It is not 'ongoing faith' by which we are saved. It is by receiving/believing/putting our faith in the Work of Christ by which we are saved. That IS a one time event! At that point we are made a New Creation, Born into the family of God in Christ, and then sealed with the Holy Spirit, Who guarantees our redemption for the Glory of the Father. This cannot be undone through lapses of faith, and when a believer is properly fed and watered in the Word, their faith won't lapse!
Sadly, there are many walking wounded believers out there who have believed what some preach here: That they must do certain things to maintain their salvation or they will be eternally condemned. And ironically, it is the putting of that yoke on young/immature believers that stunts their growth and hinders the Fruit of the Spirit in their lives. They are taught to focus on self, where the Good News is that we are to focus on Christ - He is the Perfector of our faith \o/!
-JGIG
This simple phrase "focus on Christ" what do you actually mean? If I was a young disciple how would you instruct me to do this?
It's not a matter of instruction as much as it is a matter of encouraging and building up the believer in Christ - encouraging an immature believer that when they stumble, it has not put their salvation in jeopardy, and that if they're sinning, they should stop - sinning is dumb and destructive to them and to those around them.
They also need to recognize their position in Christ as a forgiven, righteous, New Creation.
Fixing their eyes on Christ, they need get up, brush themselves off, and approach the Throne of Grace with confidence for help in their time of need.
9 And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (From Col. 1)
6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. (from Col. 2)
7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace 8 that he lavished on us. (from Eph. 1)
14 Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. 16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. (from Heb. 4)
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (from Heb. 12)
I wrote this back in 2013 in the article,
Grace or Law? How Then, Shall We Live?
For those of us who aren’t dealing with the big, obvious sins (other than spiritual pride, arrogance, and judgementalism, that is), we need to be actively aware of the struggling believer’s secure position in Christ in the midst of their condition in the flesh. That active awareness should translate into gently lifting up those who struggle with their condition in the flesh, establishing them in the reality of their position in Christ, reminding them of the Throne of Grace that they/we can approach in Christ in their/our time of need. That’s talking about help when it comes to sinning, folks, and the Throne spoken of is not a throne of judgement (from the Law), but the Throne of Grace!
Apparently, the Thessalonians were really good at this:
11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. (from 1 Thess. 5)
-JGIG
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