28/08/2020
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)
“Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:8b)
Believing The Truth
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Faith is believing in what is true. Faith has two elements: 1) being convinced of the truth, being certain of reality, having evidence of unseen things, and 2) believing, hoping in, embracing, seizing the truth.
God designed a way to distinguish between those who belong to Him and those who don’t, calling it faith. God tells us that it pleases Him that we believe in Him even though we cannot see Him. A key part of Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” This is not to say that we have faith in God just to get something from Him. However, God loves to bless those who trust in Him. We see a perfect example of this in Luke 7:50. Jesus spoke with a sinful woman when He gave us a glimpse of why faith is so rewarding. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The woman believed in Jesus Christ by faith, and He rewarded her for it.
Finally, faith is what sustains us to the end, knowing that by faith we will be in heaven with God for all eternity. “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8 - 9)
The Way of True Faith
The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:25 - 28)
“And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:30 - 31)
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)
Hebrews chapter 11 is often called the "Faith Hall of Fame." In this notable passage, the writer of Hebrews introduces an impressive list of heroic characters from the Old Testament. By faith Abel offered a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord (v. 4); by faith Noah prepared the ark in a time when rain was unknown (v. 7); by faith Abraham left his home and obeyed God’s command to go he knew not where, then willingly offered up his only son (vv. 8-10, 17); by faith Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (vv. 23-29); by faith Rahab received the spies of Israel and saved her life (v. 31). Many more heroes of the faith are mentioned “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” (vv. 33 - 34). Clearly, the existence of their faith was demonstrated by their actions, and God, with His miraculous responses time after time, validated their faith in Him.
These men and women and their stories stand out to encourage and challenge our faith. Like the 12 disciples, they were ordinary people, just like you and me. They became heroes of faith by overcoming their doubts and putting their trust wholly in God. The same holds true today. By trusting wholly in God through faith in Jesus Christ, believers are saved from God's judgment of sin and its consequence. By faith through God's grace, Christians are forgiven. We receive the gift of salvation by faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. And then, by God's grace, we go on to become heroes of faith by following the Lord into ever greater adventures in faith.
“For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” (2 Timothy 1:12 - 14)
But Beware of New-Age Faith
“They have envisioned futility and false divination, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord!’ But the Lord has not sent them; yet they hope that the word may be confirmed.” (Ezekiel 13:6)
Contrary to some popular teaching, faith is not mental delusion, presumption or self-deception, but a work of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. A.W. Tozer wrote: "I do not recall another period when "faith" was as popular as it is today. If only we believe hard enough we'll make it somehow. So goes the popular chant, "Only believe". What is overlooked in all this is that faith is good only when it engages truth; when it is made to rest upon falsehood it can and often does lead to eternal tragedy. For it is not enough that we believe; we must believe the right thing about the right One."
Jesus answered and said to them: “Take heed that no one deceives you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many.” (Matthew 24:4 - 5)
Belief detached from the truth is not faith. Believing in "the word of your own imagination" is deception pure and simple. Calling this deception "faith" does not make it so.
True Faith is Essential to Christianity
And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
(Luke 17:5)
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” (James 1:2 - 8 )
Without demonstrating faith and trust in God, we have no place with Him. Many people have a vague, disjointed notion of who God is, and lack the true faith needed to have an eternal relationship with Him. Our faith may falter at times, but He provides times of trial and testing in order to sharpen and strengthen it. This is why James tells us to consider it “pure joy” when we fall into trials, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance and matures us, giving us the evidence that our faith is based in TRUTH.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 1:6 - 7)
