Lesson 2: Faith in God

Intro

continuing our series, Elementary

As we go through this series, I want to emphasize that the truths we are looking at are fundamental, but not necessarily simple. As I was preparing for this morning, I realized just how big some of these truths are, and it is no wonder some Christians don’t have a firm grasp of these things.

before we dive in, I want to let Redvers and everyone online know that next week we have the privilege and honor of having Dr. Jeromey Martini come to share. Dr. Martini is the president of Horizon College and Seminary. He was also very involved over the last several years as the PAOC refined our statement of essential truths. It is always exciting when we can have someone like Jeromey come and share. As such, we will not be having service in Redvers. We would like everyone to come here and listen, which also saves us a step as next week is also potluck sunday.

so that is next week, this week we diving into lesson 2: faith in God

Hebrews 6:1 NLT

So let us stop going over the basic teachings about Christ again and again. Let us go on instead and become mature in our understanding. Surely we don’t need to start again with the fundamental importance of repenting from evil deeds and placing our faith in God.

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What is faith?

according to the Lexham Theological Workbook says, “Faith refers to a sense of trust, guiding belief, faithfulness, and often a committed sense of loyalty.”

The Lexham Bible Dictionary adds, “Reliance upon and trust in God; a central emphasis of Christianity.”

So both sources mention trust, with faithfulness, loyatly, and reliance added in there

I want you to hold onto that word trust, because it is going to be important as move through this idea of faith.

If we go to scripture and try to unpack faith, we learn that there are 3 distinct aspects about faith, and I believe that this is what causes confusion about faith. Because is a big idea, we can often try to simplify and inadvertently miss a key aspect of it

so to help us unpack the idea of faith, we are going to go to the faith chapter, which just so happens to be found in Hebrews as well. Hebrews 11 is where we will be, and I appreciate what the author has done here. Instead of trying to unpack faith, he insteads walks through scripture and shows faith in action in the lives of key people in the history of the bible

Hebrews 11:1–2 NLT

Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Through their faith, the people in days of old earned a good reputation.

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3 Aspects of Faith

believe it not, all three aspects of faith are laid out here in these two verses. So let’s take a moment and unpack everything that just happened in these two verses.

Eschatalogical Faith (Faith in an unseen future)

one of the things that we hope for as Christians is eternity in heaven. When we declare with our mouth and believe in our heart that Jesus is Lord, we are saved from sin and saved for eternity in God’s presence. We can’t see the future, but we hope for it, and our faith or trust in God is what substantiates that hope. Why? Because when we read through Scripture, these are the things that God promises to do for us. Jesus said He was preparing a place for us in heaven. Our hope is that one day we will get to enjoy that place. What is that hope founded on? That if Jesus said He was preparing a place, a place is waiting for us. We trust Jesus at His word.

Jesus also talked extensively that there is a Kingdom of God that is coming. Again, I want to see this kingdom, even though it is a future kingdom that I hope to see one day. What is my hope founded on? It is founded on the words of Jesus, that the kingdom of God is going to be everything He promised it would be. We have hope because of the faith that we have.

2. Epistemological Faith (Faith in what we cannot see)

No one has ever seen God. Even when Moses went up on Mount SInai, God covered the mouth of the cave Moses was in when God walked past because if Moses had seen Him, he would’ve died.

Jesus told Thomas that even though he believed that Jesus had risen from the dead because he had seen, blessed are those who believe and have not seen.

we believe in a God we have not seen because of our faith. But it is so much more then that. Paul says this

2 Corinthians 5:7 NLT

For we live by believing and not by seeing.

Paul isn’t talking about blind faith; he is talking about the ability to see the world in a way the rest of world is ignorant of. Have you ever wondered why you can look at a situation and clearly see that God is at work in that situation, even though others can’t? Have you ever wondered why when you look at creation, you can see order, purpose, and design in it, where the rest of the world only sees chaos? It is by our faith that we can see God at work; we can see the world for what it truly is.

It is our faith that allows us to believe and trust in a God who we cannot see.

3. Covenantal Faith (Faith demonstrated through obedience)

in order to understand this one, I want you to picture a wedding ceremony. Imagine yours if it will help you visualize. At some point in the service, the bride and groom make vows or promises to each other. Sometimes these are pre-written, and sometimes these are personal. The point of the vows is to make promises of committment to one another. I forsake all others, and I will love and care for you, in richer or poorer, sickness and health, as long as we both shall live.

When these vows are made, there is a certain degree of expectations that these are not just empty words, but they will actually be lived out. Becuase of the committment made, there is now a life to be lived in light of the commitment.

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This is the relationship aspect of faith. When we declare Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we enter into a covenant relationship with God. He is our Father, we are His children. As such, our Father has made all kinds of promises and commitments to us. He forgive us, make us new, send us His Holy Spirit, and open eternity to us. That is a VERY abbreviated list of God’s promises to you. In turn, there is an expectation that we will live a sanctified life unto God. We will follow the teachings of Jesus, we will live free of sin in our life, and we will do the good works that God has called us to do. Just as God has entered into covenant with us, and will not fail to live up to His promises, it is up to us to trust Him and live accordingly.

that is the super technical side of faith, but lets keep reading through Hebrews 11 and see these 3 aspects at work.

Hebrews 11:3 NLT

By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

this is the faith in what we cannot see. Romans 1 tells us that all of creation is a testimony of God’s divine attributes. What we can see is evidence of the God we cannot see. Why? Because God’s finger prints are all over His handiwork.

Hebrews 11:4 NLT

It was by faith that Abel brought a more acceptable offering to God than Cain did. Abel’s offering gave evidence that he was a righteous man, and God showed his approval of his gifts. Although Abel is long dead, he still speaks to us by his example of faith.

this is faith through obedience. Abel understood that all good things come from God, and as an act of faith, he did not withhold giving some of that goodness back to God. Why? Because he knew that if God had been good to him once, there was a good chance God would continue to be good to him.

Hebrews 11:5–6 NLT

It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God. And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.

Again, faith through obedience. Enoch walked with God, learned God’s ways and lived accordingly.

the author throws in faith in what we cannot see and faith in an unseen future. We have faith that God is really there and He rewards or blesses those who seek Him out.

Hebrews 11:7 NLT

It was by faith that Noah built a large boat to save his family from the flood. He obeyed God, who warned him about things that had never happened before. By his faith Noah condemned the rest of the world, and he received the righteousness that comes by faith.

This is faith in unseen future. Remember, at this point in history, it had not rained on the earth. The concept of a flood was unheard of, yet Noah built a boat believing that God would do what He said He was going to do.

You could also make an argument for faith through obedience here too. He did because God told him to

Hebrews 11:8–10 NLT

It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.

Faith in an unseen future. God told him that he would inherit this land, yet he never stopped living in tents. God told him the land would be his and his descendents, even though he didn’t have a kid of his own and he never built a permenant structure to enjoy it.

Hebrews 11:11–12 NLT

It was by faith that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so a whole nation came from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to count them.

You could make an argument for a couple aspects, but this is faith in the unseen. Never before had a 90 year old woman had a child, yet Sarah believed that God was at work and would make it happen.

Hebrews 11:13–16 NLT

All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

Obviously this is an unseen future. They all lived in light that the land would be theirs, and it would be divine, built by God Himself. What the author of Hebrews is suggesting is one step further; that these people actually longed for the Kingdom of God to come to earth; not just a man made kingdom, but a truly divine kingdom.

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So What?

what difference does understanding faith make? It has huge implications for you and I

It is a reminder that we have a covenant relationship with Christ, and that we live in obedience to Christ because of everything He has done and continues to do for us. It is a two way street

It is a reminder that we have a divine perception, that we can see God at work even though others may not. In fact, we should seek to see the world in a way others don’t. We should want to see God at work

It is a reminder to never lose hope. You have been promised a great future, an eternal life that is full of blessing and calling. You may not see it not, but don’t lose heart. God has promised it to us, and we can trust in Him to accomplish everything He says He will accomplish.

what difference does it make? When we understand what faith is and how it impacts our life, it changes everything.