The Christian Life is a Faith Life
(1 Peter 5:5-9) - Faith is a gift of God. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Rom. 10:17)
- We are saved by faith (Eph. 2:8)
- Faith helps us steadfastly resist our adversary the devil who like a roaring lion, walks around seeking to devour us (1 Peter 5:8)
- We live by faith (Rom. 1:17, Gal. 3:11, Heb. 10:38)
- We walk by faith (Rom. 4:12)
- Faith moves mountains (Matt. 21:21)
- Faith builds us up (Jude 20)
- Faith quenches all of the fiery darts of the wicked (Eph 6:16)
- Faith helps to overcome the world (1 John 5:4)
These are two things that the Bible requires of Christian's faith (Heb. 11:16):
- The Christian must believe that God is. None of the writers of the Bible argued for the existance of God; it was assumed. Even the Lord Jesus Christ, who came down from the Father, never tried to prove
that He exists. To believe that there is a creator is the first part of Christian faith. Only a fool says, "There is no God" (Ps. 14:1)
- The Christian must believe that god is a "rewarder of those who dilligently seek Him." The Christian faith is believing that God does exist, and that He rewards faith in this life and the life to come (Rev. 22:12, 13
The Christian faith:
- Keeps the Christian saved by the power of God and ready for heaven anytime (1 Peter 1:5)
- Is of greater value than gold refined by fire. Your faith will be tested many times and in many ways, but is more precious than gold that perishes. For the more it is tested, the stronger it becomes (1 Peter 1:6,7)
Because you have Christian faith, you are sometimes "grieved by various trials.. yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory" (1 Peter 1:6, James 1:2-4)
Job was tested to the fullest. Then he took his case directly to God, and cried out, "Though He slay me, yet I will trust Him." Then in unwavering faith he declared, "I know that I shall be vindicated" (Job 13:1-18). That is faith.
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).
In this abstract definition of faith, there are two spheres of operation:
- "Things hoped for." This is the realm of the material and physical. When the Christian has need in the material or the physical, faith can hope for it. If it is a need that will glorify God, you can claim it byfaith, standing on the promise found in the Word of God, such as:
- "My God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Phill. 4:19)
- "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want" (Ps. 23:1)
- "Call me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me" (Ps. 50:15).
- "I can do all things through Christ who strenghtens me" (Phill. 4:13).
- "God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also be the way of escape, that you will be able to bear it" (1 Cor. 10:13)
- "Things not seen." This is the realm of the spiritual, the invisible. We usually do not need faith to believe in things we can see. Faith believes in things we cannot see. It was reported by Moses,"By faith he forsook
Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; as he endured seeing Him [God] who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27). By faith, Moses was conscious of God whom he could not see. That is faith!
"But without faith, it is impossible to please Him" (Heb. 11:16).
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Steve Hennessee, w6umr