Knowledge is derived from information gathered from others. The faith we have on the information we receive, depends on the credit we give to the source. To believe information, and know its correct, are sometimes used indiscriminately.
Faith is a way in which we become acquainted with things not seen. Testimony received from another source, when received and given credit, is the means by which we can obtain the knowledge of things which we do not personally observe. This is why Christians are said to, “Walk in faith.”
Presumption is a supposition of the truth, without direct or positive proof of the facts. Some so-called facts are grounded on probable evidence, which may or may not be true, when only circumstantial evidence exists, presumption take place.
Circumstantial evidence is put forth when men’s theories are inserted as facts. Those who accept these theories as facts need a great deal of faith, not in the facts, but in the theory, and those who puts forth the theory.
The theory of evolution is nothing but circumstantial evidence set forth, presenting theory, based on presumption.
To have faith in God is to believe that God is, and that His declarations are true. This asserted by Divine authority in the Scriptures.
Certain declarations may have been declared in the past, but may also refer to the present and the future, all being revelations and promises from God. In these things, Christian’s must trust God.
To have faith in the Jesus is to have a full reliance on Him for our personal salvation. This gives respect to the person of Jesus Christ, His offices, and promises. To have faith that He alone is our Savior, is to believe the following.
John 6:40, Jesus said, “This is the will of Him (the Father) that sent me, that every one which sees the Son, and believeth on Him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.”
John 3:15-16, Jesus said, “That whosoever believeth in Him should NOT perish, but have eternal life. For God (the Father) so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, (Jesus) that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
John 3:36, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life: but the wrath of God abides on him.”
John 11:25-26, Jesus said, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die.”
When our emotions have been stirred up, they will move us to some form of action.
Hebrews 11:7, “By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
In Noah’s day, God had determined to punish the evil cultivated and performed by men, instructing Noah to build an ark. God assured Noah that in the construction and finishing of the ark, he and his family would be saved. Noah believed, and was “moved with fear.”
We are told of the action of Noah resulting from his faith. Both his emotions and actions corresponded to the object of his belief, demonstrating the reality of his faith.
James 2:20, “But do you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
The faith of the apostles was in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is evident from the following.
Gal.2:20, Paul wrote, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me.”
Acts 16:30-31, “What must I do to be saved? And they said, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Gal.2:15-16, “We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, 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.”
To believe in an invisible God is to have blind faith. Many seek God in the universe. When He is not found, they believe nature to be the source of all things. This was the origin of nature worship. The creature will then begin to worship the things that please him.
John 5:37, “Ye have neither heard His (the Father’s) voice at any time, not seen His shape (His form).”
John 1:18, “No man hath seen God (the Father) at any time; the only begotten Son (Jesus), which is in the bosom of the Father, He hath declared Him.”
John 6:46, Jesus said, “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He (Jesus) which is of God, He hath seen the Father.”
Christians have a Savior that can be approached. He is accessible to all. To be with Jesus, is to be with the Father. Jesus said,
John 14:21, “He that hath my commandments, and keeps them, he it is that loves me: and he that loves me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.”
Jesus said that He would build His church upon this Rock. This church built upon His finished work. The Son of God came to seek and to save that which was lost.
Witnesses by many, their testimonies recorded.
John 1:34, John the Baptist said, “I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.”
John 1:50, Nathaniel the disciple said to Jesus, “Thou art the Son of God, Thou art the King of Israel.”
John 6:69, The twelve disciples said, “We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Acts 8:37, The eunuch who wished to be baptized, said to Philip, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”
Matthew 26:63-64, 27:43, and Luke 22:70. Jesus Himself confessed, before the high priest of the temple, that, “He was the Son of God.”
These are the testimonies of a few witnesses that walked with the Lord. They understood who He was, making their confessions of faith. After His resurrection, 500 souls witnessed His being alive.
Many testified of his truths, His being, His words, and works. He, “Is the true God, and eternal life.”
“Whosoever confesses, that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.”
Naturalism is the state of nature. This doctrine comes from those who deny any supernatural agency, miracle and revelation revealed in Scriptures. Naturalist profane the church, and the temple of His body, knowing nothing of the One true God.
James 2:17, “Faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.” Dead faith is unproductive faith. It is not a different kind of faith; it’s not faith at all, as counterfeit money is not money at all, so dead faith is not faith at all.
Blindness of the heart comes full circle when one does not believe what has been declared by God.
1 Cor.2:14, “But the natural man receives not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
Eph.2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.”
Eph.4:18, “Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart.”
To live by faith, and to walk in faith, is to have your life regulated by an habitual, prevailing regard for Christian doctrine, and the realities that are revealed to us in Scripture.
When Jesus and the nobleman met at Cana of Galilee, Jesus said of the man’s dying son,
John 5:50, “Go your way; your son lives. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.” The son was saved because of his father’s faith.
Phillip LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com