Wednesday: The Obedience of Faith
Paul makes it clear that faith absolutely is foundational to the Christian life. It is the means by which we lay hold of the promises we have in Christ. But what is faith exactly? What does it involve?
What do the following texts teach us about the origin of faith? Gen. 15:5; John 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:14-15; Gal. 5:6.
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Genuine biblical faith is always a response to God. Faith is not some kind of feeling or attitude that humans one day decide to have because God requires it. On the contrary, true faith originates in a heart touched with a sense of gratitude and love for God’s goodness. That’s why when the Bible talks about faith, that faith always follows initiatives that God has taken. In the case of Abraham, for example, faith is his response to the amazing promises God makes to him (Gen. 15:5-6), while in the New Testament Paul says that faith is ultimately rooted in our realization of what Christ did for us on the cross.
If faith is a response to God, what should that response include? Consider what the following texts say about the nature of faith. John 8:32, John 8:36; Acts 10:43; Rom. 1:5, Rom. 1:8; Rom. 6:17; Heb. 11:6; James 2:19.
Many people define faith as “belief.” This definition is problematic, because in Greek the word for “faith” is simply the noun form of the verb “to believe.” To use one form to define the other is like saying “faith is to have faith.” It tells us nothing.
A careful examination of Scripture reveals that faith involves not only knowledge about God but a mental consent or acceptance of that knowledge. This is one reason why having an accurate picture of God is so important. Distorted ideas about the character of God actually can make it more difficult to have faith. But an intellectual assent to the gospel is not enough, for in that sense “even the demons believe.” True faith also affects the way a person lives. In Romans 1:5, Paul writes about the “obedience of faith.” Paul is not saying that obedience is the same as faith. He means true faith affects the whole of a person’s life, not just the mind. It involves commitment to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as opposed to just a list of rules. Faith is as much what we do and how we live and in whom we trust, as it is what we believe.
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Faith has literal applications that are understandable based on what is observable in our current lifestyles. A simple example is the light that is either on or off when a switch is activated. We have faith that this will continue to happen. Hebrews 11:1 is the text most often used when discussing faith. Roma6:1-23 tells how the transformation of slaves of sin to slaves of God is accomplished. These texts are equally important to our final destination.
Faith is something I often pray for,I see how God's children obey is a simple command. Abraham stepped out in faith and followed God commands to sacrifice his son. God often give us small test to see if we are faithful to trust him. Jesus gave his life for our life so we all may be saved. He had the ultimate faith in his Heavenly Father that he would rise on the three days. When we look at Matthew 17:20 and Jesus said unto them, because of your unbelief for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain,remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove ; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Jesus is saying to us that if we only believe in his love, we can trust him and in turn step out in faith by believing in his unchanging words. Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
In his personal testimony Paul says "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord . . ." Phil 3:8. To him this greatest treasure that he has found is "the Excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus". This is relational. A living relation with this Christ who lives in him. Faith is the knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Faith is part of God's means to want to declare man righteous. To declare us guilty free in His eyes. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him" Heb 11:6. Faith working by love is the key of knowledge, and everyone that loveth “knoweth God.” 1 John 4:7. DA 139.3
Faith is the access to righteousness. Paul writes "Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness" Gal 3:6. Other versions say credited. Christ is the true foundation of faith. Access to His righteousness comes by our faith. Our faith is in what He has done to us as a gift of His grace not that we have paid for it or earned it.
Faith does not save us but we are not saved without it. Christ save us. Christ is the only way. Faith Is the Key to Overcoming as much as prayer is the key in the hand of faith to unlock heaven’s storehouse, where are treasured the boundless resources of Omnipotence. . . CSA 27.1 . Amongst these boundless resources of omnipotence is : His grace, His love, His mercies, His life, His Righteousness, His Faithfulness etc. Faith is our access code to all these treasures of heaven.
"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God" Eph 2:8. Salvation is by the grace of God through Faith in His Son who took the penalty of sin unto Himself. He is the only one who became obedient even unto. "Looking unto Jesus the author[originator]and finisher[nourisher] of our faith. . ." Heb 12:2, the sinner is saved from his sins.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is calling us to take up a higher calling of this sanctified ambition[faith] to secure immortality which is of God through Him.
God does not need people who ask, why me?
He is looking for people who can answer why not me.
It is down in the valley our faith is really put into test.
Isaiah 54:7-8
7 “For a mere moment I have forsaken you,
But with great mercies I will gather you.
8 With a little wrath I hid My face from you for a moment;
But with everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you,”
Says the Lord, your Redeemer
In this Great Controversy, God is preparing a group of people who will not forsake Him no matter the cost (including laying down their life for Christ).
Not only to lay down their life but also to meet him face to face.
In times like these I have a Savior,
In times like these I have an anchor;
I'm very sure, I'm very sure
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes He's the One,
This Rock is Jesus, the only One;
I am very sure, I am very sure,
My anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
May God bless us as we prepare to meet him face to face
We need to delight ourselves in the Lord , And He will give us the desires and petitions of our heart. When we commit our way to the Lord ; We trust in Him, He will do it. He will make our righteousness, like the light, And our judgment like [the shining of] the noonday [sun]. Be still before the Lord ; wait patiently for Him, and entrust us to Him. Psalms 37:4-7.
I do believe that David, even though under the old Covenent, practiced righteousness by faith.
So God does not need me when in the darkest storm of life death took my family and even though I still believe God is my merciful loving Father the thought crept in why me why my family. Does that make me unneeded in His eyes? Words could be more carefully spoken.
Job had his entire empire and children wiped out- remember that. Did that mean he was not needed? No. The Giver is the giver of virtually everything. He knows why. He says call me in times of trouble I will hear you.
Don't despair mate.
Thanks for the discussion, I've learnt a lot
Does true faith need one to be born again
The great truth of the conversion of the heart by the Holy Spirit is presented in Christ’s words to Nicodemus: “Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be bornfrom above, he can not see the kingdom of God.... That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh and whither it goeth. So is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:3-8, margin. COL 98.1
Thnx a lot, have enjoyed the discussion
Faith is a gift from God. But we need to exercise that faith toward him and his promises for that faith to be true faith or for that faith to do us any good in our lives.
God will base on our personal faith to save us. we should pray to God sothat we don't fail the tests that God always gives us as He gave it to Abraham.