"REFLECTIONS"

On Faith

INTRODUCTION
  1. We continue our "Reflections" on things that are...
    1. True, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report - Php 4:8
    2. Virtuous and worthy of praise - ibid.
  2. Three such things are faith, hope, and love...
    1. Virtues joined together in several passages - 1Co 13:13; 1Th 1:3
    2. Virtues worthy of praise and careful reflection

[In this study, let us reflect on the first of these three: faith. Beginning with...]

  1. FAITH DEFINED
    1. FAITH IN GENERAL...
      1. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary
        1. "Faith is in general the persuasion of the mind that a certain statement is true"
        2. "Its primary idea is trust"
      2. According to He 11:1
        1. "...the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." (ESV)
        2. "...being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (NIV)
        -- Faith is therefore conviction and trust in someone or some thing
    2. FAITH IN GOD...
      1. Involves conviction and trust that He exists - He 11:6
      2. Requires that we believe He rewards those who diligently seek Him - ibid.
      -- Without such faith in God, we cannot please Him!
    3. FAITH IN JESUS...
      1. Involves conviction and trust in who Jesus is - Jn 8:24; 11:27
      2. Involves conviction and trust in what Jesus did - Jn 10:10,11; cf. Jn 1:29
      3. Involves conviction and trust in what Jesus said - e.g., Jn 8:12; 14:6
      -- Without such faith in Jesus, we will die in our sins!

    [Faith in God and Jesus is therefore essential. But how is such faith developed...?]

  2. FAITH DEVELOPED
    1. THROUGH THE WORD...
      1. The Word of God is designed to create faith - Ro 10:17
      2. It was written to produce faith, such as faith in Jesus - Jn 20:30-31; 1Jn 5:13
      -- The Word of God is filled with evidences intended to produce faith
    2. THROUGH OBEDIENCE...
      1. Jesus said of those who do God's will, they will know its truth - Jn 7:17
      2. To use a phrase, "the proof of the pudding is in the eating"
      -- As one obeys God and Jesus, the stronger their conviction and trust grows
    3. THROUGH FELLOWSHIP...
      1. Faith is strengthened by exhorting one another - He 3:12-14
      2. Which we do by frequent assembling - He 10:24-25
      " -- The more we have fellowship with one another, the stronger our" faith grows!

    [We have defined faith and considered how it develops. What is the evidence of faith...?]

  3. FAITH DEMONSTRATED
    1. BY OBEDIENCE...
      1. Paul writes of the "obedience of faith" - Ro 1:5; 16:26
      2. He also refers to "obeying from the heart" - Ro 6:17
      3. For example, baptism is an act of obedient faith - Col 2:12
      -- Thus obedience from the heart demonstrates the nature of our faith!
    2. BY GOOD WORKS...
      1. James writes about a dead faith - Jm 2:17,20,26
      2. He offers to show his faith by his works - Jm 2:18
      -- Thus a living, vibrant faith will manifest itself by good works!

    [Sadly, some once strong in faith become weak, even to the point of no faith. How does that happen...?]

  4. FAITH DESTROYED
    1. BY LACK OF KNOWLEDGE...
      1. Remember that faith comes through the Word of God - Ro 10:17
      2. But like Israel, lack of knowledge of God's word leads to their destruction - Hos 4:6
      -- As people stop growing in the Word of God, their faith falters
    2. BY LACK OF WORKS...
      1. Remember that faith without works is dead - Jm 2:17,26
      2. As with demons, faith without works results only in a trembling faith - Jm 2:19
      -- When people stop doing the works of God, their faith wanes
    3. BY LACK OF FELLOWSHIP...
      1. Remember that mutual edification prevents an evil heart of unbelief - He 3:12-14
      2. But like glowing coals in a fire, an ember soon dies when separated from the rest
      -- When people stop assembling with other Christians, their faith soon dies
CONCLUSION
  1. Faith is a crucial element in our relationship with God and Jesus, in regards to eternal life
  2. But with the aid of God's Word, our own obedience, and the encouragement of others, there is no reason we cannot have the faith that leads to eternal life! - cf. 1Ti 6:12