Faith towards God

Faith

• Last lesson - first step to salvation
• It's essential - Hebrews 11:6
• Hebrews 11 - chapter of Faith

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation...

Hebrews 6:1

• He wants us to go on to spiritual maturity
• Not telling us to forsake these principles
• Rather establish them in our lives and move on
• Know and understand them
• Growth is involved

Two Foundations

• Matthew 7:24-29
• We have to stand firm on - Ephesians 2:20
• We aren't prepared to go on until then
• Our purpose is to establish these principles
• To motivate us to greater spiritual growth

"Faith" and "The Faith"

• "The Faith" - doctrines/teaching of Christ
• Jude 3
• Not the same as "faith toward God"
• We have to know the difference to Rightly divide...
• Let's look at some scripture regarding "The Faith"

The Faith

• Jud 3, 17; Gal 1:3
• 1 Cor 16:13; 2 Cor 13:5
• Rom 1:5; 14:1
• Phil 1:27; Col 1:23; 2:7
• Act 6:7; 13:8; 14:22; 16:5

The Faith

• 2 Tim 3:8
• Titus 1:13; 3:15
• 1 Tim 1:2; 3:9; 4:1; 5:8; 6:10
• One can have "faith" and not be in "The Faith"
• You cannot be in "the faith" without having "Faith"

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith -
persuasion, credence, conviction of the truthfulness of God, assurance, believing (G3982)

How do we obtain faith?

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Heb 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

Faith

• The first step to salvation
• Hearing and believing the Word of God
• May not fully understand or be able to explain it
• Yet we believe
• This is faith toward God

This DOES NOT constitute salvation.
Rather, faith should become the propelling force that causes us to act on what we believe.
John 1:11-13

Faith

• James 2:19 - their belief doesn't save them
• Takes more then just belief
• Yet we can't be saved without it
• The first step, beginning ingredient
• A necessary part, every step must be in faith

We can get great things through faith in God. Most importantly Salvation.

Salvation

• Unbelief stops this
• Don't confuse doubt for a misunderstanding
• There is a difference - Revelation 21:8
• Let's believe and obey Jesus' call - Mark 1:15
• The following verses show the necessity of faith

Verses on Salvation

• Heb 11:6; John7:38
• Eph 2:8; John 1:12
• Eph 1:13; Rom 3:25
• Col 2:12; Acts 20:21
• Rom 5:2; Gal 3:2

Healing

• Faith is it's activator
• James 5:15
• Matthew 9:22
• Acts 3:16
• Matthew 9:29

Pleasing God

• We should all have this desire
• This desire should bring discipline
• Only accomplished through faith
• Hebrews 11:6 - without faith it is impossible
• Hebrews 11:5 - he pleased God

Victory

• Success in living for God
• Victory over any sin
• Only comes through strong faith
• 1 John 5:4 - overcometh the world
• 1 Cor 15:57; Rev 12:11

Understanding

• Activated by our faith in God
• Hebrews 11:3 - through faith
• Romans 1:20

Direction

• 2Co 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
• The path sometimes isn't clear
• Our sense of direction should be found in God
• Faith in God and in His Word

Facts of Faith

• Works by love - Gal 5:6
• Everyone doesn't have it - 2 Thes. 3:2
• Without works it's dead - Jam 2:17
• Can't please God without it - Heb 11:6
• Only charity is greater - 1 Cor 13:13

Facts of Faith

• Weightier than tithing - Matt 23:23
• Church is the household of faith - Gal 6:10
• Comes by hearing the Word of God - Rom 10:17
• Part of our armor - Eph 6:16
• One of the nine spiritual gifts - 1 Cor 12:9

Facts of Faith

• Part of the fruits of the Spirit - Gal 5:22
• Without it we'll make shipwreck - 1 Tim 1:18-20
• There is a principle of faith - Rom 3:27
• We are to build on our faith - 2 Peter 1:5-10
• Faith sanctifies us - Acts 26:18; 15:9

Facts of Faith

• Faith justifies us - Gal 3:24; Rom 5:1

Faith is an inexhaustible subject. Go on and explore the depths of faith. I hope faith is established in your heart for salvation and increased. 2 Peter 1:10