Faith is Everything

Dear Brethren,

Faith is one of those Bible words that get kicked around so much that for many it has become passé today.  True faith is rare and indispensable for a Christian.  What is true faith – Godly faith – the faith of true believers – the faith of Jesus Christ?

With the pouring out of God’s Holy Spirit on Pentecost it became possible for Christians to grow in faith.  Is your faith continuing to grow, or has it reached a plateau?  Is your faith what it is supposed to be?  Is your faith all it can be?  Is God working in your life according to faith?  What is most important: what God knows He is going to do, or what you would have God to do?  Jesus had total and perfect faith – the faith of Jesus Christ.  Our faith grows when we live lives in accordance with the plan of God.  Jesus laid down His life with full assurance and absolute faith that the Father would raise Him up.  He is our model of faith.

When we lay down our lives in service to others, our faith grows.  It is like when we offer heartfelt prayer for another person – we cannot but help loving them.  When we act in faith it pleases God.  Our faith grows as our relationship with God grows.  In fact, our faith is in direct proportion to our love of God’s way over our own way.  Sometimes our faith is severely challenged when we are seeking God’s will.

“[We] are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.”  (1Peter 1:5-9)

It’s all about faith.  Faith is our entire life and the living of it as converted Christians.  It is about God.  It is about what He is doing.  It is about the will of God and our being a part of it.  Faith is not something that we work up with all of our might.  Singing and enjoying hymns is not faith.  Just knowing all about Jesus and His Gospel message is not faith.  What does it mean to have faith in Jesus and in the Father?  Adam and Eve knew Jesus and talked often with Him, and yet they did not believe Him – they did not follow His instructions – they did not have the faith that what Jesus had told them would come to pass.   Adam and Eve’s hearts were not in His plan of salvation for mankind.

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what are unable to see… Through faith we comprehend that the universe was framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear… But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He exists, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.”  (Hebrews 11:1-6)

The Bible warns us about the false faith of being a part of factions where some think themselves better than others.  That is the politics we see so much of today, and it is a pseudo faith.  Faith takes patience: 

“My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment.  And ye have respect to him that wears the latest style in clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?  Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?”  (James 2:1-5)

As converted Christians, our initial carnal, fleshly faith takes on a Godly component and becomes the faith of God when the life which we now live in the flesh – we live by the faith of the Son of God.  (Galatians 2:20)

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Sermon:  "Faith is Everything"    


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