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Bible Knowledge Church Bible Study
Teacher: The Holy Spirit of God (John 14:26)
Topic: What is the meaning of FAITH?
FAITH
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.--(Hebrews 11:1)
The three essential elements of faith are: belief, confidence, trust. It is (1) “the substance of things hoped for,” (2) “the evidence of things not seen.” In other words, it supplements the things of which we gain our knowledge through the special senses. Some things we know because we have perceived them through the sense of sight, of hearing, of touch, etc.; other things we know only upon the assurance of others in whom we have confidence. For instance, you believe that such men as Caesar, Luther, Washington, and other historic characters existed, not because you have seen or heard them but because you have perfect confidence in the channels through which you get your information. Things that come to us direct through the special senses are not faith but knowledge.
Faith rests upon evidence. We believe in God because we have such substantial assurances, such incontrovertible evidences of His existence that all doubt on this point has vanished and we accept it without question. Another thought about faith is that we can not get through life without it. Men cry out against it, claiming that it is ignorance which prompts people to accept something as a fact without direct and positive first-hand evidence; but their very life belies their claim, for there is scarcely a day but that they take others’ word for things without question. On every hand they are surrounded by things or circumstances concerning which they know absolutely nothing except what others have told them.
As Christian faith is essential to Christian life, so faith in the abstract is essential to any kind of life.
KINDS OF FAITH
The term “faith” may be applied in a general way, as “We walk by faith,” or, as in Luke 18:8 and Jude 3, it may be applied to “the body of revealed truth.” Faith may be the result of our confidence in men or causes, or it may be a special gift as set forth in (1 Cor. 12:9). We can also speak of faith as being either a natural or a Christian faith.
What is considered natural faith would be a matter-of-fact confidence which human beings have in each other. When it comes to Christian faith, we enter a new realm.
The Persons or Being whom we are called upon to believe are not seen but unseen. The man with natural faith only, stops at the limit of his own personal knowledge or the knowledge of others in whom he has confidence. His faith stops with the creation (or, perhaps, with the dawn of history) on the one hand, and with death on the other. But the man possessed with Christian faith goes beyond this. He believes that the Bible is a divine and miraculous revelation from God to man; that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, was born of a virgin, gave us an unerring Gospel, died for our sins, rose for our justification.
From the Christian viewpoint we must also consider two other kinds of faith; namely, a dead faith and a living faith.
1. “Dead” Faith.--We get this name from what is often called a “historical faith” from the writings of (James 2:14-26), who makes works a test of real faith. The keynote of his teaching on this point is that “faith without works is dead.” In other words, where works are lacking it is evidence that the faith is not genuine. There are multitudes of people who profess to have faith in God and His Word who are no more stirred by the prospects of heaven than if they had never heard of such a place; their life is as devoid of spirituality as is that of the average worldling around them. If they have any faith at all, it is a “dead” faith, for it produces little or no works.
2. Living Faith.--It is the “faith which worketh” (Gal. 5:6) that constitutes the living faith. It is the faith that grips the soul and moves the individual to act.
Ask yourself this question, Why do some people fall away from God? The answer, Because of lack of faith. It is the living faith that grips the heart of man, moves him to seek God’s pardoning grace; and having found this grace, to keep it to the end. God warns us that “without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb. 11:6). The only possible way to the saving grace of God is through the avenue of living faith which is essential to salvation. The righteous shall live by faith; the whole life of the righteous, from moment to moment, shall be by faith. We must understand that “whatsoever is not of faith is sin (Rom. 14:23), because every deed and disposition of our life is to be full of faith. The only salvation is in Christ by faith alone. No Faith, No Salvation.
HOW FAITH COMES
1. By Hearing.--“faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”
(Rom. 10:17). It is the plan of God that people are to be brought to a knowledge of the truth through the instrumentality of their fellow men. That is the main reason why God has commissioned me, and why “I wrote this study” for you, so that the nonbelievers could be delivered and the believers encouraged. But, “all the Glory and all the Credit will go to God.” Of the unsaved millions it is said, “how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher” (Rom. 10:14)?
2. By the Word of God.--The burden of (Rom. 10:14-17) is, “faith cometh by hearing . . . the word of God.”
3. By Prayer.--The prayer of the apostles to their Lord, “Increase our faith”
(Luke 17:5), should be ours also. It was the prayer of Cornelius (Acts 10:30, 31) that brought the messenger who led him and his household into the living faith. Do you feel a lack of overcoming faith? Pray. Do you feel that others should be blessed with a stronger faith? Pray. Do you feel the need of a revival that will bring both saved and unsaved into the realms of a victorious faith? Pray.
4. By the Spirit.--“To another, faith by the same Spirit” (1 Cor. 12:9). It being the mission of the Spirit to lead us into all truth (John 16:13), to testify of Christ
(John 15:26), to bring the Gospel of Christ to our remembrance (John 14:26), we can see that through Him the saints of God are led into fuller faith, while through His convicting power sinners are moved to accept the faith brought to sinful men through the preaching of the Word.
5. Through the Example of Others.--“be thou an example of the believers” (1 Tim. 4:12). As your faith becomes stronger through the influence of others, so your influence over others will strengthen or weaken their faith, depending upon the kind of example that you are.
WHAT FAITH WILL DO
Faith is the key that unlocks the door to all the blessings of a saved life. Christ sums it all up when He says, “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned” (Mark 16:16).
1. It will assure us salvation.--“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). Read also (John 3:16; Rom. 3:28; 5:1).
2. It will assure us a place in the family of God.--“as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name” (John 1:12). “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:26).
3. It will insure our justification.--“by him all that believe are justified” (Acts 13:39). “we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds” (Rom. 3:28).
4. It will bring joy and peace.--“though now we see him not, yet believing, we rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8). “being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1).
5. It will secure healing for the body.--“the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up” (Jas. 5:13-15). You must believe that the day of miracles, even in the healing of the body, is not past.
6. It will afford a shield to the Christian.--“Above all, taking the shield of faith, where with ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16).
7. It will put an end to boasting.--“Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.” (Rom. 3:27).
8. The Christian is guided through faith.--“(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)” (2 Cor. 5:7). Walking by sight, we walk “according to this world.” Walking by faith, our heavenward steps are directed by our trust in God.
9. It will sanctify us.--“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light,... that they may receive forgiveness of sins, . . . them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.” (Acts 26:18).
10. It will bind us to God.--“In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” (Eph. 1:13). Read also (1 Pet. 1:5).
11. It will assure us divine spiritual power from God.--“If ye have faith . . . ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove . . . and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” (Matt. 17:20). “all things are possible to him that believeth.” (Mark 9:23). There is an inseparable connection between faith and power. Mountains of difficulty “will” vanish before the power of the prayer of faith. Your “will” to believe will activate the power that is in you by the Holy Spirit that lives within you. BELIEVE!!!
12. It will assure us OVERCOMING power.--“this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” “Who is he that overcometh the world, . . . he that believeth” (1 John 5:4, 5).
James presents the practical side of faith when he reminds us that “faith without works is dead.” It is easier to say, “I believe,” than it is to demonstrate this belief in actual trial or test. So long as there were only loaves and fishes to hand out everybody seemed to believe on Jesus; but when He preached His Bread of Life Sermon (John 6:26, 38, 64) which put people to the actual test it is said that “many of his disciples went back and walked no more with him.” (John 6:41, 42, 60, 66). Their faith had been tried, and found wanting. You should read all of (John 6).
What is the object of your faith? The proof is that even when we do have faith in Jesus, that faith will sometimes be affected by circumstances around us. Our prayers must be presented in faith. Even if we do possess a sincere faith, this does not mean that it will not be tested. And even if we have a deep faith and are persistent in our prayers, God’s will must always be considered (1 John 5:14). When God is silent, persist in faith!
THE TRIAL OF OUR FAITH
1. Proves the genuineness of our profession. Christ’s searching sermon on the Bread of Life resulted in a culling out of the faithless disciples. The faithful ones remained with Him; the rest “went back.” Another example is furnished in the story of Ruth. She stood the test, went all the way with Naomi, while Orpah, much as she would have liked to go along, turned back when she was brought face to face with all that going along would mean. So today there is a sifting out of the unfaithful among church members in every time of great opposition or temptation, in which case the faithful ones remain while the unfaithful ones become backsliders.
2. “Worketh patience.” James’ testimony, “the trying of your faith worketh patience” (Jas. 1:3), is often verified in the lives of Christian people. There is a refining power in the trials of life which burn out the dross and brings out the best that is in man. So you should “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations” (Jas. 1:2), knowing that God will supply His grace “that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13), and that every trial when endured adds to the richness of our lives and usefulness in the service of God and men.
3. When endured, it insures the crown of life. They who stand the test can say with Paul in the end, “Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day” (2 Tim. 4:7, 8).
THE CHRISTIAN’S ATTITUDE TOWARD FAITH
What should be your attitude (as a Christian) towards faith? Turning to the Word we should:
1. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ” (Acts 16:31). This Scripture has been considered before as a condition for salvation. We now submit it for your consideration as a Christian duty. Obey this commandment, and you will naturally comply with all the requirements of the Christian faith. It binds us to Christ in His threefold character:
(1) “Lord”--our Master, in authority over us in all things; (2) “Jesus”--the Man from Galilee, Who was born of a woman, and came in the flesh as the Man-God;
(3) “Christ”--the anointed of God. If your faith includes an acceptance of Christ in this threefold sense, you have met all the requirements of the Christian faith.
2. “Contend earnestly for the faith” (Jude 3). It is not enough that we simply believe; we are exhorted to promulgate this belief. This attitude is admirably exemplified in (Luke 1:1-4) and this is why I write to “you.” We prove the sincerity of our faith in Jesus by faithfully supporting His Gospel and making it known to others.
3. “Stand fast in the faith” (1 Cor. 16:13). This suggests several thoughts:
(1) Having accepted the faith of Jesus, stick to it--“stand fast.” (2) While others fall away, be sure that you “stand fast,” be “unmoveable” (1 Cor. 15:58). (3) Do not give it passive assent only, but embrace it with your whole heart--“stand fast.” (4) Let your steadfastness be in “the faith,” not the doctrines of man.
Lest any one might get the idea that faith in the abstract--without a thought of obedience--is sufficient, let us remember this warning from God through James: “Faith without works is dead.”
4. “be thou an example . . . . in faith” (1 Tim. 4:12). Your obligations do not end with yourself, but extend to others also. Let your example be such as to encourage others to accept the faith, and live it.
5. “Continue in the faith” (Col. 1:23; 1 Tim. 2:15). The faith of Jesus Christ is not intended for temporary service but for a continuance unto the end. One of the most important words connected with Christian life and service is the word CONTINUE.
6. “Lord, increase our faith” (Luke 17:5). Where this is our daily prayer we will not be disappointed.
Faith is power! Faith is strength! Faith is what you need to Live in Victory! Peace! to you.
Minister George Condry
(Jeremiah 3:15)
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