The Bible is clear. Salvation is by faith. Paul proclaimed, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast (Eph. 2:8-9). That sounds simple, but as they say, "The devil is in the details." Bible teachers, professors, and theologians differ on two aspects of salvation by faith.
The first issue is the definition of faith. Obviously, it involves belief, but exactly what is it? At one end of the spectrum are those who claim that faith is nothing more than mere mental assent. At the other end of the spectrum are those who contend that faith is commitment. There are several different definitions between those two extremes.
The second issue is the content of faith. Obviously, from a biblical perspective, faith is in Jesus Christ (John 3:16), but what about Jesus must be believed? Must one believe in the Deity of Christ to gain heaven? Must one believe in His death for sin? Must one believe in the Bodily resurrection of Christ? What about His virgin birth? Or His miracle-working power, such as raising people from the dead?
In The Faith Required To Get To Heaven, G. Michael Cocoris addresses both of these issues. He explains and examines the five views of the definition of saving faith, including mental assent to a proposition, belief in a promise, trust, commitment, etc. He then discusses the definition, content, and nature of the faith required to get to heaven.
The chapter on"The Conversion of Famous Christians, contains the conversion stories of Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Wesley, Charles Haddon Spurgeon, and R. A. Torrey. It is interesting to see how these conversion stories line up with the biblical concept of faith. The conclusion discusses the salvation of those who lack a clear biblical view of the faith required for heaven.
By showing the contrast between the various views of the faith required for heaven and what the Bible says about that faith, this book puts the definition and content of faith into clear focus. It will help you clearly present the biblical view of the faith required to get to heaven.
G. Michael Cocoris is a gifted communicator. He can make even complicated subjects simple, clear, and practical. His breadth of experience has allowed him to relate to a wide range of audiences. Michael received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tennessee Temple University, a Master of Theology degree from Dallas Seminary, and a Doctorate of Divinity from Biola University. He traveled the United States for over a dozen years as a speaker. He has also been a seminary professor, visiting lecturer, and world traveler, including hosting tours to Israel and China. Michael has pastored three churches, including a rural church when he was in seminary, an urban church, the historic Church of the Open Door, first in downtown Los Angeles and later in Glendora, California, and a suburban church, the Lindley Church in Tarzana California, a suburb of Los Angeles. While at the Church of Open Door, he had a daily radio broadcast. Michael is the pastor of the Lindley Church in Tarzana, California. He and his wife, Patricia, live in Santa Monica, California.
