What is your faith?

I have always heard that the same faith that heals your body, saves your soul. But that’s not true.

Jesus healed ten lepers and only one returned. He healed the paralytic at the pool of Bethesda and later found him in the temple and said to him: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” John 5.14  In other words, if he had gone back to his sinful ways something worse would have happened. The faith that had healed him did not guarantee the salvation of his soul.

The fact is, the same faith that makes divine healing, prosperity and other material blessings possible does not guarantee salvation.

"Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’” Matthew 7.22,23

Many have used faith to prophesy, to cast out demons and perform miracles. Faith in success. However, they did not have faith to obey the Word. Instead, they practiced lawlessness by following fleshly urges.

Why have so many experienced the wonders of faith and then lost their way?

Because miracles of faith require mere belief in the Promises, not obedience to them.

But the miracle of eternal salvation demands obedience.

Obedience to the Word of God.

Repentance is obedience; obedience is repentance. This is the faith that leads to the new birth or to a personal experience with God.

The Holy Spirit convinces a sinner to turn away from sin and obey His Word. Sooner or later this renewed person will be transformed by the Holy Spirit, and become a completely new creation.

HE inspires obedience.

HE inspires forgiveness.

HE inspires repentance.

HE gives the faith both to repent and obey.

In the end, HE leads a sinner to His Son Jesus Christ.

"All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out." John 6.37

Finally, the Lord Jesus says:

"But why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?" Luke 6.46

"You are My friends if you do what I command you." John 15.14

Jesus became the Author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. Hebrews 5.9

Does the faith that saves people neutralize the faith that heals and performs miracles?

No, not at all.

"...seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (faith in salvation and obedience to the Word), and all these things (faith for miracles) shall be added to you." Matthew 6.33