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Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.
(John 4:14) |
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And he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb (Rev 22:1) |
For His Glory!
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What are some of the Fundamentals of the Church? Defining Faith Part One
Yeshua (Jesus) is building His Church Matt 16:16-18 (NKJV unless indicated) Thus, in Scripture, "church" = "Of or belonging to the Lord" This series of lessons is based on the definition of "The Church", taken from the International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE: J. C. Lambert’s commentary).church: IV. THE NOTES OF THE CHURCH 1. Faith 2. Fellowship 3. Unity 4. Consecration 5. Power
1. Faith: Although a systematic doctrine of the church is neither to be found nor to be looked for in the New Testament, certain characteristic notes or features of the Christian society are brought before us from which we can form some conception as to its nature. The fundamental note is faith. **** Faith Part One Faith is a key that is easy to say but difficult to define. As believers how do we relate to this vital concept? Keep in mind that some translations substitute other words for faith; such as; Trust; Belief; Believe; Reliance; Confidence; Fidelity; etc. How would you define faith by using the following Scriptures? Rom 10:17 (NKJV unless indicated) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.James 2:26 … faith without works is dead.2Pet 1:1 … received a faith … given through the saving justice of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.Rom 12:3 … as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.Hebrews 11:33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness…2Cor 5:7 for we walk by faith, not by sight --Matt 14:31 … "O you of little faith, why did you doubt?"Matt 21:21 … if you have faith, and do not doubt, … it shall happen.Rom 14:23 But he who doubts … and whatever is not from faith is sin.Acts 14:9 … and had seen that he had faith to be made well,Luke 18:42 And Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your faith has made you well."Matt 17:20 And He said to them, "Because of the littleness of your faith; …Matt 15:28 … your faith is great; be it done for you as you wish." …Rom 14:1 Now accept the one who is weak in faith…Rom 12:6 And since we have gifts that differ … according to the proportion of his faith;Heb 4:2 … the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.Acts 3:16 "And on the basis of faith in His name, it is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.Luke 8:25 And He said to them, "Where is your faith? " …Therefore we say… Luke 17:5 … to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"Mark 9:24 … "I believe; help my unbelief!"**** That which will remain… All that is in part, will be done away when the Perfect comes; - Yet these remain 1Cor 13:13 … faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,**** In the Hebrew Scriptures (OT) the word Faith appears only twice in most English versions; however faithfulness, faithful, faithfully, faithless etc., total 94 times (NKJV).Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry. 4 Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.In the Greek (NT) the word "faith" appears 278 times. **** Why Faith? Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.Probably the best definition of Faith is given to us in Hebrews 11; I call it… "Faith’s hall of Fame". Heb 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. 3 By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.Please prayerfully read all of Hebrews 11 and ask the Lord for a better understanding of faith as it is the main tenant of His Church and will last forever. Comments and quotes about faith: "As Revelation deals with spiritual and invisible things exclusively, faith is the faculty needed by us, since it is the evidence of things not seen . By faith we venture our eternal interests on the bare word of God, and this is altogether reasonable." (JFB on Heb 10:1)Thus "faith" is our side of union with Christ. (ISBE Handley Dunelm) The main elements in "faith" in its relation to the invisible God… (Vine) "What is faith? Faith is my acceptance of God as fact. It always has its foundations in the past. What relates to the future is hope rather than faith, although faith often has its object or goal in the future, as in Hebrews 11." "Faith always says, `God has done it'." "This is faith -- to believe that you have already got it. Only that which relates to the past is faith in this sense. Those who say `God can' or `God may' or `God must' or `God will' do not necessarily believe at all." Gill - but that faith which is the faith of God's elect, the gift of his grace, and the operation of his power; which sees the Son, goes to him, ventures on him, trusts in him, lives upon him, and works by love to him. JFB - "The common salvation . . . the faith once delivered unto the saints" (Jud 1:3). Be fully persuaded - (study notes on Belief and Faith). Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true (Phil. 1:27; 2 Thess. 2:13). Its primary idea is trust. A thing is true, and therefore worthy of trust. (Easton) Faith is the result of teaching God’s Word. Taken from Webster’s 1828 dictionary FAITH, n. [L. fides, fido, to trust; Gr. to persuade, to draw towards anything, to conciliate; to believe, to obey.
The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence, exercised towards the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior.
**** Faith = Trust From ISBE (only select portions) …"faith" normally means "reliance," "trust." Thus "faith" is our side of union with Christ. And thus it is our means of possessing all His benefits, pardon, justification, purification, life, peace, glory. Handley Dunelm In the (OT) we find the word "Trust" mentioned 146 times (KJV). Ps 56:3 KJV Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.Ps 56:4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?Jer 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, And whose hope is the LORD. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, Which spreads out its roots by the river, And will not fear when heat comes; But its leaf will be green, And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit.Prov 3:3 CJB Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, 4 And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.Trust - In the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) version the writers translate the Greek word ‘Faith’ using the word ‘Trust’ or trusted, trustworthy, entrusted, trusting etc.Trust in NT (CJB) is used 384 times i.e. Acts 3:16 And it is through putting trust in his name that his name has given strength to this man whom you see and know. Yes, it is the trust that comes through Yeshua which has given him this perfect healing in the presence of you all.Cor 2:5 so that your trust might not rest on human wisdom but on God's power.2Cor 5:7 for we live by trust, not by what we see.Heb 11:6 And without trusting, it is impossible to be well pleasing to God…Jas 1:3 for you know that the testing of your trust produces perseverance.1Pet 1:5 Meanwhile, through trusting, you are being protected by God's power for a deliverance ready to be revealed at the Last Time.1Pet 1:21 Through him you trust in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory; so that your trust and hope are in God.1John 3:23 This is his command: that we are to trust in the person and power of his Son Yeshua the Messiah and to keep loving one another, just as he commanded us.Rev 22:6 Then he said to me, "These words are true and trustworthy…**** Is faith something we conjure up in our mind? No! Then how do we obtain Faith? For Trust or Faith, is Given, Received, or Granted. 2Pet 1:1 KJV Simon Peter, servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith as precious as our own, given through the saving justice of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ.NET 2Pet 1:1 From Simeon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, have been granted a faith just as precious as ours.NLT - 2Pet 1:1 This letter is from Simon Peter, a slave and apostle of Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you who share the same precious faith we have, faith given to us by Jesus Christ, our God and Savior, who makes us right with God.Commentary: Clark - With us] God having given to you-believing Gentiles, the same faith and salvation which he had given to us-believing Jews. Gill - but that faith which is the faith of God's elect, the gift of his grace, and the operation of his power; which sees the Son, goes to him, ventures on him, trusts in him, lives upon him, and works by love to him. JFB - "The common salvation . . . the faith once delivered unto the saints" ( Jud 1:3).**** A Lesson in doubt, unbelief and the lack of sufficient faith from Mark 9 Mark 9:23-24 And Jesus said to him, "'If You can!' All things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the boy's father cried out and began saying, "I do believe; help my unbelief."The NJB reads: Mark 9:24 … ‘I have faith. Help my lack of faith!’CBJ Mark 9:24 … "I do trust! - help my lack of trust!"Comment: We limit God in our lives because of our unbelief. Realizing the source of belief and faith (that it is linked to being fully persuaded of a truth) will help us understand how this father (in Mark 9) believed yet had unbelief. Undoubtedly the father had heard of the miracles being performed and may have seen some of the results. Wanting his son delivered he went to Yeshua’s disciples; to have this deaf and dumb spirit cast out. However they were unable - this would contribute to his unbelief. Doubt, the enemy of faith, along with the scribes arguing with the disciples was the scene when Yeshua arrived. Yeshua chastised the group for their lack of faith (unbelief) verse 19; after verifying the truth of the situation He cast out the deaf and dumb spirit (20-27). **** Faith comes by hearing. The rewards of believing in YHVH start with hearing the truth; about being fully persuaded of His Sovereignty. The Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote: Romans 10:11-14 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed." … abounding in riches for all who call upon Him; for "Whoever will call upon the name of the LORD will be saved." How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?Romans 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.****** Prayer: Luke 17:5 … Lord, "Increase our faith!"More on faith in the next issue. Mean time strive to increase your faith - and be blessed. |
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Faith / Trust "Faith" normally means "Reliance," or "Trust." Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.Proverbs 11:28 He who trusts in his riches will fall, But the righteous will flourish like foliage.Proverbs 16:20 He who heeds the word wisely will find good, And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.Proverbs 22:19 So that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you.Proverbs 28:25 He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, But he who trusts in the LORD will be prospered.Proverbs 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool…Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. |
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Faith = Trust Ps 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.Ps 4:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, And put your trust in the LORD.Ps 5:11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.Ps 9:10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.Search for the word "trust" in the Psalms and it will surprise you remerging that trust = faith. |
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Faith "We have been commanded to pray for those in authority over us (1Tim. 2:1-2). Are we accustomed to living in a "Christian" nation, or at least in a democracy that practices tolerance and recognizes human rights? Throughout history this has been the exception rather than the rule. Are we bothered when those in authority do not agree with our basic values? Yet the Bible covers all situations, and directs the practice of faith and citizenship even where the people of faith are oppressed and persecuted. It still says that rulers are ordained by God and derive their just powers from him. If they do not acknowledge the Creator, it is all the more reason to pray for them." (Adapted from a Dale Cresap blog) Believe His promises! |
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"Don’t be afraid to go out on a limb. That is where the fruit is." "A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes." Hugh Downs |
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"Truth is shorter than fiction." John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. |
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A four-year old girl was at the pediatrician’s office for a check-up. As the doctor looked into her ears with an otoscope, he asked, "Do you think I’ll find Big Bird in here?" The little girl stayed silent. Next, the doctor took a tongue depressor and looked down her throat. He asked, "Do you think I’ll find the Cookie Monster down there?" Again, the little girl was silent. Then the doctor put a stethoscope to her chest. As he listened to her heart beat, he asked "Do you think I’ll hear Barney in here?" "Oh, no!" the little girl replied. "Jesus is in my heart. Barney’s on my underpants." (Unless you become as little children…) |