Faith
Faith
A great part of our knowledge is derived from the information we gather from others. The faith we have on the information we receive, depends on the credit we give the source, and to its word.
To believe the information, and to know the information is correct, are sometimes used indiscriminately. Knowledge and faith are not synonymous terms. Knowledge is that which is founded on a person's testimony, but may not really be known, believed to be true, or to even exist.
What we see, or observe, can be distinguished from faith. 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, or of the real existence of something without direct or positive proof of the facts. The so-called facts are grounded on circumstantial, or probable evidence, which may entitle it to be believed, or not to be believed. When only circumstantial evidence exists, presumption must take place.
The theory of evolution is a prime example of circumstantial evidence. Men's theories are inserted as facts. Therefore, those who accept these theories as facts, need a great deal of faith, not in the facts, but in the theory, and in the person who puts forth the theory.
No one has ever seen or witnessed any plant, animal, bird or fish, evolve into anything other that what it is. In this is circumstantial evidence set forth, giving us a theory, based presumption and not on facts.
To have faith in God, is to believe that God is, and that His declarations are true. This refering to anything and everything that has been revealed, or asserted by Divine authority in the Scriptures.
These 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 this Christian's must trust in God, this is true faith.
To have faith in the Messiah Jesus, is to have a full reliance on Him for one's personal salvation. This faith is founded on the belief of many declarations found in Scripture. This form of faith gives total respect for the person of Jesus, His offices, and His promises. To have faith that He alone is our Saviour, is to believe by faith the following verses.
To have faith in Jesus, is commanded by Jesus Himself.
John 6:40, Jesus said, "This is the will of Him = (the Father) that sent me, that every one which seeth 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 abideth 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 liveth and believeth in me shall never die."
When we have true saving faith, our emotions will have been stirred, and these emotions will move us to some form of action. Examples,
Heb.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."
God had determined to punish the evil accomplished by men. He instructing Noah to build an ark. God assured Noah that in the construction and finishing of this ark, he and his family would be saved. Noah believed, and was "moved with fear."
We are told of the action of Noah's, this consequent upon his faith. Both his emotions and actions corresponded to the object (God) of his belief, and proved 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 many passages in their epistles.
Gal.2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth 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 20:21, "Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ."
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 = (your family)."
1 John 5:12-13, "He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath NOT the Son of God hath NOT life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God."
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."
Rom.3:22-26, "Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: --- To declare, I say, at this time His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus."
Rom.3:28, "Man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."
To have faith in an invisible God in actually blind faith; Why? Because the mind does not see its God. Now because they know that God is a spirit, the unbelievers, believe that mans spirit is but his thoughts.
In this thinking, they seek God in the universe. When He is not found, they believe nature to be the source of all things. This is the origin of nature worship, and man's belief in evolution. We have a movement going on now throughout the world in that saving nature from mans' pollution is the only way we can survive in the future. The creature now begins to worship the creation, and not the Creator.
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."
John 14:6, "Jesus said unto him = (Peter), I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me."
John 14:7, Jesus said, "If ye had know me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know Him = (the Father) and have seen Him." Those who witnessed Jesus, and know Him, had seen the Father, and know Him.
The Scriptures are the only reliable source concerning God's will for us. We must as Christians believe by faith, the things written.
Christians have a God and Saviour that can be approached. Many had walked with Him, eaten with Him, and spoke with Him. He was, and is still accessible to any and all. To be with Jesus, is to be with the Father. Jesus said,
John 14:21, "He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him."
A person may ask, How can the Father who is Spirit, conceive a Son? How can that Son be God?
It is written that the Son of God is both man and God. This is one of the first issues that must be dealt with, concerns saving faith. This information concerning the Son, must be confirmed and established and believed by faith, this from the Word of God.
The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary and said,
Luke 1:31-32-34-35, "Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call his name Jesus. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest = (the heavenly Father): and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of His father David = (this from Mary's human line.)"
"Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? The angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God."
We find further conformation of this wonderful event recorded in the Gospels.
Matt.3:16,17: Mark 1:10-11: and Luke 3:21-22, "It came to pass, that Jesus also being baptized, and praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my = (the Father) beloved Son = (Jesus); in thee I am well pleased."
Further, conformation is given, when Jesus was transfigured on the mountain before His disciples.
The Father was speaking from heaven,
Matt.17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35, "This is my beloved Son = (Jesus): hear him."
Jesus said that He would build His church upon this Rock. This future church was to be built upon His truths and finished work. "He is the Son of God." "He came to seek and to save that which is lost."
The above had been witnesses by many. Their testimonies have been recorded, and would stand in any court of law.
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."
John 1:14-18, and John 3:16. John wrote, calling Jesus, "The Only-Begotten Son of God." And, "The Only-Begotten of the Father, who is in the bosom of the Father."
Matt.14:33, Those who were in the ship, came and worshipped Jesus, saying, "Thou art the Son of God."
Acts 8:37, The eunuch who wished to be baptized, said to Philip, "I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God."
Matt.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 only a few of the witnesses that walked and talked with the Lord Jesus. They understood who He was, and made a confession of faith. After His resurrection, 500 souls witnessed His being alive.
Many testified to the truth of His being, His words, and His works. He, "Is the true God and eternal life."
"Whosoever confesseth, that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God."
Are you with those who place a Crown of Glory upon Jesus head, and glorify Him as Lord and Saviour? Or, have you joined with those who have placed a crown of thorns upon His head, giving Him vinegar to drink, shouting, "If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross."
Naturalism, is the state of nature. This doctrine comes from those who deny a supernatural agency = (Supreme God,) His miracles and revelations. Each miracle, every revelation having been recorded in the Scriptures.
They receive not the grace that flows from our Lord, this grace continually renewing and sanctifying men.
Naturalist profane His church, and the temple of His body. They worship like the Jews worshipped the golden calf in the wilderness. They worship that which they created.
Naturalist, do not, or, cannot distinguish between true Christianity, which is the worship of the One true God, and nature = (evolution).
Nature worshipers can be compared to a person that would drive a fully loaded eighteen wheeler onto thin ice. When the vehicle breaks through the ice, they drown, losing everything, including their souls.
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 from true faith, it is not faith at all. As counterfeit money is not money at all, so dead faith is not faith at all.
Blindness and the hardening of one's heart is complete when a person does not believe what had been declared by Christ Jesus, even when convinced that He had spoke.
1 Cor.2:14, "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."
John 3:11-12, Jesus said, "I say unto thee, We speak that we do know, and testify that we have seen; and ye receive not our witness. If I have told you earthly things, and ye believe not, how shall ye believe, if I tell you of heavenly things?"
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."
1 John 5:10, "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son."
To live by faith, and to walk in faith, is to have your live regulated by a habitual, prevailing regard for Christ's doctrines, and the unseen realities that are revealed to us in Scripture. Men receive saving Faith by going to the Lord, learning truths from the living Word, and then live according to them.
When Jesus and the nobleman met at Cana of Galilee, Jesus said of the man's dying son,
John 5:50, "Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way."
The man found the words of Jesus to be true, therefore he, "Himself believed, and his whole house." The son was saved because of the faith his father had in the spoken word of our Lord.
Ask yourself, do I have? do you live by faith? Am I waiting for the return of the Lord Jesus?
In this dying world, true faith can hardly be found. The Sunday after 9/11, the churches of America were filled to capacity. People were seeking answers, looking for some form of guidance from God.
It's only been a few years since that tragic event, and people are back to their same old routines. How fast do men stop looking for God's guidance, the grace and gifts of the Holy Spirit. How quickly men return to their own vomit.
Phil LaSpino www.seekfirstwisdom.com