Faith

Hebrews Chapter 11 is a great chapter on faith.

It describes faith as being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Thus faith enables one to know for sure what God holds for him in the future; both in this life and the life to come.

It tells us that we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command by faith. That enables us to be sure of Genesis 1:1; and make it a sure part of our belief system by faith.

This chapter again tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that He exists. One should also be certain that God rewards those who earnestly seek him. That means we need faith to approach God on a daily basis. You cannot doubt when you approach God. Instead you should approach Him in faith.

Paul writing to the Corinthians talks about the gift of faith given by the Spirit of God. This is a kind of faith that can move mountains. But Paul also warns that if this faith is not accompanied by love, then “I am nothing.”

The lesson James taught the Church was this: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” He said further, “Faith without deeds is useless.” He was asking people to demonstrate their faith in God by their practical response to genuine human needs of others.

Now salvation also depends on faith. It is putting one’s faith in Jesus, the Son of God, and in His precious blood shed on the Cross of Calvary to receive eternal life. But this salvation cannot be earned by any righteous deeds (for our righteous deeds are like filthy rags before God; it cannot make one clean before God). Instead, salvation comes only by faith in Jesus!

Healing is another area where faith operates. In the Book of Acts it is written that Paul looked at a man crippled in his feet and “saw that he had faith to be healed.” He was commanded to stand up on his feet and the miracle happened. And Peter explaining the miracle of the healing of another crippled beggar said: “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can see.”

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