1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
If you are a genuine Christian, there ought to be some idols that you have turned from. Before I was saved I had idols that I did not know were idols. They were powerless and useless substitutes for God. We are not saved by faith in idols. I had faith in churches and preachers. We are not saved by faith in churches or preachers. I had faith in myself. We cannot save ourselves. I had faith in things I had done and participated in. We are not saved by anything we do or participate in. Some things I did in churches made me feel good. We are not saved by faith in our feelings. We are saved by faith in God. I believed in a Jesus that would not change me. I had faith in a Jesus that was not living in my heart and working on my heart and life. I did not know that I needed to become His workmanship. I did not know that salvation is the work of God. I did not know that only His divine power could save me. I did not know that the wages of my sin was death. I thought that I would go to Heaven because I was a good person. I did not know that I was a sinner who deserved to be separated from God forever. I did not know that Jesus died for me and in my place so I could be forgiven and saved. A radio preacher told me that I needed to ask the Lord Jesus to do His work on my heart. I did not know what was wrong with my heart but I knew that only my Creator could fix it. I did not know how He would change my heart and life but I knew that whatever He would do on me and my heart would be exactly what I needed. So I asked Him to be my heart surgeon. It was the first time in my life that I had faith in the Jesus of the Bible, the REAL JESUS and He saved me and made me a new creature.
2 Peter 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us ALL THINGS THAT PERTAIN UNTO LIFE AND GODLINESS, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
