In previous articles, we noted the first kind of faith-natural faith-and discussed its qualities. They are the following:

*It is based on signs.

* It is born by natural means.

* It cannot see and understand the spiritual realities of the Kingdom of God.

* It is a kind of faith based on undeniable facts, so one says one believes.

* It boasts in what the individual has done.

We also have seen from this passage Jesus presented a new paradigm to Nicodemus with regard to the work of the Holy Spirit-the Holy Spirit was going to blow amongst the Gentiles revealing God's love for them. How grateful many of us can be for this wonderful love of God, which has given the promises of God also to us who were "separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world" (Ephesians 2:12)!

Saving faith has eyes to see and enter the Kingdom of God.

This month we continue our series on becoming men of faith. I invite you to consider the characteristics of the second kind of faith-saving faith-revealed in the gospel of John, Chapter 3. The first characteristic is it enables one to see and enter the kingdom of God. What is the kingdom of God? Dallas Willard in Divine Conspiracy defines it as: "the range of His effective will where what He wants done gets done" (pg. 25). Within the context of Jesus' statements, I think he was referring to the advancement of the rule and dominion of the King of the Universe in the hearts of men. Whereas the first kind of faith simply allows one to acknowledge the signs of the kingdom's presence in the world, it doesn't enable one to see the kingdom in the soul and spirit. But the second kind of faith opens one's eyes to God's work in his own heart and in the hearts of others.

When people are born again, they are cognizant of the work of God in their hearts enabling them to believe. They can tell the difference between the kind of faith they had previously and the kind they now possess. Surely you have heard testimonies of people who believed in God's existence and knew of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross but were proud, hostile, and rebellious toward God. Then they had an encounter with God, which changed their hearts and attitudes. They were conquered by the love and power of God!

Saving faith comes by the Word of God.

The second characteristic of saving faith is the Word of God is the means by which this kind of faith comes ("born of water"). John's use of water as a reference to the Word of God is clear in the rest of his gospel. In John 13:10-11 Jesus said to his disciples, "'He who has bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.' For He knew the one who was betraying Him; for this reason He said, 'Not all of you are clean.'" Later in John 15:3 we read, "You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you." The Apostle Peter agreed. He wrote, "For you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God" (1 Pet. 1:23).

Jesus told his disciples about the experience of those who come to him. They hear and learn from the Father because no one comes to Jesus for salvation without being drawn first by the Father's word (John 6:44-45). Saving faith is fixed on the eternal, never-changing Word of God.

Saving Faith is a work of the Holy Spirit

The third characteristic of saving faith is a work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-8). The Spirit uses the Word to accomplish the new birth. In Romans 10:17 we read, "So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word (rhema) of Christ." W.E. Vine comments in his Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words,

The significance of rhema (as distinct from logos) is exemplified in the injunction to take "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God" (Ephesians 6:17); here the reference is not to the whole Bible as such, but to the individual scripture which the Spirit brings to our remembrance for use in time of need, a prerequisite being the regular storing of the mind with Scripture.

Saving faith results when the Holy Spirit takes a scripture and reveals its specific, practical application to our lives. As Jesus said in John 3:6, the Spirit gives birth to spirit whereas the flesh can only produce natural fruit.

The Spirit's work is unpredictable. One can't plan it or control it. When new birth happens to people, they are aware of the Spirit's presence and work, but can't tell how it came to them. They know they've been affected by His power.

Nicodemus clearly didn't understand what Jesus was talking about. John 3:9-10 reads, "Nicodemus answered and said to Him, 'How can these things be?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not understand these things?'" Nicodemus wasn't any run-of-the-mill teacher in Israel. He was "the" teacher of Israel. Nicodemus was a Pharisee. What was his confidence before God? He was a Jew, and a great one at that. His confidence lay in his works done in the sight of men (his praying on street corners, his fasting, his public giving). His hope was that the God of Israel was as impressed with his knowledge and deeds as he was.

In contrast to Nicodemus, the person who has saving faith places his confidence in the work of the Spirit of God in his heart and life. He realizes from his conversion a new relationship with God and his Son, Jesus, through the ministry and presence of the Holy Spirit.

Family Discussion

Family discussions during family worship can be life changing. Often children think they are saved because they believe the facts that God is real and Jesus died on the cross. Without realizing there is a difference between natural faith which comes by seeing and Spirit-born faith which comes by hearing God's Word in their hearts, they may become inoculated to the gospel. I encourage you to take time as a family to review these first three characteristics of saving faith revealed in John 3.

* Saving faith has eyes to see and enter the Kingdom of God.

* Saving faith comes by the Word of God.

* Saving faith is a work of the Holy Spirit.

Consider the following questions:

* Can you name someone who was very close to Jesus who had the first kind of faith, but not saving faith?

* Do demons believe in God (see James 2:19)?

* What is the difference between viewing faith as a gift from God and a work of the Holy Spirit and faith as something everyone has with the responsibility to exercise it (see Romans 4:1-2)? Why is the difference important?

* Why would a Pharisee be opposed to faith as a work of the Holy Spirit? Why would anyone be opposed to this truth today?

Next month we'll take a look at the remaining qualities of saving faith revealed in John 3. Perhaps you and your family can discover them during family worship before The Chariot arrives. If we're to rise to the call of God to faith in Jesus Christ, we need to be sure about what kind of faith we are rising to! May the Lord fill you with His Spirit and keep us all faithful.