What is it, how do we think of it, what is the importance of it.
Faith: (common verses)
Heb 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Heb 11:1
Only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of realities that are unseen. (NJB)Ro 10:17
So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Faith in what?
-Yeshua (Jesus)
Joh 20:31
But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.-God sent Yeshua
Joh 17:21
That they all may be one; as thou, Father, [art] in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me.-Eternal life
Mr 16:16
He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.Joh 3:15
That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.Joh 11:26
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?-Things we ask for "properly"
1Jo 3:22
And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.Jas 4:3
Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume [it] upon your lusts.Fundamental:
Faith in God is part of the fundamental teaching, but do we really fully understand and have we mastered it?
Heb 6:1
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,Tense:
Noun?, Verb?, Adjective? (Could it be all 3?)Synonym: TRUST, BELIEF
Antonym: FEAR, UNBELIEF
(Do we realize that being fearful shows a lack of faith?)
Mr 4:40
And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?Mt 6:30
Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, [shall he] not much more [clothe] you, O ye of little faith?Mt 8:26
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.Faith can be increased.
Pray for an increased faith.
Lu 17:5
And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.2Th 1:3
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;Mr 9:24
And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.We receive according to our Faith
.Maybe our lack of healing etc. is due to our lack of faith?
Mt 9:22
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.Mt 9:29
Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.Mt 8:13
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.Mt 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.IMPORTANT!! Do not doubt!
I think this section is key and the main reason for this topic discussion. We can not afford to doubt, especially in the tough times ahead. Do we realize how costly doubt is to our promises? Do we truly believe?
Heb 10:23
Let us hold fast the profession of [our] faith without wavering; (for he [is] faithful that promised;)Heb 10:38-39
Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. We are not the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; we are the sort who keep faith until our souls are saved.Heb 11:6
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.Jas 1:5-8
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all [men] liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.Ro 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;Is lack of faith a sin?
Ro 14:23
And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because [he eateth] not of faith: for whatsoever [is] not of faith is sin.Joh 16:9
Of sin, because they believe not on me;Power of true faith:
These are tremendous promises, do we have this faith?
Mr 9:23
Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things [are] possible to him that believeth.Mr 11:24
Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them].Mt 17:20
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.Mr 11:23
For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.Jas 5:15
And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.Where does faith come from, where can we look to for an example?
Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.the champion who initiates and perfects our faith .
(NLT)who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection:
(NJB)Faith is a gift?
Eph 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: [it is] the gift of God:1Pe 1:9
Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your] souls.Ga 5:22
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Way of life:
Hab 2:4
Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.Ge 15:6
And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.1Co 15:14
And if Christ be not risen, then [is] our preaching vain, and your faith [is] also vain.Faith in Action: (acting on) (works of faith, different then works of the law?)
Galatians shows that we are not justified by works of the law, James is iterating the importance of works to show faith, is this a different type of work? Works of law vs works of faith? (Ga 2:16 vs Jas 2:24) I think the importance here from James is "acting on" our faith, not having an idle or purely mental faith..
Ga 2:16
Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.Jas 2:14
What [doth it] profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?Jas 2:17
Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.Jas 2:20
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?Jas 2:22
Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?Jas 2:18
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.Jas 2:24
Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.Jas 2:26
For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.Heb 11:30
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.Jas 1:3
Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience.Do we have the fruit of faith?
It seems to me that most of us are lacking in faith. Especially in regards to John 14:12 How do we get this kind of faith. This might be a gift via outpouring of the spirit. The disciples were full of fear and somewhat impotent before Pentecost, or are we simply filled with doubt and unbelief?
Mr 16:17
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;Joh 14:12
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works] than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
Conclusion:
Faith can be simple, yet complex. It is more than just believing that Yeshua is the Son of God. It is a way of life that bears fruit. It is something that is evidenced by the way we walk and the things we do. We should do things a certain way because we believe, even if it be contradictory to physical evidence. We cant afford to doubt as this jeopardizes our belief and renders faith void, we should then expect nothing. Yeshua is our example of walking in faith. True faith is not weak but powerful, from healing the sick to moving mountains. The finality of faith is eternal life.
(NOTE: This is just a partial examination on faith, there is still much to learn and grow in.)