DO YOU BELIEVE IN FAITH?
Merriam-Webster: Faith is complete trust or confidence in someone or something.
BIBLE: “Faith
is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
(Heb 11)
Simply put, the biblical
definition of faith is “trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove.”
“Faith comes from hearing
and (spiritual) hearing by the Word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
Believing that Jesus is God
incarnate who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was
resurrected is not enough. Even the demons believe in those facts (James
2:19). We must personally and fully trust
on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. We must “sit in
the chair” of salvation that Jesus Christ has provided. This is saving faith.
The faith God requires of us for salvation is belief in what the Bible says
about who Jesus is and what He accomplished and fully trusting in Jesus for
that salvation (Acts 16:31).
Biblical faith is always accompanied by repentance of sin (Matthew
21:32; Mark 1:15).
FAITH … a GIFT from God and the
most important component of our Christian life. It means we never put a
question mark (?) where God has put an exclamation point! We must have complete
trust, confidence and assurance in God. There can be no doubt and no waivering.
We must have a firm expectation and know it will happen as God says it will.
Our life must depend on our faith.
“Without faith it is
impossible to please God: for whoever comes to God must believe that God is, and that He rewards those that diligently seek
Him. (Hebrews 11:6)
Without faith, we cannot be
saved (John 3:16).
Every child of God defeats this
evil world … we achieve this victory through our faith. (1John
5:4)
And whatever you ask in
prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” (Mark 11:24)
“All things are possible for
one who believes.” (Mark 9:23)
And Jesus answered them,
“Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘be
taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes
that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell
you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will
be yours." (Mark 11:23)
“I have been crucified with
Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me.
The life I now live in the flesh I live by
faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” (Gal 2:20)
An example of believing in
advance of what is going to occur, is found in Matthew 9:27-30 where two blind
men came to Jesus and asked Him to heal them. Jesus first asked them, “Do you
believe that I am able to do this?” and their reply was, “Yes, Lord.” “Then He
touched their eyes saying, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ And
their eyes were opened.”
“Count it all joy, my
brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces
steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If
any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all
without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts
is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that
person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a
double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:2-8)
“Take up the Shield of Faith to extinguish all the
flaming arrows from the evil one.” (Eph 6:16)
‘Honestly, whoever has faith
in me will do the works I have done and greater things.’ (John
14:12)
YES, I BELIEVE IN FAITH!