Download - The importance of faith
As clearly taught in the bible
faith is not only found in the New
Testament but it is clearly seen in
the Old Testament as recorded
particularly in the book of
Hebrews chapter eleven. This
chapter not only gives a definition
of what faith is, but it also shows
that faith is what the patriarchs
of old used as the reason for
their beliefs and actions. Please
note that the book of Hebrews is
found in the New Testament.
While faith came by Jesus Christ,
since Christ alone can give faith, it is
the faith of Jesus Christ. Therefore this
faith which is revealed in the Old
Testament first, confirms that Christ
existed in the Old Testament times,
and that He is the God of Abraham,
Isaac and Jacob. Wherever faith is
revealed it teaches or gives a
knowledge of Christ. This is the faith
that Abraham had, and this is the same
faith that we must have Gal. 3 : 7—9.
A brief review of Hebrews eleven shows the responses only of Old Testament believers to faith. No where not even in one single verse does it mention the names of any of the disciples or believers of the New Testament, clearly to show that faith existed from the very beginning , as it makes mention from Abel onwards.
Any teaching therefore that suggest that faith only came and existed in the New Testament times is plainly not in harmony with the evidences as revealed in the Bible. These teachings (doctrines of men ) are not of the truth but presents errors (lies), and there is no lie in the truth. Lies are of the devil, for he is the father of lies.
Jh. 8 : 44 “Ye are of
your father the devil,
and the lusts of your
father ye will do. He
was a murderer from
the beginning, and
abode not in the truth,
because there is no
truth in him. When he
speaketh a lie, he
speakest of his own: for
he is a liar, and the
father of it.”
1Jh. 3 : 8 “ He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
1Jh. 2 : 21 “ I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.”
The Bible shows that through faith we understand, Heb 11 : 2 , and by faith Abel
offered unto God,
Heb. 11 :4 ; and by faith Noah being warned of God …….. prepared an ark. Heb. 11 : 7
Faith gives understanding, and
understanding comes through a
revelation of knowledge. Faith
therefore is knowledge revealed that
we may understand. This knowledge
to a Christian is the knowledge of
Jesus Christ. It reveals to the
christian all the necessary knowledge
of Jesus which is able to save in the
plan of salvation.
This knowledge leads a
Christian into a life of
action as faith provides
instructions in all of the
requirements of God in
saving man. As the bible
puts it in the book of James 2 : 17 “ Even so faith, if it had no works, is dead, being alone”.
By faith Abel offered, by faith Noah prepared an ark; this shows that they both received instructions and acted upon the given instructions. These instructions which are revealed through a body of knowledge came from God ; Jesus Christ.
As one author states dealing with the subject of confession in the book Steps To Christ page 38, “ The only reason why we do not have remission of sins that are past is that we are not willing to humble our hearts and comply with the conditions of the word of truth.” Notice now what the author says “ Explicit INSTRUCTION is given concerning this matter.”
In other words
sufficient knowledge
has been revealed
that we understand
the requirements that
we could now follow
the instruction on this
matter .
Faith therefore, is knowledge revealed to man from Christ, which teaches the way of Christ, and the way to Christ.
Eph. 2 : 8. “ For by grace
are ye saved through faith
;………………..”
Eph. 4 : 13 “Till we all come
in the unity of the faith, and
of the knowledge of the Son
of God………………”
This knowledge shows that faith is
the revealed truths of Jesus Christ
which the bible calls the doctrines of
Jesus Christ. Whether or not we
accept these doctrines of Jesus
Christ as true or not , they still
remains the same , we cannot
change any to suit our own
interpretation.
What is being said here ? Simple, one may say we have to keep the law of God and another may say we don’t. But remember that faith is built upon evidence ( knowledge ) Heb. 11 : 1, and this knowledge, evidence comes only from the word of God (the Bible ). And the word of God reveals that sin is the transgression of the law of God 1st Jh. 3 : 4, and that we are all sinners doomed to die.
We have all in one way or
another broken some aspect
of the law of God, we have
all committed sin, and the
wages of sin is death. On our
own we can do nothing to
clear our wrongs , we need a
Saviour. We are saved only
by the grace of God as we
accept Him and put away our
sins.
Could the law of God be changed or removed then there would be no need for Christ to die. The death of Christ confirms the immutability of God’s law.
Rom. 3 : 23, Rom. 6 : 20 – 23, Ecc. 12 : 13, Ps. 19 : 7 – 8, Matt. 19 : 17, Rom. 3 : 20, Rom. 7 : 7, Jam. 2 : 10 – 11, Rom. 3 : 30 – 31.
The faith, evidences, are very clear concerning the importance of keeping the law of God. By keeping the law of God it reflects the faith that we believe and that is in us. So whoever preaches and teaches that you do not have to keep the law of God is not of faith, and to follow another is certainly a lost of one’s salvation, for there is none other Saviour. Rom. 3 : 3 - 4, Isa. 43 : 11, Isa. 45 : 21, Act. 4 : 12.
So just how important is faith? Faith gives us hope and assures us that we are doing the things that are right and pleasing in the sight of God. “ For without faith it is impossible to please Him “ Heb. 11 : 6. How then do we please God ? How does faith work in us and for us to please God ? Again the evidences are recorded and revealed in Hebrews 11 : 4 with the experience of Cain and Abel…………………
Abel followed the instructions of faith--- the
knowledge revealed in the offerings to God
and he was accepted, but Cain followed after
his own devices and he was rejected. Gen. 4 :
1 – 7 . You see faith reveals that
“……………..without shedding of blood is no
remission “ Heb. 9 : 22 and that is remission
of sin. Fruits cannot atone for sin, for the
wages of sin is death, the slaying of animals
revealed in knowledge that Christ would come
and give His life that all who accept and obey
shall be saved, (accepted).
It is extremely important to have and obey the faith of Jesus Christ, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14 : 23. God can only accept
faith , the truths which He has
revealed to man in the plan of
salvation. All teachings must be
viewed in the fallen condition of
man, it must be salvavic in it’s
content. Exalting God and directing
man on the only one path to God
through Jesus Christ . Jh. 14 : 6.
This faith is given to us
as we study and obey
the word of God. Rom 10 : 8, 17. Gal 3 : 2.
2Thess. 3 : 2. 1Cor. 2 : 5.
1Tim. 4 : 1 , 6. 1Cor. 12 : 7 – 9 .
2Cor. 13 : 5 .
Please remember that faith is not believing but is the revealed truths of Jesus Christ to man in the plan of salvation. As we believe and accept this plan we can say we have faith--- the just shall live by faith. Faith transforms our lives and we now live for Christ as all the necessary instructions are revealed in and through His word.