How important is faith according to the word of God? This study is an introduction on what is aquired through faith. My hope is that this study will encourage the new believer in their walk, and spur the old time believer to take another look into faith.
What is faith?
Faith S#4102 (Gk, pistis):
- the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ;
- a strong and welcome conviction or belief that Jesus is the Messiah, through whom we obtain eternal salvation in the kingdom of God.
Why will you go to heaven? Is it because you go to church or are a member of a church? Maybe it’s because you’re such a good person, you’re no axe- murderer, or drunkard, or anything like that. While these things have an appearance of being worthy of the pearlly gate, they fall short. It is through faith (that is, in believing, trusting),in Jesus Christ that a person receives the wonderful gift of everlasting life?
Jn 6:47
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (KJV)
We can also see that everlasting life is through faith in Jesus Christ in the following scriptures:
Jn 3:15-16
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (KJV)
Rom 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (KJV)
Whosoever shall believe that God sent his only begotten Son to die on the cross for our sins, was buried, and three days later rose from the dead, shall be cleansed from all unrighteuosness through Jesus’ precious blood; and have the hope of new "heavenly bodies", as well as everlasting life.
Earlier I had mentioned that though being better than the other guy, or that going to church have an appearance for one to be worthy of heaven, we found that it is not. Through faith, we are justified, that is, we are regarded as innocent, or being worthy before God. It is not by living according to the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified, because it is by faith.
Rom 3:28
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. (KJV)
Rom 3:30
30 Seeing it is one God, which shall justify the circumcision by faith, and uncircumcision through faith. (KJV)
Gal 2:16
16 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. (KJV)
Being justified is great! You don’t have to do good deeds to go to heaven, it’s by faith in what Jesus has already done. But being justified isn’t enough. We are not yet set apart from our old sinful ways. What is it that will purify us from these? Faith! That’s right. It is faith that purifies our hearts.
Acts 15:9
9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith. (KJV)
Acts 26:18
18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (KJV)
So far we have seen that by faith:
- we are saved, and have aquired everlasting life;
- we are justified or declared righteous before God;
- we are sanctified sanctified or purified from our old nature.
It is by faith in Jesus Christ that we obtain these. Our walk in Christ is by faith, for the just shall live by faith. No more of those dead works. We are to walk by faith not by sight.
Gal 3:11
11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. (KJV)
2 Cor 5:7
7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (KJV)
Gal 2:20
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. (KJV)
Continue to press toward the mark for the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Don’t look at what lies around you. Don’t pick up the old ways of dead works. Live by faith in Him.
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