What is Faith
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Intro
Intro
The bible is important because it is a good place for us to start
it helps us to understand what s neccessary to be saved from the consequence of our disobedience to God
It is as paul would say in Romans 1:16 the power of god unto salvation
It will make you wise for salvation through faith
Notice in Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”
and 2 Timothy 3:15
15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
The Word of God is essential to salvation but one thing is required for salvation
What is it faith!!!
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
By grace we have been saved through faith
Through our faith in christ we are saved
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
So what does it mean to have faith
It seems like an easy thing
just have faith ok I believe so i’m in correct
If you have been here for any length of time you probably know its not that easy
Faith is not just ok i believe you so now everything is ok
Faith is something that starts as hope and grows into steadfast assurance the God saves his people through the death and resurrection of his son
What is faith?
What is faith?
Read Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
The bible tells us what faith is
it is the assurance of things hoped for
The conviction of things unseen
Two parts of faith first the assurance of things hoped for
Ok what is this
What does it mean the assurance of things hoped for
Lets look down a little bit in this chapter
The hall of faith
Read Hebrews 11:6
6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for
What are we hoping for
That God would reward those who seek him
That God would save those believe in him
so our faith is really the assurance that these things will happen
Faith is when we are confident that God will do what he says he will do
The faith ath saves us is the faith that no matter what happens God will save his people
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen
The conviction of things unseen
Paul is doubling down here on the confidence that faith requires
Not only is it being assured of the things you hoped for,
But also the conviction of things unseen
This is the next level confidence that God will do what he said he will do
assurance helps us conviction makes us act on hope
Conviction is required for faith
Why because many will try to pursuade you otherwise you must be convicted of the truth
You must hold so tightly that no one can move you
Lets go down further in Hebrews 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back.
Abraham was a man who was convicted about the things unseen
He acted on his faith
because he was convinced there was no way to change his mind
Because he trusted God so much
Faith is being sure of the things we hoped for that salvation comes from God through his son and the conviction that God did exactly that
So that is a little more than just saying ok I believe something
But this is I believe that and because of that my whole life is different
Because I believe this I must live and act differently
How does faith change us?
How does faith change us?
Read James 2:14
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
What so we arent saved by faith alone then we need works right?
absolutely not
But the fact is faith does not require works but it produces works
This is why its not that simple ok i believe it, but I because I believe God my entire being is different
Thats what James is saying here
What good is a faith divorced from action?
Its a dead faith
Faith without works is not real faith at all
If we really believed something would we not act like it
The challenge in our world today is people seem to have these deeply heald beliefs that they are convinced of
but how much do they believe them
when the next crisis shows up do they change their mind
Do they get distracted by the next big thing
Matt Walsh and reperations
Well its not something I need to do but the government so other thing should do
No if we believe we will act on it
If I believe someone is wrong I will work to prove that
Faith requires us to have action other wise its just empty words
Abraham was a man of faith in fact it was said that abraham believed god and it was counted to him as righteousness before he went to sacrifce issac
But his faith was tested and proved genuine by his action
Abraham was told by God to do sometihng and he acted on it because he had faith that God would fulfill his promise even if it meant he had to raise his son from the dead
So faith is not just a belief but actions spurred out of that belief
Because I have faith I will obey
Because of my faith I will give up those friend
Because of my faith I will delete that app
Because of my faith I will talk to that person
Because of my faith I will give up this college for that one
Because of my faith I will act…
Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things unseen and because of this I will live my life accordingly
