BS-39 ‘Faith’
How can the word Faith be defined? Some people might tell you to read Hebrews 11:1-3 in the bible, which reads “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old gained approval. 3 By faith we understand that the world has been created by the word of God so that what is seen has not been made out of things that are visible. WOW..
Someone else might say, “What does Webster have to say?” It says ‘Confidence or trust in a person or a thing; spiritual acceptance of truth or realities not certified by reason. It could be used for the teaching of any religion.
Someone else might say, “Check the Thesaurus out!” Let’s check it. The first thing is, “Absolute certainty in the trustworthiness of another; the belief, confidence, dependence, reliance, trust, (See Belief), they have similar definitions.
Since this is a bible study; let’s take a couple examples of scripture on faith. Remember the woman who anointed Jesus feet with the tears of her eyes and rubbed his feet clean with her hair? This is in Luke 7:44-50. What did she do next, she kissed Jesus feet and then put perfume on them. Jesus commented, “Your FAITH has saved you, go in peace.” [By her action of LOVE she showed her FAITH; she trusted that Jesus was the Christ.]
Paul, the Apostle, was teaching; he was talking about the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ; it was in 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. Then in verse 14 Paul tells them that “IF there was no resurrection then the preaching AND their FAITH were both in vain.” [It is by faith and the conviction of the Holy Spirit that reminds us that the resurrection took place; that Jesus is what makes a difference in us, now that we have had a spiritual birth. We have been changed. Faith is something God provides; our faith is not in vain.]
In another place Paul brings to mind and comments, “ I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” [Paul was speaking in Galatians 2:20. He was telling them that the Mosaic LAW and good works did not justify people; it was to trust in Christ for their atonement; not the legalistic LAW of their forefathers.]
In Ephesians 2:8-9 are the words, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” [The Apostle was telling the people that it was God who provided Grace and Faith as a gift; that no one can brag about being good enough to attain heaven on their own merit. It’s unshakable faith.]
One of the earthly brothers of Jesus was James; he was speaking about ‘testing your faith’. He wrote that if you lacked wisdom, what were you to do? What were you to ask God for and not doubting? He wrote in James 1:6; “But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” [What is James saying? You can’t doubt; you have to trust that Christ is the Lord and that our faith does not waiver under earthly circumstances; good or bad. Hard times test our FAITH.]
God provides Grace & Faith; what we have to do is Trust and Commit ourselves to Jesus.
DG