The heart of God : Chapter 18 | The First Level of Faith for Salvation

The first level of faith for salvation is the most basic level. We will learn about this level and the life in the Kingdom of Heaven, which is called Paradise, where people of this level enter.

Reading Scripture: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38–39, NASB)

Children are precious to their parents. Parents love them so much that even if they hold them close, it does not hurt. When the child grows, becomes a youth, and then an adult, the parents feel proud and thankful. But if a child does not grow for many years, the parents will surely worry. It is the same for the children of the Lord God who are born again by faith. As written in 1 John 2, their faith should grow. It should grow into the faith of children, the faith of young men, and the faith of fathers. This is what pleases the Lord God and brings blessings. Let us first look at the first level of faith, which is the faith of children.

1. The First Level of Faith for Salvation

Faith can be divided into five levels. Each level has its own clear features. The first level of faith is the most basic level. It is called “faith to receive the Holy Spirit” or “faith for salvation.” When we accept the Lord Jesus, the Lord God gives us the Holy Spirit as a gift. So we call it “faith to receive the Holy Spirit.” And when we receive the Holy Spirit, our names are written in the Book of Life and we become people of the Kingdom of Heaven. This is why it is also called “faith for salvation.”

At the first level of faith, a person has little knowledge of the Word, so the person cannot fully act according to the Word. The person does not clearly know what sin is. Even when the person commits sin, the person may not feel the sorrow of the Holy Spirit. We should not think that only new believers who received the Holy Spirit recently belong to this level. Even a person who has attended Church for a long time can still be at the first level of faith.

If a person knows the Word of the Lord God but does not even try to obey it, then even if the person says he has faith, it is only the first level of faith. Also, if a person who once seemed to have good faith begins to do the works of the flesh, that person may fall back to the first level of faith. The works of the flesh include sins such as stealing, lying, and committing adultery. Right after receiving the Holy Spirit, a person of the first level may look like a person of good faith because the person is full of the Holy Spirit and obeys what he is taught. But if the person begins to look at the world, then the fullness of the Holy Spirit decreases. The person returns to old habits, joins with the world, and begins to sin again. If this continues, the Holy Spirit may be quenched, and then it becomes difficult to keep even the first level of faith.

Therefore, if a person is at the first level of faith, the person must not remain there. He must attend worship services, prayer meetings, and gatherings. He must learn the Word and practice it with effort. Then his faith will grow into the second, third, and fourth levels.

2. The Faith of the Criminal Who Repented on the Cross

In Luke 23:33 and onward, Jesus was crucified, and two criminals were nailed to crosses on His right and His left. One criminal mocked the Lord Jesus. But the other criminal rebuked him and repented. He said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your Kingdom.” He accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. Then the Lord Jesus promised his salvation by saying, “Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43, NASB)

This criminal only accepted the Lord Jesus as his Savior. He did not throw away his sinful life. He did not live by the Word. He repented only at the moment of death. Because of this, he had no time to hear the Word of the Lord God, learn it, understand it, or practice it. For people like this—those who accept the Lord Jesus but do nothing for the Kingdom of Heaven or for His righteousness—the prepared place is Paradise.

However, it is a great mistake to think, “If I accept the Lord at the moment of death, I can enter Paradise, so I will also do that.” The Lord God granted salvation to the criminal because He knew that if the man had continued living, he would not have betrayed the Lord and would have kept his faith until the end. Not everyone can accept the Lord Jesus at the moment of death. And even if someone accepts the Lord, true faith is not given instantly. Therefore, cases like the criminal—being saved at the last moment—are very rare.

Those who enter Paradise, which is at the edge of the Kingdom of Heaven, receive what the Bible calls a “shameful salvation.” Most of these people lived as they wished. They joined with the world and did not cast away sin. They did not work for the Lord or show faithfulness. So they feel deep thankfulness simply because they accepted Jesus Christ and escaped Hell. Their salvation itself is the reason for their great gratitude.

3. The Heavenly Dwelling Place for Believers at the First Level of Faith

Paradise is a dwelling place in the Kingdom of Heaven that was prepared through the love and mercy of the Lord God. It is for souls who are shameful to be called children of the Lord God, yet too precious to be sent to Hell. In terms of the levels of faith, Paradise is the place for souls who barely received salvation. It is the dwelling place farthest from the throne of the Lord God. Because of this, the light of His glory is weaker there, and it is the lowest level among all heavenly dwellings.

At the edge of Paradise, there is a waiting place. Saved souls stay there until the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11–12). Except for the souls who have entered the New Jerusalem after reaching the level of a whole spirit, countless saved souls from the beginning of the world remain there. Because a part of Paradise is used as this great waiting place, Paradise is vast and beyond imagination.

Even though Paradise is the lowest dwelling place in the Kingdom of Heaven, it is still far more beautiful and joyful than life on this earth. There are large green fields, gardens that are beautifully arranged, and peaceful landscapes. Trees and flowers in this world fade and decay as time passes. But the trees in Paradise always remain green, and the flowers never wither. When a person comes near, the flowers greet the person by gently moving. They open and close their petals and give off a unique and deep fragrance.

The trees are filled with beautiful fruits. These fruits shine with brightness and glow with clear luster. They look very delicious. There is no dust or insects, so there is no need to peel the fruit when eating it. In the Kingdom of Heaven, the hair of all men comes down to the neck. But the hair of women is different because the length shows their level of sanctification. A woman who has reached a whole spirit has hair that reaches the end of the spine. But women in Paradise have hair that barely reaches their shoulders. All people wear simple white robes. There are no brooches, hairpins, or crowns for decoration.

Those who enter Paradise have no rewards. So they do not have private houses, personal decorations, or angels assigned to serve them. They live together in public buildings. These are like welfare centers on this earth. Inside, there are small rooms for one person and large rooms for many people to rest. But these places are not personal property, so people cannot decorate them as they wish. They also cannot stay too long or keep the room for themselves. After resting for a set time, they must leave the room for others. Sometimes they must wait until a room becomes available. But in the Kingdom of Heaven, everything is done with order, love, and service. Even waiting does not feel long, and the waiting places are peaceful and comfortable. Although the people in Paradise live together like this, there is no evil in Heaven. They seek the benefit of others, so life is joyful and happy.

Even so, the children of the Lord God who received the Holy Spirit must not say, “It is enough for me to only enter Paradise.” We must long for the better places of the Kingdom of Heaven. We must fight the good fight, live by the Word, and pray so that we become holy people of spirit. May you grow in spiritual faith and fully prepare yourself to enter the New Jerusalem.

*Plus

What are the levels of faith written in 1 John 2:12–14?

Faith of children – the first level of faith
Faith of little children – the second level of faith
Faith of young men – the third level of faith
Faith of fathers – the fourth and fifth levels of faith

Memory Scripture: “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38, NASB)

Reference Scripture: “I am writing to you, little children, because your sins have been forgiven you for His name’s sake.” (1 John 2:12, NASB)
“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” (Acts 2:39, NASB)