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FAITH
FAITH
“NOW FAITH
IS THE
ASSURANCE OF THINGS HOPED FOR,
THE CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN”
“We walk by faith, not by sight,” II Corinthians
5:7. This is so; thus it is
imperative that we know all we can, about faith. Like every other theme in the Bible, sadly, faith
is distorted in many ways. Consider what
the Bible teaches, about faith.
First, the
word “faith” is interchangeable with “belief”.
It is used that way in Galatians 3:22, “But the scripture shut up all
things under sin, that the promise by
faith in Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” The two English words translate one word from the
original, pistis.
We must
have faith to please God and gain heaven.
Hebrews 11:6, “And without faith it is impossible to please him.
for whoever would draw near must believe
that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”
Faith
is demanded to become a Christian.
Every conversion recorded in the book of Acts displays faith, either as
a demand from the preacher (for instance Peter, Philip, Paul et al) or the response from the sinner
(as, the Samaritans, and the Ethiopian, 8:12, 37; and the jailor, 16:31,
34). The instruction given them was the
same in every case: their belief was to produce repentance and baptism. Not every step was stated in every case; but
it was present: Peter did not tell the people on Pentecost to believe – they
already believed. When they heard Peter
preaching that God had made Jesus – whom they had crucified – “both Lord and
Christ”, they were “cut to the heart”. According
to Romans 10:10, it is with the heart
man believes. The people converted on
Pentecost believed, repented and were baptized – as were the Samaritans, the
Ethiopian, Lydia and the jailor – and all the rest in Acts, and down to this
day.
How did
they come to believe? A popular idea is
that faith is a gift of God. This is based
on a misunderstanding of Ephesians 2:8,
9, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the
gift of God, not of works, so that no one may boast.” The work of the Holy Spirit is misunderstood,
so the erroneous conclusion of some is that “faith” is “the gift of God.” To the contrary, the Bible says that faith
comes “by hearing the word of Christ,” Romans 10:17. Furthermore, the Bible says that the “free
gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). God’s gift to man is salvation, by grace
through faith.
This
is a good place to dispute the idea that salvation is a matter of “faith
ALONE”. That anyone could seriously consider
such to be true is amazing, in the light of the Holy Spirit through James writing
that “faith, if it have not works, is dead in itself” (James 2:17); and, ”faith
apart from works is dead” (2:26). The
apostle Paul wrote much about justification by faith, especially in Roman and
Galatians. In Romans 5:1, for example,
he writes that we have “been justified by faith”. Did he write, by faith only – have you seen an
“only” there? And the real knee-slapper
is, he wrote at the beginning of Romans of the “obedience of faith” (1:5); and
uses that phrase, “obedience of faith”, again at the end of the epistle, (16:26); but in the middle of the epistle he
is supposed to be advocating faith alone!!
Add to that the description of Jesus as “the source of eternal salvation
to all who obey him”, Hebrews 5:9. Faith
alone? Hardly.
Faith is
more than a road map. Faith in God is
trust in God. ”We are
not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and
preserve their souls” (Hebrews 10:39). Two
examples illustrate this faith.
FIRST, by
three young men named Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. Daniel 3 says that they displeased King Nebuchadnezzar,
so that he sentenced them to death in a “burning fiery furnace,” verse 15. Their response is in verse 16; they said “O
Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able
to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of
your hand, O king. But if not, be it
known to you that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that
you have set up.” The expression of faith: stunning.
Nebuchadnezzar, infuriated, ordered the
furnace overheated to seven times its usual temperature --- so hot, the men who
cast Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego into the furnace were themselves killed by
that flame, :22.
Shadrach,
Meshach and Abednego knew of
Nebuchadnezzar’s fury; they knew of
the “burning fiery furnace”; they knew
of its terrible heat; they knew of
the deaths of those who cast them into t:he furnace; they knew of the way of escape, verse seventeen. The point is, in the face of all these terrible
things, in the face of Nebuchadnezzar’s
threat, they knew Him whom they
served was able; they walked “by faith not by sight,” II Corinthians 5:7. They TRUSTED Him – so they stayed the course.
Next, Abraham. In Genesis 22, it is recorded that God said
to Abraham, “Take our son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the
land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering … “ verse 2. STOP now, think about the demand made
of Abraham: prepare for sacrifice: bind
your son, pick him up, lay him on the altar, and take the knife and drive it into his body! THINK – How could he do that?
Abraham
believed that God exists, (Hebrews 11:6), He was genuine in his obedience to
God; Hebrews 11:17 says he“offered up Isaac”.
By faith. Trusting God. Trusting the One who required it of him. LISTEN: Abraham’s trust in God serves as an
example for us. Hard times will come
upon us; “go to the land of Moriah,” know whom you have believed and be
convinced that He is able (II Timothy 1:12). Walk by faith.
Now faith
is the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen
(Hebrews 11:1) we walk by faith, not by sight
(II Corinthians 5:7) So faith
comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ (Romans 10:17).
“We are not
of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and
preserve their souls” (Hebrews 10:39).
Having faith means trusting, and obeying, God. Today.
“The Way, the Truth, the Life”
“The Way, the Truth, the Life”
the fourteenth chapter of John, Jesus made one of the most
significant claims ever during his brief three-year ministry. It was here
that Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth and the life" (John
14:6). This particular claim of Jesus is so unique because it is one of
the most comprehensive statements of who he is and what he came to do.
Every word was full of associations and promises that were connected with the
coming of the Messiah.
In A more correct translation of this passage, according to the
proper Hebrew idiom, would be, "I am the true and living
way." This would make the first two nouns ("the
truth" and "the life"), adjectives which
would describe the last noun ("the way"). In essence,
Jesus was saying, "I am the true way, and I am the living
way." It would be through Jesus of Nazareth that mankind would
find the way that leads back to a loving and merciful God, for he alone
is "the true and living way."
However, centuries before Jesus made this great claim, the
Psalmist prayed, "Teach me Your way, O Lord"(Psalms
27:11; 86:11). And the prophet Isaiah heard Jehovah say, "This
is the way, walk in it" (Isaiah 30:21). Here then was the
great promise of a way of holiness, a path that would lead to life, and one
from which man could never stray if he hoped to see Jehovah. It was also
to be a path or way which would be so easy to see that even the most simple
could find (Isaiah 35:8).
Following the establishment of the Lord's church in Acts
chapter two, and the flourishing of Christianity throughout Palestine and the
far regions of the Roman Empire, the disciples of Christ were commonly said to
be of "the way" (Acts 9:2; 19:9). In two letters
Perhaps the most significant thing about Jesus' statement is
not to be seen in what he said, but rather in what he did not say. For example,
he did not say, "I have come to show you the way," or "I
have come to open for you the way." These are statements that we
might make to those lost in their sins. We would have to say that we can
show them the way, and open their understanding of the way, but Jesus claimed
something far greater. He said "I am the
way."
Jesus also said, "I am the truth," a
phrase which was full of meaning to both Jew and Greek.
To the Jews, the ways of the Lord have always been full of
mercy and truth (Psalms 25:10; 31:5; 86:15). The word most commonly used
for truth in these Old Testament passages means fidelity, reliability,
trustworthiness and faithfulness. It is truth in the sense that a lover
would say, "I will be true to you." In essence,
Jesus was claiming to be truth incarnate, one in whom we can completely trust
without any reservation, and one in whom we will never be disappointed.
To the Greeks the word truth carried with it the meaning of
that which is not false, unreal or counterfeit.
Therefore, when Jesus claimed to be "the
truth," he was saying that we can place our complete trust and
confidence in him, for he is real and authentic. But again, Jesus did not
simply claim to "speak truth," or to "be
truthful and faithful." Rather he said, "I am the
truth," a claim that he alone is the truth that enables mankind
to know and understand the way to God. This is something that only one
who possessed deity would be capable of giving.
Finally, Jesus said, "I am the life," a
statement which is to be understood two ways. First, Jesus is the one who
gives physical life. According to John 1:3-4,
Jesus is the Word who existed from the beginning, and by whom everything was
created, including mankind. Secondly, Jesus is pictured throughout the
scriptures as the one who gives spiritual or eternal life.
However, the eternal life which Jesus offers is much more than simply a
continued existence. The mere extension of life to many might seem more
of a curse than a blessing. It might mean prolonged defeat, frustration,
agony and sorrow. Therefore, Jesus did not simply offer an endless
existence, but an eternal life which brings a new quality, an increased
intensity, a more brilliant radiance, and one of indescribable joy and
happiness. He offered to all who would accept it, life in the presence of
God.
As before, Jesus did not say he could, "show
the way of life," or "lead us to the life."
Rather, he said, "I am the
life." Certainly, this claim could only be made by one who was
divine.
Jesus added one
final comment to his great statement, "I am the way, the truth,
and the life." He concluded by saying, "No man
comes to the Father, but by me," a phrase which meant much more
than simply another way of saying that he is the only way to God. Jesus'
disciples understood that he had come to bring mankind back to God, but what
they seldom understood during his ministry was that he continually claimed to
be God himself – one who was both human and divine. Jesus was subtly
saying, "no one can come to God the Father except through God the
Son," for no mere man could possibly cleanse and purify another
so as to be acceptable in the presence of God. This is something that
only God himself could do. And in this subtle statement, Jesus was also
foreshadowing his one brief moment of triumph on the cross, when he would offer
himself for our sins, and open for us the only "true and living way" to
the Father in heaven.
David Webb
Monday, July 1, 2019
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