation through faith versus works, Often new Christians are puzzled as to how men of faith in days of old (prior to Jesus appearing on Earth) found salvation. The answer is they were men of faith. They got it: the idea that there was no way for them to work their way into God’s “good graces” -as the expression goes. The Bible is pretty clear on this fact.

Let’s look at Abraham, a man of faith who lived on Earth long before Christ: For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.” -Romans 4:3 (NASB) He believed God. He had faith. Paul made it clear there is only one way: For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. -Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)

For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith is one. -Romans 3:28-30 (NASB)

Faith. Faith. Faith.