FAITH TOWARD GOD – Part 1 of 2

Written 2009

“…the foundation of…faith toward God,” (Hebrews 6:1) – FAITH

What is faith?

Hebrews 11:1 – faith is an assurance that what we hope is true and a conviction in this even when we may not see it (see NASB translation)

What basis of faith does God recognize?

Psalm 27:13; John 11:39-40; 20:29; Hebrews 11:1 – God does not want sight to be the basis of our faith.
Romans 10:17; Luke 8:5,11 – Faith that is recognized by God must come from God’s Word.
1 Peter 1:23 – Faith derived from any other source/”seed” will not eternally endure.

Faith in what?

Hebrews 11:6; John 3:16-18 – there are certain things about the person and work of God that are essential to believe for God to be pleased.
Mark 1:15; Romans 1:16-17; 1 Corinthians 15:1 – there must be faith in the gospel of Christ

What is the gospel?

The word “gospel” literally means “good news”
Good news is a relative term that only makes sense in light of bad news
Bad News:
Romans 1:18-3:9-20,23 – Every person sins, and has blemishes in the sight of a holy God. God’s holiness compels Him to bring wrath on all who sin and are unholy. Since we “all are under sin” (Rom. 3:9), we all deserve God’s wrath.
Romans 3:20 – the Old Testament Law revealed this sinfulness, and pointed men to their need of a savior.
The Good News (Gospel):
1 Corinthians 15:1-4 – Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, died on behalf of our sins, was buried, and resurrected from the dead.
“according to the Scriptures” (15:3,4)
Romans 3:21-26 – all who believe in this gospel are justified and forgiven
Romans 3:25 – propitiation = “a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes God’s wrath toward us into favor” (Grudem 575)
Ephesians 1:13 – everyone who believes in the gospel receives God’s Holy Spirit, which is the means and Person by which God transforms lives into conformity with His righteousness
Matthew 7:15-20; Galatians 5:22-23; James 2:14-26 – God’s Spirit will produce fruit/evidence of this new life that began with faith in the gospel

How do we receive faith that pleases God?

Luke 8:4-8,11-15 – the word had to be received or rejected in the hearts of those who heard it.
Romans 10:9-11 – belief in the heart (not the head) is necessary for righteousness and salvation to be granted

Matthew 12:33-37 – “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (v. 34). Our words can’t help but testify to what is in our hearts.
“Many people make a profession of faith in Christ and the Bible, but their faith is only in the realm of the mind. It is an intellectual acceptance of certain facts and doctrines. This is not true, scriptural faith, and it does not produce any vital change in the lives of those who profess it…On the other hand, heart faith always produces a definite change in those who profess it.” (Prince 109)

Published by brianholda