We are saved when the Holy Spirit enters us, period. When the Holy Spirit enters us, He gives us the faith. We cannot "decide" to have faith or muster it up. We either have an intimate knowledge of Christ or we don't. I asked God into my life in 1985 but nothing happened. Nothing changed and my life got worse. I felt no different nor was I spurred to seek out His word. But then in 1989, when I was at the end of myself, He came to me. I felt the Holy Spirit enter me and in a matter of seconds I knew that Jesus was alive.
I'm not saying you aren't saved, Pilgrim, that's between you and God. But I do know there's a difference between intellectually believing Christ died for us and a heart change. As for claiming good deeds, how can I claim good deeds? If I boast about my deeds then they were done for me, not for God. Jesus talks about giving with the left hand while the right hand doesn't know what you're doing. When we lie naked beofre God, He doesn't want to hear "Boy look what I'VE done today. Aren't I wonderful!"" He wants to hear how much we need Him and how thankful we are that He is in our lives. He wants us to ask what more we can do.
Whatever good deeds I've done, all i feel is how much I haven't done. For example, we bought a beautiful house last year. Every day I walk around and think about how many people the money we paid for this house can feed. I mean it's not an ostentatious house but still, if I have not sold all my belongings and given to the poor, I'm indulging in some form of greed. I don't believe I am strong enough to do that right now, but maybe someday I will be. I can handle my guilt because I know I'm loved anyway which makes me strive to have Him lessen my sin everyday.
I'm not saying you aren't saved, Pilgrim, that's between you and God. But I do know there's a difference between intellectually believing Christ died for us and a heart change. As for claiming good deeds, how can I claim good deeds? If I boast about my deeds then they were done for me, not for God. Jesus talks about giving with the left hand while the right hand doesn't know what you're doing. When we lie naked beofre God, He doesn't want to hear "Boy look what I'VE done today. Aren't I wonderful!"" He wants to hear how much we need Him and how thankful we are that He is in our lives. He wants us to ask what more we can do.
Whatever good deeds I've done, all i feel is how much I haven't done. For example, we bought a beautiful house last year. Every day I walk around and think about how many people the money we paid for this house can feed. I mean it's not an ostentatious house but still, if I have not sold all my belongings and given to the poor, I'm indulging in some form of greed. I don't believe I am strong enough to do that right now, but maybe someday I will be. I can handle my guilt because I know I'm loved anyway which makes me strive to have Him lessen my sin everyday.
Not so!
"FAITH comes by hearing the Word of God"!
and we know from other scriptures that HEARING ALONE is not enough.
So that "HEARING " of the Word is with UNDERSTANDING.
Faith IN GOD therefore comes when we UNDERSTAND the MESSAGE of GOD!
But ALL men have faith acccording to what faith "IS" and excersise it every day wether saved or unsaved.
Faith only becomes SAVING faith when it is put in God.
To further the 'argument'
The HOLY SPIRIT cannot come in that which is yet not saved!
seeign that HE is HOLY and we are not being DEAD and unsaved.
But when the WORD is PREACHED then He MOVES upon the WORD and QUICKENS it to our UNDERDSTANDING so that understanding what WE are and knowing then what God is.
We fing that we are in need of a SAVOUR.
and as the Word is further preached concening Christ and the cross we see GODS answer not only for our sin but also HIS establishment and upholding of the law.
and so understanding what we must do......REPENT we turn oursleves and our faith from everythign else and to HIM.
and call upon the name of the LORD.
and He in response to FAITH saves us.
and THEN the Holy Spirit seals us.
For to be BORN of the water is to be born of the WORD.
For faith comes BY the WORD; it folows thenthat if we do not have the Word we do not have faith and we cannot please God "for without faith it is impossible to please God!
Therefore it is by the WORD ... AND the Spirit which comes upon the Word.
and brings forth the LIFE that is in it.