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Faith
January 4, 2020

With the start of a new secular year, begins the quest for that which is new and better. We will use this focus of time today to consider faith, and over the next several weeks will consider how to grow faith. We know in 2 Peter 1:4-10, that we are called to a life that allows us to escape the corruption in this world and that our escape is based on faith, and that other spiritual elements must be added to faith. Today's Bible study on Faith is joined by a companion sermon and sermon transcript.

We are of called of God and have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Even though we live in a physical body, we are called to have a spiritual life. Because we live in a physical body, we are limited to understanding and knowledge through our five senses, unless there is faith. Though through reading of the scriptures and the use of our senses we have developed a knowledge of God, it is through faith that we must believe that God is and that Jesus Christ is His son and our Savior. We have a spiritual relationship with God and Jesus Christ that is based on faith and in our life, faith must be the foundation of everything that we do.

The definition of faith and Old Testament examples of faith are given to us in the Book of Hebrews. Faith is the essence of things and basis of what we hope for. And it’s also based on something we have not yet seen. As we read the stories of faith we need to realize that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. That means we cannot give up in our quest for God. Once we begin this quest for God, we cannot go back to our prior life.

When we read Hebrews eleven, and we’re reminded of all these acts of faith, we need to be mindful of how our actions might be thought of in the future. There will be this future time of judgment, judgment may now be on the house of God, but this judgment will be rendered at this future date. What will God and Jesus Christ say of our actions today? Will our actions today be thought of as acts of faith, or will our actions today be thought of as acts of disbelief? We need to make sure what we do in life is based in faith.

Hebrews 11:1-40
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Of whom the world was not worthy; they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

Faith at its core is a belief that Jesus is our savior, and that belief leads us love Jesus Christ and other people. In his first epistle, John reminds us that in order to love Jesus Christ and other people, we have to love God and keep His commands. He also reminds us that it is our faith that will help us overcome this world. In the end when we overcome the world, it is because of our faith. We are not overcome by this world, we do not succumb to the evils of this world. Faith is our anchor that we can latch onto in a rough sea. Faith is a guide post as we walk through life, and as long as we see that guide post of faith we know where we are in relationship to our calling. Faith is not something that we can ignore. Salvation does not come simply to us because we are more stubborn than the evils of this world. We are saved because of our faith, and our ability to understand that Jesus is our Messiah and savior, and that we love God and keep His commandments.

Without faith, without understanding that Jesus is the son of God, the Messiah, that he is our Savior, there would be no opportunity for us to overcome this world, and there would be no opportunity for us to be spiritually saved.

1 John 1:1-5
Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

A mistake that people make with faith is they think nothing else is required. Faith must have works, or it is dead. In the Book of James, an example of feeding the homeless is given to us as a figurative example of faith. Many become confused and look at James 2:15-17 and conclude faith is solely evidenced by caring for the needy. People of faith will take care of those in need as they are able to do so. Verses 15-17 are given to us an example to show that faith must also have works. The works that James writes about is obedience to God. In verses 21-22, James shows that Abraham had faith because he obeyed God, and likewise Rahab had faith because she saw that God was behind the children of Israel, and she chose to support the Israelites.

James 2:14-26
What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things we have not seen. We know that the stories of the Old Testament are there and can be looked at to see how faith played an important part in the lives of the patriarchs and matriarchs of the Old Testament. We know that it is our faith in Jesus Christ that will help us overcome the world. We also know that faith is the very baseline in our relationship with Jesus Christ and God the Father, and that faith without works is dead.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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