THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH.
The only way we can receive God’s marvelous provision of salvation is to accept it by faith. The eternal treasures which are provided for us by God’s grace are available to us by our faith alone.
Look at what faith accomplishes for us from the following passages:
Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV):
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Romans 5:1-2 (KJV):
5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom.11:20; 14:23;
Acts. 16:18; 15:9; Acts. 14:9.
Gal. 3:2; 5:14;
Matt. 15:28; Mark. 2:3-5;
Heb. 11; James. 5:15;
1 Peter. 1:5;
1 John. 5:4;
In addition to our salvation experience every aspect of our Christian life depends on the exercise of faith. Our actions, to a large extent, are determined by what we believe. If we believe that God knows everything we say, do, and think. It will move us always to do, say or think on those things which please Him. (Phil. 4:8).
- Relationship of Faith and Repentance.
By repentance we remove the obstacle to receiving the gift of salvation, and by faith we accept the gift.
Repentance concerns sin and the misery it causes, while faith dwells upon the mercy of God. There can be no faith without true repentance, for only the person who is truly sorry for his sins feels the need for a saviour and salvation for his soul.
- Definition of Faith.
We have seen that faith is vitally important part of our Christian life. And we have noted that faith determines, to large extent, our actions.
Now this faith we are talking about is “the voluntary act and attitude of person by which he places his complete confidence in a trusted object, allowing that object to govern his action. In the spiritual realm the trusted object is God, and the voluntary act is brought about by hearing and believing the Word of God (Rom. 10:17).
For people who claim to think correct, this sounds ridiculous, but this is true. There is a natural FACTS and there is Spiritual TRUTH. The Spiritual overrides the natural. BELIEVE THIS.
Faith also means to abandon all trust in our own resources and to cast ourselves completely on the mercy of God. Saving faith is the voluntary act and attitude of a person by which he places his complete confidence in Christ, allowing Him (Christ) to govern all actions. This act is brought about by hearing and believing the basic facts about the person and work of Christ which are written in the Word of God.
- Source of Faith.
Saving faith has both human and divine view points. From the divine viewpoints, faith is the gift of God (Rom. 12:3; 2Peter. 1:1) for example, in John’s Gospel Jesus declared “no one can comes to me unless the Father who sent me draws him (Jn. 6:44).
This means that in the work of conversion the Holy Spirit moves one’s heart to repentance from his sins and to faith towards God (Acts. 3:13, Phil. 2:12-13).
Moreover, the book of Hebrews declares that Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. On the other hand, the Holy Spirit works in the body of Christ (the Church) on special occasions as the gift of faith. All this reveals that God gives faith.
From the human point of view, we must not wait passively for God’s gift of faith to come to us. The fact that people are commanded to believe implies that they have the ability and also obligation to do so; everybody has the ability to place his confidence in some person or thing.
When belief is directed to the Word of God and confidence is placed in God and Christ, we have saving faith. It is produced by the Word of God (Rom. 10:17, Acts. 4:4).
Maintaining Faith.
From this lesson we have seen the importance of faith in the Christian life and we have considered its source. However, faith cannot be taken for granted. It must be maintained. Trying to maintain life and growth in the Christian experience without nourishing one’s faith is like trying to operate a car without fuel. The potential is there, but the car will be incapable of performing its intended function.
Faith is like riding a bicycle the rider must keep pedaling or he will fall.
The Word of God plainly states that the righteous (just) shall live by faith (Habakkuk. 2:4;
Rom. 1:17;
Gal. 3:11;
Heb. 10:38;
Col. 1:23;
1Cor. 16:13;
Eph. 6:16).
Here are some of the ways faith can be maintained:
Through prayers.
Reading, studying and meditating in the Word of God.
Corporate worship.
Witnessing.
Trials.
Relationship with other believers who live by faith.(Remember, faith is the key that unlocks the resources of heaven for us as stated in Matthew 17:20).
Study questions.
1. What is repentance?
2.Examine the link between repentance and restitution.