Title: The essence of faith
Scripture Reading: Romans 4:16-24
Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.
19 And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah’s womb:
20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
What I learn last Sunday, was, on my part of the covenant is just to believe/have faith in Him (like Abraham) and to be faithful to him. I got my answer last Sunday. I told God, I believe, hope against hope I believed, that whatever you have promised you will surely bring it to pass. This brings us to today’s message which is very necessary for many of us. Let’s study a few truths on today’s sermon
- What is faith?
Faith is simply believing. I pray that we will recognize the extreme simplicity of faith. I hope you will recognize that faith is nothing more or less than just believing God. When God says, he has done something for us, or he will do it, then trust him to keep His word. Faith is so simple that it is hard to explain.
In Greek, the word for faith is PISTIS
And the Greek word for believe is PISTEUO
The stem of each word is made up of the same four letter: PIST
In English the opposite of faith is unbelief. If I know my bible well, I notice that God is extremely angry when there is unbelief.
Faith is PISTIA
Unbelief is APISTIA
A Prefix ‘a’ is seen. ‘a’ is equivalent to ‘anti’
For the sake of clarity, we will set 5 words side by side in two parallel columns
Greek English
Noun PISTIA FAITH
Noun APISTIA UNBELIEF
Adjective PISTOS FAITH, BELEVING
Adjective APISTOS UNFAITHFULNESS, UNBELIEVING
Verb PISTEUO I BELIEVE
- The importance of faith
We see that all five Greek words are visibility linked by the stem word ‘PIST’, that occurs in each of them. In the original text of the New Testament, altogether they occur 600 times. On this basis alone, it is clear, that these words represent a theme that is central to the bible’s total revelation.
When you have faith, miracles happen
To be more personal, for Christian, faith is believing God, trusting God. The bible clearly says that if you have faith, you please God. For without faith, it is impossible to please God.
- Our faith assisted by God’s revelation of His character and Will
Before we believe God for anything, it is a reasonable insistence that we have an understanding and knowledge of the character of God. We must have this implicit belief that God is a good God.
Everything in the Christian life depends upon an adequate understanding of who God is, what is God like. And an inadequate or inaccurate knowledge of God will result in a defective faith. No wonder the bible says that the people that know their God shall be strong and do exploit. No wonder the bible says, ‘Faith cometh by hearing but hearing by the word of God. John the beloved disciple started his book informing us that the word is God,. Christian, we need to know the Word of God if we want to increase our faith. If you know the Word, God will reveal his character and will assist your faith
What is the state of your faith now? The bible says in the last days perilous times shall come. Perilous means grave risk, hazardous, dangerous times. Men will become lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. Man will start to have a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. They will resist the truth, men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. When it comes to faith in the last days, men will have a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked mind. They will be drunken. They will be rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation.
- Abraham, the Father of Faith
Read Romans 4:16-24 again. God’s blessings are given to us by faith, as a free gift. We are certain to get them whether or not we follow Jewish customs if we have faith, like Abraham. Abraham is the father of all of us when it comes to the matter of faith.
To know the faith that pleases God, we need to learn from Abraham, the father of faith. There are three things we need to consider:
- To Abraham, God revealed Himself as one who gives life to the dead and calls in being that which does not exist.
- God gave Abraham two promises: one, Sarah would have a son, two, he (Abraham) would become the father of many nations. God revealed to Abraham that part of His character that would enable Abraham to believe.
- Revelation demands a response.
Let us apply this truth into our lives. As a child of the true and living God, God has many promises made to us. And God also revealed his character, of His power, His nature, His desire, His ability to bring about His promises to you. Maybe God has promised you things that only you and God knows. He has promised to help your studies, your ministry, your family and He has revealed His nature to assist your faith.
- Revelation of God to you
God’s revelation to you in your salvation. It is mankind’s required initial faith. Let’s discuss about your salvation. God says, ‘I knew you before you were formed within your mother’s womb, before you were born, I sanctified you and appointed you as my spokesman to the world.’
John 15:16 says, ‘You did not choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lovely fruits always so that no matter what you ask from the father, using my name, he will give it to you. For I chose you of this world.’
God’s revelation to you in the promises. This is mankind’s continuing faith response.
He says, ‘I know that plans that I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. And he personally asked Jesus to be the author and finisher of your faith.
- God revelational promise demands a response
By the step of faith, we must put ourselves into the hands of the divine potter. Yes, there are problems, obstacles, hindrance. For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Our faith is to trust the word of God and totally surrender our life into the hand of the divine potter.
Human must respond by faith. Look at Abraham’s response. Remember that Isaac was born
- 13 years after the promise
- After Abraham tried to give Sarah away twice.
- After Abraham had a son with Hagar
- After both Sarah and Abraham laughed at the promise.
Abraham and Sarah did not have perfect faith. When I come to this part. I heaved a sigh of relief. There is still hope for me concerning the promises of God. Thank God, Salvation does not require perfect faith, but only the proper object (God in the Old Testament and His Son in the New Testament. The essence of faith is that one trusts in the character and promises of God and not in human performance. Faith trusts in the God of promises.
