A well known preacher once said; We must never imagine that we have faith if we do not obey. Obedience to the Word of God is not the cause of salvation, it is the result of salvation. Saving faith produces obedience.

Saving faith is trusting Jesus Christ and His merit alone as your only hope of salvation.

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing (cleansing) of regeneration,* and renewing** of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified (acquitted) by his grace (unmerited favor), we should be made heirs according to the hope (confident assurance) of eternal life. Titus 3:5-7

But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12&13

…let the word of Christ dwell (take up its life) in you richly…

*Regeneration – palingenesia – palin meaning again, genesia meaning birth. Does born again sound familiar?

**Renewing – anakainoo – to make new – see II Corinthians 5:17.

Definitions are from W.E. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words.