What is faith? What is the nature of faith? How powerful is it? That's our discussion for today.
1) FAITH DEFINED - Heb 11:1
A. Notice the difference between the King James Version (more of a description that a definition) and
the NASB. That version says it's the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not
seen.
B. Faith is confidence - 2 Cor 5:1 and knowing, 5:6. Also, by it we understand, Heb 11:2.
1. Notice that in every usage there is implied the basis for our faith.
2) HOW POWERFUL IS FAITH?
A. We walk by it 2 Cor 5:7, Gal 2:20, 21
B. It gives us endurance Heb 11:27, 35, 37; 1 Pet 1:7; Rev 2:12
C. It connects us to eternity, with the things not seen 2 Cor 4:18
D. It gives us knowledge/understanding Psa 119:98-100
1. More than our enemies, teachers and ancients have/had.
E. It gives us understanding
1. Our origin Heb 11:3; Col 1: 16-19; 2:3
2. Of our purpose for living Eccl 2:3, 12: 13,14
3. Of our destiny Rom 2: 5-11
F. It gives us the power to overcome 1 John 5:4; Heb 11: 33ff; Rev 3: 21
G. Bro Clinton Hamilton made this statement: "The simplest and most uneducated believer in the Bible
knows more about the things that matter, than any Ph.D. in any university knows of those things by
virtue of the education he has."
3) THE FAITH THAT JUSTIFIES
A. What some say saving faith is -
1. Faith in a Supreme Being
2. Faith in a Supreme Being, God John 14:1; conviction that Jesus is the Son of God Matt 8:29
That's what the devils actually do: Believe in God, tremble. Also, believe in Christ - that He has the
power to torment-tha there is an appointed time for torment-and He had come to torment before
their time.
3. Confession of Christ, also claiming Jesus as their Personal Lord and doing things in His name
Matt 7: 21-23; Luke 6:46
B. What is a saving faith? It's the belief in Jesus as Lord and trusting in Him enough to do what He says.
Thayer says it's the conviction of Jesus as Lord, the Son of God, trusting Him as Lord and being
obedient to Him.
4) HOW DO SOME SAY A SAVING FAITH IS OBTAINED?
A. Baptist? His faith is a gift from God
B. Mormon? Direct from God
C. Catholic? Through the infallibility of the Pope by a the direct gift of the Holy Spirit
Notice all these are contradictions. Would God give contradictory faiths? NO! There is not one
line in the Bible about faith being a direct gift of God!
D. How does it come?
1. Acts 15:7 - Peter, the Gentiles should hear the Word of God and believe.
2. John 17:20 - What did Jesus say?
3. Acts 18:8 - The Corinthians, hearing, believing and were baptized.
4. John 20: 30,31 - These things were written that you might believe.
5. Rom 10: 13-17 - What did Paul have to say?
E. If direct operation theory is true, why preach? If direct operation theory is true, who's fault is it
if someone doesn't get faith? God's?
5) NEGATIVE FAITH VS POSITIVE FAITH
A. Negative - Methodist Discipline - Faith only. If true the Devil will be saved (Jas 2:19;
Matt 8:29), Chief Priests also - John 12: 42,43 contrast with Mt 10: 32,33.
B. Positively - Gal 5:6 - must work by love
1. James 2: 14-26 - look at the positive points
2. "The only way we can harmonize Bible teaching on faith and obedience or faith and works is Jas 2:22
6) HOW FAR MUST FAITH GO?
A. When God says so, even when there is no apparent reason on earth to obey.
1. Noah only had God's Word a flood was coming.
2. "Why do I have to do it?" some say. Because God said so!
3. What if the thing commanded is counter to all previous training? Faith obeys! i.e. Abraham and Isaac
4. What if human reason sees no connection between the blessing sought and the means commanded
to reach that end? Faith obeys!
a. Naaman the leper dipping in the Jordan
b. Blind man in the pool of Siloam - Jno 9
1. Can human reason see dipping in the river or washing in the pool?
B. When the desired end is reached, does the means recieve the glory, or the one who shows how? Many
denominations sing "I once was lost, but now am free, was blind but now I see" - Is that because of
water baptism for the remission of sins?
1. Naaman gave glory to God - 2 Kings 5: 14,15
2. The blind man - Jno 9: 30-33
3. Power was not in the Jordan but the one who said dip.
4. Power was not in the pool of Siloam, but the one who said wash.
5. Power was not (is not) in the water, but in the one who said, "Be baptized."
6. Therefore baptism for the remission of sins is justification by faith.