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John,
Great start. Tell me about what those foundation blocks of faith are. We need to know so that when we look inward we can to a check before we start looking to placing the cap stone.
In Christ,
GreyBear
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Posted 12/27/2005 09:09am
Author: greybear
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If faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God then does that not imply that we need to read and be preached to and taught to increase our faith?
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Posted 09/15/2008 11:15am
Author: puppydogeyes
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Here's part one of my description of faith in Christ and how it allows God's Grace to enter the human soul...
Faith that demands, Grace that gives
Faith toward Christ gets beyond just simple belief. As men are called to faith through Calvary the acceptance of Christ is an initial act of the believer that follows the process of repentance. After man believes, faith is thus carried out through a life of subjection to God in mind, will, and body. A child of God obeys and walks in a consciousness to the presence of God by faith. Saving faith will demand obedience and accountability to God.
Through Revelation from the Spirit of God mans conscience is enlightened to a need of the death of Christ as a sacrifice for sin. Through enlightenment the Holy Spirit makes man willing to accept the person of Christ. When man accepts the death of Christ for the forgiveness of sins the natural desire to continue in sin is changed. A new desire of holiness is ministered to the human soul by the work Holy Spirit. The faith of man and Divine Grace work hand in hand together in the realm of Gods Salvation and Holiness thus developing a Christ centered life.
In effort to more clearly define Faith and Grace I'd like to call you attention to two great men of God that are dead and gone on to be with the Lord now. They left a great impact on this writers life concerning mans faith and God's Divine Grace. In 1989 and hungry for the knowledge of God I remember asking Brother Lindsey a great teacher of Faith and Holiness if he could recommend any books or writers on the subject of the holy heart and right living. I knew Hubert personally and outside of the Bible he was always leery to endorse or recommend any man's writings. One day to my surprise Hubert mentioned a book called, "Binney's Theological Compend Improved". I purchased this rare 1904 publication from a used bookstore and reviewed it. Its broad and descriptive content became a treasure to me as a writer and minister of God's Word. Amos Binney expounded on many Biblical subjects with great depth. His exposition on faith held my attention to the highest degree. Still to this day Brother Binney's exposition on faith put far more depth on the subject of faith than this writer could ever offer. Here's an excerpt from brother Binney's Theological Compend and his description of faith.
The acts of faith are three. They are distinct, yet concurrent exercises of the mind.
1. The assent of the understanding to the truth of God in the Gospel, especially that part of it which relates to the death of Christ as a sacrifice for sin.
2. The consent of the will and of the affections to this plan of salvation; such an approbation and choice of it as implies a renunciation of every other refuge.
3. From this assent of the enlightened understanding, and the consent of the rectified will, result actual trust in the Saviour, and personal approbation of its merits. This must necessarily be preceded by true repentance.
Learning about faith, where it comes from, and understanding how it relates to fallen man has opened vast Biblical truth to this writer. How blessed I am to have studied under Hubert Lindsey and Amos Binney who both taught the depths of the faith of man in relation to the holiness of God! I'm thankful for the clarification received from both these men as it has fortified my relationship with Christ and my understanding of the truth of the Word of God. A lifelong study on faith has proven that faith is much more than just believing.
When I look back through men of the Bible I see Abraham a man who staggered not at the promises of God. He believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness. Abraham was strong in faith, did not waver, and was fully persuaded.
Rom 4:20...He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
James 1:6...But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed
When I look at Noah's life I see a man of faith and a devoted preacher of righteousness who escaped God's judgment. Noah was a righteous man by faith and could not be swayed from his obedience to God. Noah's obedience was a product of his faith. When I look at the Apostle Paul's life I see an example of a morally changed man by Divine Grace through faith in Christ. Paul's faith could not be swayed from Christianity by any of the obstacles of life. Paul stood strong. Like many of the men of God before Paul I see immovable faith in all their examples. The Bible proves that men of God have always maintained obedience and righteousness in the eyes God. Men of God today can have this same faith and obedience toward God.
Faith consists of the following. A faithful man knows God. There is no compromise or doubt toward the truth of the Word of God. Faith helps man to pay attention to the Spirit of God. Faith keeps man attached to God and separate from a godless world. Faith is more than believing as it makes men accountable to God. Faith demands obedience and accountability. Faith gives man a moral obligation to God.
Luke 12:48...For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required...
In order to understand faith in more detail it's important to acknowledge doubt and how doubt affects man. Doubt is a natural tendency to disbelieve. Doubt is earthly bound. Doubt pays more attention to the world than to God. Doubt cannot hear or pay attention to what God has to say. Mans natural inclination will doubt the truth concerning Christ and the Word of God.
The natural man must be swayed by the work of the Holy Spirit that stirs the soul and leads fallen men to repentance. The Holy Spirit reveals man's doubts. The Holy Spirit shows man what he really is in the presence of Christ. The Holy Spirit makes man willing to accept Christ. Through the Spirits conviction upon the human soul believing stems from man's willingness to get away from what he is. Belief comes from a stirred conscience of guilt and rejection toward the truth about Christ.
Faith thus stems from mans rejection of Christ... not acceptance. The Holy Spirit reveals doubt and exposes man's negative side. The natural will of man rejects Christ; but through faith consent of the human will is given. The nature of man desires to sin; but by faith in Christ sin can be renounced. Mans natural understanding does not believe the word of truth but through enlightenment mans will and understanding can be swayed to believe. Faith comes from a man moved by the power of God. The Holy Spirit reveals, sways, and enlightens man's understanding to the truth about Christ. Men repent and believe when they realize they can only be delivered from a helpless immoral state by the redemptive power that comes from Calvary.
Men are called to faith by hearing the Word of God. Faith is ministered to the soul through the Word of God. Faith is based on the Word of God and comes by hearing, learning, and being taught.
Gal 3:2-5...This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
John 6:45...It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
The call of God is upon the soul of man from birth. The omnipresence of God's mercy and love continually reaches toward man. Through the Gospel message and the goodness of God's conviction the Holy Spirit speaks to the human soul and leads fallen man to repentance. Following repentance when man believes in Christ, God grants that soul the forgiveness of sins. After man believes a faithful life in the Spirit begins. A child of God does not walk in the flesh but in the Spirit. Faith thus demands more from a man after he believes than at the initial act of believing.
Belief which becomes faith goes beyond the initial act. Faith, which is increased by knowledge, requires more from the believer than receiving the forgiveness of sins at the new birth. Faith is grown and added to, through the believer's knowledge and life of obedience in Christ. Faith through understanding the truth of Salvation and a rectified will becomes trust in Christ through the experience of an obedient life. A believer with 15 years of obedience to God has more knowledge than a new convert. A believer that experiences victory over sin has more confidence than a believer who has never experienced that victory. A believer that experiences victory knows that Christ provides him with the power of God to live a godly life.
1 Peter 1:4-5...for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith
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Posted 02/11/2009 01:06pm
Author: rickroehm
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Here' part two of my description of faith in Christ a how it allows man to acknowledge the Holy Spirit's presence...under the Grace of God...
A believer without experience of victory lacks that knowledge. This lack of knowledge has caused many to fall.
2 Peter 1:4-10...Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
2 Peter 3:17-18...beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Many times I've been asked the question if man could lose his salvation. My answer to that question is, "Men don't lose salvation, but they can lose faith". Salvation is available only to the faithful. A faithful man is an obedient man in the presence of God. Man cannot be faithful and unfaithful to God at the same time. Nor can he be obedient and disobedient to God at the same time. Belief in Calvary provides the penitent with the forgiveness of sins. Obedience thus becomes the outflow of Calvary from within that soul. To Biblically prove that statement I'll use the Greek text.
In the Greek text of the Bible Romans 1:5 confirms that obedience springs from faith. Rom 1:5...By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations. Obedience of faith eis (NT:1519) hupakoeen (NT:5218) pisteoos (NT:4102). Subjective genitive as in Rom 16:26, the obedience which springs from faith (the act of assent or surrender).
In the Col.1:23 note the conditional clause, "If" we continue in the faith. To continue in the faith means to be obedient to God. If we don't continue in the faith shows an unfaithfulness and disobedience to God. Unfaithfulness moves men away from the hope of the Gospel.
Col 1:23... If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven;
In 1 Cor. 15:2 the Apostle conditionally says men are saved "If" they keep Christ in memory unless they have believed in vain. Salvation and believing requires keeping Christ in memory. Man can also believe in vain.
1 Cor 15:2...By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Many things can move man away from Salvation. Doubt is a great hindrance. Temptations can pull man away. Sin and disobedience are harmful products of unbelief. When man gets away from faith in Christ he also gets away from salvation of the soul. Faith and salvation are both present tense actions. Yesterday's faith doesn't save a man. Tomorrow's faith doesn't save a man. The law of faith has a present tense moral requirement ...Obedience to God!
There are many verses in the Bible that indicate man can lose faith. These include:
1 Tim 4:1...Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith
1 Tim 6:10...they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
Heb 6:4-6...For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away,
Faith is determined by man's knowledge of Christ. A great knowledge supports a great faith. Those weak in faith will have a shallow knowledge. A man full of faith lives in a realm of knowing who Christ is, what Christ does, what God says, what the Word teaches, and what is written. This is the basis of saving faith.
Without faith man leans toward worldly wisdom. Worldly wisdom will cause men not to believe the word of truth. Worldly wisdom is based on things outside the Word of God such as motivational speaking, philosophy, religion, etc. The faith of a child of God is never based on worldly wisdom or mans opinions it is strictly based on the person of Christ.
Faith acknowledges the Holy Spirits presence. Faith acknowledges the truth of the Word of God. Faith knows that mans sins are forgiven through the death of Christ on the cross. Faith knows the power of an invisible God. Faith is the evidence of things not seen.
2 Cor 5:7...For we walk by faith, not by sight:
The faithfulness of man and the inner work Gods Grace is the theme of the Holy Bible. By faith men get to God. When they get to God their moral obligation becomes a godly life. By faith in the death of Christ for the forgiveness of sins Divine Grace is freely given. Grace thus provides a change to the moral make-up of man.
Eph 2:8...For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God
Titus 2:11-12...For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Rick Roehm...
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Posted 02/11/2009 01:10pm
Author: rickroehm
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