Faith In The Christian Church

Faith

Rev. 9-Jul-09

The Webster's dictionary says this: faith (fÀ») n. 1 unquestioning belief that does not require proof or evidence 2 unquestioning belief in God, religious tenets, etc. 3 a religion or a system of religious beliefs 4 anything believed 5 complete trust, confidence, or reliance 6 allegiance to some person or thing; loyalty See also bad faith and good faith interj. indeed; in faith SYN. belief break (or keep) faith 1 to be disloyal (or loyal) to one's beliefs, principles, etc. 2 to break (or keep) a promise in faith indeed; really; on faith through trust; without proof or evidence

But the Bible says this:

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

In my humble opinion therefore, My comments are these: Faith as the bible portrays it for the Christian is not the same as for outsiders (Non Christians). Faith and trust are not in this case exactly synonymous terms. A person may trust that the brakes on the car will work when needed, but they have no promise from God that they will always work. Note that the bible verse here has two parts to the Christian faith. 1. The substance of things hoped for, & 2. The evidence of things that remain unseen. The context of our Christian faith should be related to our hopes in Yahweh God’s promises & words, and as long as they are hoped for and remain unseen or unrealized, they constitute our faith. These things hoped for are the promises made by God the Father, through some messenger, for this life as well as the future Kingdom that he promised to all who believe in Him. This evidence is pure blind trust in God, in that he is, and as one who will maintain his promises. (Hope comes to an end when it is realized and is no longer faith, But by true faith, we continue to hope and strive for the things not yet realized. This faith leads to faith and to our Salvation. [Salvation simply stated is a state of living eternally in something like a real and true Utopia]. Why a religion built on Faith? IMHO, this is the only thing I know where all persons are equal in that the only thing required is the "choosing to believe in God and His words, because they want to believe". It eliminates all other presumed prerequisites. If our religion were based on intelligence, we would probably all be lost. If it were based on wealth, then would there be pure hell in Heaven and that can not be. Faith costs nothing but is more valuable than gold. If anyone is interested in living in a Heavenly Kingdom where Peace, Justice, Righteousness, & Goodness and good health prevail, they have only to ask of God and he will receive. But he must first choose to believe that God is. For the Christian, only through God's Christ is he made known and not just heard of. So if anyone is interested, he has only to listen to one who has been sent by God to preach Christianity. If a preacher can not be found, which IMHO is the real problem with modern Christianity in many parts of the world, studying a Christian bible, after a prayer for help from the Holy Spirit, is the surest method that I know of. Regarding this topic, the entire chapter of Hebrews 11 gives a long list demonstrating the faith of our forefathers from Abel on. It is highly recommended to read these accounts, for they can help you with your faith also. You must however believe in God and His words. The only comment I have to offer regarding these verses is Heb 11:4 (KJV) “By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh”. [The manner in which this KJV translates it, seems to indicate that it was the sacrifice itself that made the difference. However, when we read the account in Gen 4, we can understand that it

was the gift coupled with the manner in which it was offered, that made the difference by the faith of Abel. Conformation to this idea is found in the parable of the Widow’s mite (Mk 12:42-44 & Lk 21:2-4). ] The following are some of the verses with comments that I put together to help people who have a genuine interest in the matter. Mark 16:16 KJV) "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." [Faith in action. If you never try to believe using faith alone, and not knowledge, which is not faith but intellect, you can never know God. Sooner or later a person must reach out with faith and believe in God and his plans for man, and stop rebelling against the creator and his ways. This constant rebellious reaction is like saying, "I know better than that". For there will be no room in the hereafter for unbelievers. All survivors will have proven their ability to be obedient to God or his Christ, by their faith and therefore they have in a sense, learned their lesson for their redemption by their faith, especially through him, the redeemer, who paid the price by his blood which he shed for us.] (John 3:18 KJV) "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." CAUTION: Jesus is/was not the only begotten son of God. Scripture states clearly that God has many sons. This was an error in the LXX translation of the Hebrew term Yachiyd/H3173/one that can not be replaced as one beloved or a special child; Ref Gen 22:2. [This believing by Faith, is believing that God's “Yachiyd” son, who was made both Lord and Christ in the man Jesus that had the spirit of The Christ at his baptism. (Jesus had no physical earthly father, but much like Adam. He is called the second Adam. The first Adam was “son of God” also according to Lk 3:38.] (John 6:47 KJV) "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life." [Blind faith leads to faith, and is necessary to combat doubt. (Such as the belief in God the creator, who is invisible.) (John 7:38 KJV) "He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water." [The faithful will have problems keeping it to themselves. It will often times just overflow through their mouths. This often offends the non believers because of their misunderstanding]

(John 10:38 KJV) "But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him." [Be believing and eventually try to imitate him in order that you may be (in the future).] (John 20:27 KJV) "Then saith he to Thomas, "Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing." [Believe with the believing. Some people need help to believe some things. John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.] (Acts 10:43 KJV) "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins." [And consequently, the possibility of eternal life. A gift for your unfailing faith.] (Acts 13:48 KJV) "And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed." [After they heard that the gentiles could also inherit Gods kingdom, they believed because now, they had hope. However, one must have hope first. (Heb 11:1). The word "ordained" as used above is equal to "tasso Gk" meaning something like "to arrange in an orderly manner" or conditioned in an orderly manner.] (Acts 16:31 KJV) "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." [Faith is required even for those who were with Christ for 3 years. Note Thomas. He had problems and doubts even after all those things that he saw. His faith was tested by those who reported having seen Jesus after his resurrection. Blessed are those who believe and have not seen.] (Rom 10:14 KJV) "How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" [Faith is the results of those who chose to believe after hearing. They will want to believe only if they hear something that agrees with their longing for the heavenly existence with justice, righteousness and peace, etc. However, our faith should come by way of the preacher of the gospel. By hearing, the inflections and emphasis of the words, this helps to reveal the spiritual significance.] (2 Cor 4:4 KJV) "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." [Only

believers are to receive this grace, possibly as a reward for their obedience to God's words.] (Gal 2:16 KJV) "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." [Some translation read "Faith in Jesus" rather than "faith of Jesus". However, his faith will be made manifest by his works/actions.] (Eph 1:15 KJV) "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints," cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. [To further increase their faith, a prayer for knowledge to support their faith helps to lead to more faith] (Phil 1:27 KJV) "Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith. [Faith in the Gospel; (what is preached of Christ)] Phil 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. [It costs to have stronger faith. But faith leads to faith.] (2 Th 2:13 KJV) "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief. [This word "belief" is translated as "faith" (pistis/G4102 in Greek), therefore not just plain belief, but belief in God’s promises.]

(1 Pet 2:6 KJV) "Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded." [Hold to your faith if it is based on the promises from our Heavenly father, because it is God’s word and true.] (1 John 2:3 KJV) "And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments." [The ones who do the Christian thing give testimony to their faith by their actions/works.] Amen, and may God bless you.