Biblical faith is not a “leap in the dark.” It is based on fact and grounded in evidence. It is defined in Hebrews 11:1 as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Faith gives assurance and certainty about unseen realities.
I often have occasion to drive on roads I have never driven on before. I do not know what is around the next bend; the road could end at a cliff with a 500-foot drop. Nor do I know personally the people who built the road. However, I know enough about how highways are built to have confidence in the road. Likewise, I sometimes will eat at a restaurant I have never been to before. I trust the food is all right because I have confidence in the inspection and preparation procedures.
We trust that highways and restaurants are safe based on the evidence. And that is precisely the case with our faith in God. It is supported by convincing evidence, both from Scripture and from the testimony of those Christians who have gone before us.
Saving faith is carefully defined in Scripture and needs to be understood because there is a dead, non-saving faith that provides false security (James 2:14–26). True saving faith contains repentance and obedience as its elements.
Repentance is an initial element of saving faith, but it cannot be dismissed as simply another word for believing. The Greek word for “repentance” is metanoia, from meta, “after,” and noeō, “to understand.” Literally it means “afterthought” or “change of mind,” but biblically its meaning does not stop there. As metanoia is used in the New Testament, it always speaks of a change of purpose and specifically a turning from sin. More specifically, repentance calls for a repudiation of the old life and a turning to God for salvation (1 Thess. 1:9). The repentance in saving faith involves three elements: a turning to God, a turning from evil, and an intent to serve God. No change of mind can be called true repentance without all three. Repentance is not merely being ashamed or sorry over sin, although genuine repentance always involves an element of remorse. It is a redirection of the human will, a purposeful decision to forsake all unrighteousness and pursue righteousness instead. And God has to grant it (Acts 11:18; 2 Tim. 2:25). In fact, God grants the whole of saving faith: “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, that no one should boast” (Eph. 2:8–9, italics added; cf. Phil. 1:29).
Although it is true that “he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47), Jesus also said, “No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44). God effectually calls sinners to Christ and grants them the capability to exercise saving faith (cf. Matt. 16:17).
The faith that God grants is permanent. In all who receive it, faith will endure. Such passages as Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Philippians 1:6, and Hebrews 10:38 teach that genuine saving faith can never vanish.
Like repentance, obedience is also encompassed within the bounds of saving faith. The faith that saves involves more than mere intellectual assent and emotional conviction. It also includes the resolution of the will to obey God’s commands and laws.
Obedience is the hallmark of the true believer. “When a man obeys God he gives the only possible evidence that in his heart he believes God” (W. E. Vine, An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, [Old Tappan, N.J.: Revell, 1966], 3:124). Such obedience will of necessity be incomplete, since the flesh ever rears its ugly head (cf. Rom. 7:14–25). If not the perfection of the believer’s life, however, it most certainly will be the direction.
Faith, then, must never be severed from good works. Martin Luther summed up the biblical view of the link between saving faith and good works in these words: “Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good works” (Cited in Tim Dowley, ed., Eerdmans Handbook to the History of Christianity [Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1987], p. 362).
The above article is by John MacArthur. He has such a great way of describing in a simple way what real faith and real repentance looks like – while keeping it completely Biblical in saying that it ALL is a Gift from God – the faith and the entire process. SO… What to do? We are to ask God for the Faith to believe and the gift of Repenting of our sins in a proper way (as described above) resulting in REAL Salvation.
There are so many counterfeits. One of the primary counterfeits is religious involvement that does not produce increasing obedience.(2 Cor. 5:17) Once again – it is not the perfection of a person life it is the direction… What direction are you going? Is it more and more obedience and a greater desire to faithfully serve God?(Prov. 4:18) Or is it something else? We need to work out our own Salvation as Paul stated in 2 Cor. 13:5 -so as to be certain that we are in the Faith. This is the MOST important decision anyone can EVER make. But you will not make it apart from God willing it so.(John 6:44, 1 Tim. 2:5) Yet at the same time – scripture teaches that He wants all to come and that the door is open. (1 Tim. 2:4)
One of the primary basic characteristics of Real Salvation is to answer this Question – Do you Love God and Jesus Christ His son? If so, then this will be the primary ground that you can stand on in regards to your assurance of Salvation. An increasing obedience and deeper walk will become the normal for you.(Titus 2:12-13) This is the Primary Fruit of real God breathed Salvation – A love for God. John 8:42