The Bible is one book written around one central theme “God's plan to redeem man through Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” This is presented encapsulated in John 3:14-16. This text presents the tragedy of man's condition and the greatness of God's love demonstrated in Jesus Christ. Man is saved from his sins through faith in Christ. Few in the religious world would question this. We must, however, ask one question. What is saving faith or how is one saved by believing?

The answer to this question is where much of the debate and disagreement lies. Most will acknowledge without any hesitation at all that one is saved by God's grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9). Must one, however, demonstrate this faith in humble obedience or is simple mental and/or verbal ascent enough. Insofar as the Bible is God's inspired message to all mankind, let us allow it to answer the question.

We read in Numbers 21 about God punishing Israel for their murmuring and discontent. He sent fiery serpents among them and when bitten, one would become sick and die. When they cried outfor deliverance God instructed Moses to make a brazen serpent and hang it on pole in the midst of the camp. The children of Israel were instructed to look upon the brazen serpent and they would be healed.

Consider one laying sick in his tent because he had been bitten by a fiery serpent. He learns of the cure, but lays within his tent and says, “I don't have to get up, leave my tent, and go to where the serpent is visible and behold it. I believe that God is powerful enough to save me lying right here.” What, do you suppose, would have happened to that man? It is obvious. He'd be dead in short order.

The Hebrew writer tells us that Rahab the harlot was saved by faith. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. (Hebrews 11:31) Again, there is no question about the fact of her being save by faith. Let us ask “how” she was saved by faith. Notice what James says, Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? (James 2:25). Had she not followed the instructions she was given to display a scarlet cord from her window and to keep all her family in the house with her, neither she nor those of her family would have been saved. She was saved by her faith when she believed and acted or obeyed based upon that belief.

Many today teach one is saved by faith, in the absence of obedience. Throughout the New Testament, we read that this is simply not the case, (Matt. 7:21, Heb. 5:8-9, James 2:14, 17, 26, Mark 16:15-16). How is one saved by faith? When his faith moves him to humble obedience.