| Faith |
| I am always open to discussion of the Lord's words in a meaningful way, that is finding the truth according to our Creator and our Savior not the truth according to any man.. I look forward to hearing from any and all who are interested in exploring the bible in search of the truth. |
| Sherry's Gifts |
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| Faith What is faith? John 3:14-21- “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him night be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” The passages underlined is speaking of belief that God exists. Romans 5: 1-2 - “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” This passage is talking to those in the church who have been justified by faith, they have access to God’s grace by faith, and they rejoice in hope. Ephesians 2 : 8 -10- “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. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Having read this passages, we must note that there are varying degrees of faith. There was a man who strung a wire across Niagara Falls and walked across on the wire. Then he got a wheelbarrow and pushed that wheelbarrow across Niagara Falls on this wire. Then he asked the crowd if they believed that he could pushed the wheelbarrow across with someone in it. Many of the people said they did or nodded yes. Then he asked for a volunteer. He had no volunteers, which shows us they really didn’t believe he could or they would have volunteered. True faith leads a person to act on that belief. Let’s define faith: Faith is: 1) Hope = Desire + Expectation 2) Evidence (Testimony of credible witnesses.) 3) Firm Conviction (The antonym for this is doubt.) The following passages tell us a few things about faith: Firm Conviction, no Doubt - James 1:6 - “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord: he is a double-minded man, unstable in his ways.” Faith grows - II Thessalonians 1:3 - We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of everyone of you all abounds toward each other,” If you have faith, you can loose it. - Hebrews 3:12 - “Beware, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief in departing from the living God;” What is faith? - Hebrews 11:1 - Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.” This tells us of when Jesus was walking on water to the ship that his disciples were on. Matthew 14:25 - 31 -Verse 27 “And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” So Peter walks on the water going out to meet him until he becomes afraid and begins to sinks and asks Jesus to save him. Verse 31- “And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”” Peter's lack of faith is evident in him sinking in the water. The Bible never promotes Blind Faith. Genesis 22: 1 - 18 - Tells us of Abraham when he was commanded to offer Isaac as a sacrifice. He proceeds to do as God had commanded him. In Hebrews 1: 17-19 tells us Abraham obeyed God because he know God was able to do as he had promised. Romans 14:23 -”But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith, for whatever is not from faith is sin.” Whatever is not from faith is sin. Godly faith is without doubt, as also shown in James 1:5-6 - “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. “ (The scriptures tell us what to pray for, not just anything our hearts desire. This will be a future article) Faith always causes a person to obey/do something because of their faith Faith is: 1) Hope = Desire + Expectation 2) Evidence (Testimony of credible witness.) 3) Firm Conviction (No doubting.) Hebrews 11: verses, 4 - “By faith Abel offered” 5 - “By faith Enoch was taken away” his testimony was “he pleased God.” 7 - “By faith Noah” “moved with godly fear, prepared an ark” 8 - “By faith Abraham obeyed” 11 - “By faith Sarah” “bore a child” 17- “By faith Abraham” “offered up Isaac,” 20- “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau” 21- “By faith Jacob” “blessed each of the sons of Joseph” 22- “By faith Joseph,” “gave instructions concerning his bones” 23- “By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents,” 24- “By faith, Moses” “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter” vs. 27 “forsook Egypt” 28- “By faith he kept the Passover” 29 - “By faith they passed through the Red Sea” 30- “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were encircled for seven days.” 31- “By faith the harlot Rahab” “received the spies with peace.” 32- “And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to fight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again. Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourging, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." Faith always causes a person to obey/do something because of their faith. James 2:14 - 22 -”What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save Him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, And one of you says to them, ’Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’ Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well, Even the demons believe - and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, this faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not be faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. The Bible was written so that hearing, we might believe and obey. John 20:30-31 - “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” Romans 10:17 - “So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 6:17 - “But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” Now does faith alone save? Is John 3:16 and Acts 6:31 saying baptism is not necessary even though baptism is explained in Romans 6:1-7, I Peter 3:21-22, Acts 2:38, and in many more scripture? If a man who is a husband and father say “I love my wife” but doesn‘t say anything about his children, does that mean he doesn’t love his children? Let’s say later after saying he loves his wife, he states “ I love my children” but doesn’t say anything about his wife, does that mean he no longer loves his wife? No, he had already said before he loved his wife. You see, all these passages work together to tell us the whole truth, not part. II Timothy 3: 16 - 17 - “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Remember James 2:21- 24- “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” Contrary to what many people say, the bible doesn't contridict itself. If studied, it is like a puzzle that fits together perfectly. It is men who try to understand it without using the wisdom of God and so the scriptures do not appear to be complete to them. (I Corinthians 1:18-28) I John 3:5 - “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” God’s commands are not hard for those who love God, who have God as their top priority, who seek the kingdom of God. His commandments are hard for those who do not have enough faith. A saving faith includes: 1) Hope = Desire + Expectation 2) Evidence (Testimony of credible witnesses.) 3) Firm Conviction (No doubting) This faith always moves us to obey God’s commandments. ed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.” Now does faith alone save? Is John 3:16 and Acts 6:31 saying baptism is not necessary even though baptism is explained in Romans 6:1-7, I Peter 3:21-22, Acts 2:38, and in many more scripture? If a man who is a husband and father say “I love my wife” but doesn‘t say anything about his children, does that mean he doesn’t love his children? Let’s say later after saying he loves his wife, he states “ I love my children” but doesn’t say anything about his wife, does that mean he no longer loves his wife? No, he had already said before he loved his wife. You see, all these passages work together to tell us the whole truth, not part. II Timothy 3: 16 - 17 - “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Remember James 2:21- 24- “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” I John 3:5 - “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.” God’s commands are not hard for those who love God, who have God as their top priority, who seek the kingdom of God. His commandments are hard for those who do not have enough faith. A saving faith includes: 1) Hope = Desire + Expectation 2) Evidence (Testimony of credible witnesses.) 3) Firm Conviction (No doubting) This faith always moves us to obey God’s commandments. |