Faith Counts, Not Feelings, When It Comes to Salvation

Too many people try to get acquainted with Jesus through their personal feelings. That is, when they feel good, they think He has heard their prayers. If they don’t feel particularly good, they think He has not heard them. Their faith is based on their feelings, whereas it should be based on God’s Word and His promises.

A ‘Thomas’ Faith

John 20:29 - "Jesus saith unto His doubting disciple, "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed."

Thomas was one who based his faith upon his feelings; upon what his physical senses told him. He said that he would not believe, unless he could see with his own eyes, the prints of the nails in Jesus’ hands, and touch these nail prints with his own hands. He relied on what he could see and touch...not on what God had to say, or His promises. We have so many like Thomas today, who believe only what they can see, hear, or touch. But real faith in Jesus, is based upon the Word of God and its promise to save us. Real faith in the Word says, “If God says it is true, it is.” That's when we really trust God, when we take Him at His Word and believe His promise to save us, then apply that to our lives, inviting Jesus into our hearts and lives as our Savior. If God’s Word says He hears me, then I know He hears me. He cannot lie.

If our faith is based upon feelings, then we are just using a natural human reaction. We cannot get spiritual results with no real trust. We have to use scriptural faith, Bible faith, believing in God’s Word. If our faith is based upon the Word of God, then we believe the Word, regardless of evidences that would satisfy our physical senses, as Satan is out to deceive. This is why we rely on God's promises instead of feelings that can change too quickly. Jesus is our Rock upon which we can stand and know we are secure in His promises. He cannot err! God gave use free will, but that free will requires action/choice if we want God to save us. Remember... even the devil believes in God, but he's not saved. He refuses God's plan of salvation; the only thing that could have saved him.

God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the Son of Man, that He should repent! Numbers 23:19

We live and operate in the physical realm most of the time and obviously, we have to walk by sight, then. But when it comes to spiritual things, we don’t walk by sight – we walk by faith, since we're dealing with spiritual matters.

Walking in the natural, we do have to go by our physical senses, but our physical senses have nothing to do with the Bible or salvation. God’s Word is true, whether we feel that it is, or whether circumstances "appear" that it is, or not! God’s Word is true! God said, "Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my words shall never pass away!" Matthew 24:35

“For ever, O Lord, thy Word is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89).

Formula for Faith

First, use God’s Word for whatever you may be seeking; second, believe God’s Word; third, refuse to consider the contradictory circumstances, or what your physical senses or Satan, may be trying to tell you, and fourth, trust God for the answer.

“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…” (James 1:22).