FAITH AN EVENT OF LIFE OR A PRINCIPLE OF LIFE?

It is common for religious people to look upon saving faith as an event in their lives. Someone made the statement concerning David Berkowitz (New York's mass murderer), "We are so thankful that he became a Christian when he was a boy." Most people have had the same experience as the "Son of Sam". They have, at one time or another, made a religious profession. No doubt it was attended with an emotional experience, a reformation of conduct, and adherence to certain fundamental truths.

But is such an event in the life of a man saving faith? Does the Word of God ever teach us to remember the time and place, the event of faith? No: The scriptures teach us that faith is a principle of life. It is not he that believed, but he that believes, goes on believing, who has life eternal. Saving Faith is the submissive reliance of the heart upon Jesus Christ as Lord. The question of examination is not, "Have you believed?" It is, "Dost thou believe?" Those who have truly believed on Christ from the heart are now believing, and they will continue to believe. The children of God in this world begin in faith. They walk in faith. And they die in faith. It is not the man who begins the race who wins the prize, but the man who finishes.

This is what I am saying, faith is a heart principle implanted in God's elect by the grace and power of the Holy Spirit, by which we live. "The just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."