In This Issue:
Faith
Examples of Biblical Faith
Christ, Our Guide
Volume: 888 December 12, 2022
Theme: Faith
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What Is Faith? Noah Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language defines faith as ”…the assent of the mind to the truth of what is declared by another, resting on His authority ad veracity… the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures….”
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1
Have faith in God. He is reliable and trustworthy! Reliance on His help and commandments is essential in letting Him lead and guide one’s life.
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” Mark 11:22
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Heb. 11:6
Have faith in God’s son, Jesus.
“For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:26
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb. 12:2 Also: Rom. 3:22.
Faith in Christ can have one’s sins forgiven.
“And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee.” Luke 5:20
Faith is essential for salvation!
“And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.” I Cor. 15:14
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:” Ephesians 2:8 Also: Romans 3:28, I Corinthians 15:17, I John 5:4.
Not having faith is a sin!
“And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Romans 14:23
Some have a replacement for living by faith. They trust in themselves. That “trust” is a “work,” and working one’s way to Heaven is an impossibility and is a sin!
“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” I Timothy 6:10
Since faith in Christ’s work on the cross saves us, not having faith we can have salvation, or we can lose the “gift” is sin!
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20 Also: I Timothy 4:1.
One proof of our salvation is our change in our faith and the spiritual fruit it produces!
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” James 2:17
“But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?” James 2:20 Also: Gal 2:20, 5:22.
We are to live by faith during this “church age.” We are not to live by sight as in the Old Testament. That is where the cults, relying on seeing miraculous proofs of their salvation, are wrong!
“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” II Corinthians 5:7
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
“Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.” II Timothy 2:22: Also: Gal 2:20, 3:11, Eph. 6:16, I Thessalonians 5:8, I Tim. 6:12, II Tim. 4:7, Hebrews 10:38.
Have faith that God will meet your needs.
“Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?” Mat. 6:30
A blessing from living by faith is that God will give one an understanding of His plans and workings. His will shall be revealed to those who trust Him.
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
“Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Heb. 11:3
“If you have no joy, there has to be a leak in your faith somewhere.” H. Beecher
Examples of Biblical Faith
Bill Brinkworth
A centurion had faith that the words of Christ were sufficient to heal.
“When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” Mat. 8:10
Disease with an issue of blood. A woman had faith that if she could touch the hem of Jesus’ garment, she would be healed. She did touch it and was healed!
“But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.” Mat. 9:22
Equipped with only faith, a woman came to Jesus to remove a possessing devil from her daughter. Because of her reliance and trust on Him, her daughter was made whole.
“Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.” Mat. 15:28
Disciples let fear control them and did not believe God would protect them from harm. If they had faith, they could have asked God to deliver them from their dilemma, as we can when we face “storms.”
“And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.” Mat. 8:26
The “faith chapter” in Hebrews 11 reminds readers of Old Testament saints that had faith:
Abel: Hebrews 11:4
Enoch: Heb. 11:5
Noah: Heb. 11:7
Abraham: Heb. 11:8-9, 17
Sarah: Heb. 11:11
Isaac: Heb. 11:20
Jacob: Heb. 11:21
Joseph: Heb. 11:22
Moses: Heb. 11:23-24, 27, 28
Israel: Heb. 11:29-30
Rahab: Heb. 11:31
Those Old Testament saints and many more overcame challenges and impossibilities by faith in their great God. They stepped out blindly trusting Him, and He did the “impossible.” Will you also step out by faith and trust God when you face tragedies, terrors, and temptations?
“Faith, mighty faith, the promise sees
And looks to God alone,
Laughs at impossibilities
And cries, ‘It shall be done!’” — Charles Wesley
Christ, Our Guide
C. H. Spurgeon
When Mr. Andrew Fuller was going to preach one day, he rode to the meeting on his horse. There had been a lot of rain, and the rivers were very swollen. He got to one river, which he had to cross. He looked at it and feared the strong current as he did not know its depth.
A farmer, who happened to be standing by, said, “It is all right, Mr. Fuller. You will get through it all right, sir. The horse will keep its feet.”
Mr. Fuller went in, and the water got up to the girth and then up to the saddle. The preacher began to get uncomfortably wet. Mr. Fuller thought he had better turn around, and he was going to do so when the same farmer shouted, “Go on, Mr. Fuller. Go on. I know it is all right.”
Mr. Fuller replied, “Then I will go on. I will go by faith.”
Now, sinner, it is like that with you. You think that your sins are too deep and that Christ will never be able to carry you over them. However, I say to you, “It is all right, sinner. Trust Jesus, and he will carry you through Hell itself if it were needful and possible. If you had all the sins of all the men that have ever lived, and they were all yours, if you trusted him, Jesus Christ would carry you through the current of all that sin. It is alright, man! Only trust Christ. The river may be deep, but Christ’s love is deeper still. It is all right, man!
Do not let the devil make you doubt my Lord and Master. Satan is a liar from the beginning and the father of lies, but my Master is faithful and true. Rest on him, and it is alright. Herein lies the supreme consolation of this earthly life.”
“When a train goes through a dark tunnel, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer to get you through safely. Trust God today, no matter how dark your situation. God says, ‘You are coming out’!” — C. H. Spurgeon