Critical Questions 2

Is your faith the result of a cultural or family tradition — something you were raised with — or because you know it makes your girlfriend happy, or because your seminary scholarship depends on it, or because you live in a religious society where it's advantageous to be a "Christian?"Deep down, what do you really believe? Is following Jesus your decision, or are you vicariously living out Christianity because of an allegiance to someone — or something — else?

What is Faith?

Hebrews 11:1 KJV 1900

1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Three dimensions of Faith

Covenantal

Epistemological

Eschatological

Covenantal

Covenant is central to the language and culture of the Bible especially the Old Testament.

This faith is demonstrated in proper stewardship of the bond established by covenant agreement

Faith is not an exercise but a command with full expectation of fidelity and trust.

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Joshua 24:14 KJV 1900

14 Now therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the Lord.

Joshua 24:14 NRSV

14 “Now therefore revere the Lord, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods that your ancestors served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

Epistemological

2 Corinthians 5:7 KJV 1900

7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

This faith enables the believer to interpret the world in a godly way.

It give fresh perspective on life and the challenges we face.

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Romans 5:3–5 KJV 1900

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Eschatological

1 Corinthians 4:5 KJV 1900

5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.

This faith is connected Christian hope.

This is a clear understanding that all hidden things will be revealed when Christ returns.

The destiny of both the wicked and the righteous.

The body of Christ is the present reality of this hope.

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Psalm 73:17 KJV 1900

17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; Then understood I their end.

Lamentations 3:22 KJV 1900

22 It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.

Old Testament Faith

Much of what is taught about faith is based upon distinctives made in the New Testament.

Remember New testament teaching is built on the foundation of the Old Testament.

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The Lexham Bible Dictionary The Concept of “Faith” in the Old Testament

Hebrew words:

1. אמן ('mn), “trust” or “reliability.”

2. אֱמוּנָה (emunah), “trust” or “reliability.” In contexts related to human relationships, this term “often refers to those who have the capacity to remain stable (i.e., faithful) amid the unsettling circumstances of life, realizing God’s truth has established them” (Wilson, 183). For example, the term is used of Moses’ hands as Aaron and Hur supported him on the hill at Rephidim (Exod 17:12). Thus, his hands were firm, steady, and reliable.

3. אֱמֶת (emeth), “faithfulness” or “truth.” Sakenfeld glosses this term as “loyalty” when it regards covenantal relationship and defines it as demonstrated loyalty, or “faithfulness in action.” The term frequently appears alongside the Hebrew term for “lovingkindness”(חֶ֫סֶד, chesed) in describing Israel’s God (e.g., Gen 32:10; Neh 9:17; Pss 25:10; 86:15; 98:3).

Hebrew terms

++‘mn and emunah means _trust or reliability_

++emeth means _Faithfulness or truth_

++emeth can also mean _loyalty_

Greek word _Pistis_

++Conviction, Commitment

++Faithfulness

++Guarantee, security

++Trueness

Matthew 8:13 KJV 1900

13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

Matthew 9:29 KJV 1900

29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

How did this faith become their faith?

Romans 10:17 KJV 1900

17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

The Foundation of Faith

++Hearing

++and Hearing

The Focus of faith

++That which comes by the word of God

++Closeness, Intimacy, knowledge

Proverbs 2:1–5 KJV 1900

1 My son, if thou wilt receive my words, And hide my commandments with thee; 2 So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, And apply thine heart to understanding; 3 Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, And liftest up thy voice for understanding; 4 If thou seekest her as silver, And searchest for her as for hid treasures; 5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.

The text speak of three objectives of the word

++Getting Wisdom

++Knowledge

++Understanding

To get the most from the Word we must

++Receive the word

++Re-tune our ears to Biblical wisdom

++Apply Biblical understanding to our heart

++Desire Biblical knowledge more than riches

2 Timothy 1:3–7 KJV 1900

3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day; 4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy; 5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also. 6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. 7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Who was responsible for Timothy’s Faith?

My Faith?

My faith?

Contributors to faith

++Forefathers

++Grandmother

++Mother

++Faith is passed on

Proverbs 22:6 KJV 1900

6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.

What does training do?

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Why invest time training a child?

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2 Timothy 4:3 KJV 1900

3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Judges 2:7–10 KJV 1900

7 And the people served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the Lord, that he did for Israel. 8 And Joshua the son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, died, being an hundred and ten years old. 9 And they buried him in the border of his inheritance in Timnath-heres, in the mount of Ephraim, on the north side of the hill Gaash. 10 And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the Lord, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.

Judges 2:12 KJV 1900

12 And they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, which brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods, of the gods of the people that were round about them, and bowed themselves unto them, and provoked the Lord to anger.

Judges 2:13 KJV 1900

13 And they forsook the Lord, and served Baal and Ashtaroth.

Romans 15:4 KJV 1900

4 For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

2 Timothy 1:3–7 KJV 1900

The Personal nature of Paul’s writing cannot be underestimated.

Personal

6 times he used I Statement

6 times he used thee (You) Statments

3 times He used my statements

1 time He spoke and us statement

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