True Bible Based Saving Faith in Christ

I was asked to give a 30-minute talk to a local church about “Building Faith and Growing in Grace” this coming Sunday, November 24. I think most of them don’t know their Bibles very well which inspired me to write this. Please pray the Holy Spirit anoints me.

What is faith?

The subject of this article is faith in the biblical sense of the word. Many people when they talk about faith, they’re really talking about religion in general, any religion. We can have faith in people, faith in a belief system such as evolution, faith in science, faith in the value of fiat currency, faith in our teachers, our parents, our spouse, etc. But what is true Christian faith? The Bible gives us the key!

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

A “substance” is something tangible. In the case of Hebrews 11:1, it turns out to be something you can hold in your hand! The word substance was translated from the Greek word hypostasis. According to https://biblehub.com/greek/5287.htm hypostasis can be defined as

… properly, (to possess) standing under a guaranteed agreement (“title-deed“); (figuratively) “title” to a promise or property, i.e. a legitimate claim (because it literally is, “under a legal-standing”) – entitling someone to what is guaranteed under the particular agreement.

Isn’t that interesting? If you bought property through a real estate agency, you will receive the title deed of that property. You may have never have even visited the location of the property to see it, but you know you own it because you are holding in your hands the title deed from the real estate agent, a man you trust. Just holding the title deed gives you belief with strong conviction that you own the property. Such is true Bible-based faith!

As Christians what should be the primary source of our faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ? The primary source of our faith should be the written Word of God, the Bible! We believe the 66 Books of the Protestant Bible were divinely inspired and therefore the words God has given us.

The Bible was written by divine inspiration:

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…

1 Thessalonians 2:13 Ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God.

Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son

2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy (the Bible) came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Having faith is not the same thing as having feelings! Our faith is not based on feelings, it should be based on the facts of the Word of God clearly written in the Bible! Here’s a poem for you that illustrates that:

Feeling, Faith and Fact

Three men men walked on a wall,
Feeling, Faith, and Fact.
Feeling took an awful fall
Faith was taken back.
Only Fact remained.
So Fact pulled up Faith,
And Faith pulled up Feeling.
And they walked on the wall again!

If we don’t believe the Bible, we cannot say we believe in Jesus

Jesus said unto the Pharisees:

John 5:46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

They apparently didn’t believe Moses. Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible, Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. So-called higher criticism calls them a collection of fables. But as Christians, we must look at these books as history, historical facts.

In the 19th century with the advent of Darwin’s evolution, the Devil began to cast doubt on the Bible as the inerrant Word of God. It was the goal of some scientists to replace faith in the Bible with science. They said that science and the Bible are incompatible. But as science has progressed since then, it lends more and more credibility to the truth of the Word of God in the Bible! For example:

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

This Scripture agrees with modern day physics. In the beginning (time) God (primary cause) created the heaven (space) and the earth (matter). Science agrees that time, space and matter have to exist simultaneously. Moreover, Genesis 1:1 tells us that the universe had a beginning, what most scientists today would call the “big bang.”

The Bible clearly says that God created the universe and all life in it in six days. What is a “day”? According to my understanding of time, one day is one rotation of the earth relative to the sun. Is it really against science to think that the six days of creation were not literal 24-hour days? Modern science tells us the thousands of components of a human cell must all exist simultaneously to function! Remove one component and the cell dies. It could not have evolved over millions of years. Renowned synthetic chemist Dr. James Tour tells us that even if scientists could make all the components of a human cell, they could not put them together. Only our Creator has the power and knowledge to create human life instantly! If the human cell was not created in an instantaneous manner, it could not have survived. Perhaps some of my readers may disagree with that, and if you do, I suggest you take that up with Dr. James Tour who teaches it.

Doubt is the opposite of faith. Causing doubt in God’s Word was Satan’s tactic from the very beginning!

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

In other words, did God really say that? It turns out that Satan twisted God’s Word because God actually said to Adam:

Genesis 2:16-17 And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Our faith in Christ must come solely from God’s Word in the Bible

In the King James Version of the Bible, the word “written” occurs 291 times in 282 verses. The phrase, “it is written” occurs 80 times in 80 verses in 61 chapters in 21 books of the Bible. It’s always referring to the written Word of God!

Exodus 24:12 And the LORD said unto Moses, Come up to me into the mount, and be there: and I will give thee tables of stone, and a law, and commandments which I have written; that thou mayest teach them.

Exodus 31:18 And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

The Apostle John clearly says in his Gospel that he wrote it so we will believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ and thereby receive God’s gift of life!

John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

Jesus told the Pharisees they would die in their sins unless they believed he is Christ.

John 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

The Key to grow in Faith and Grace:

Apply these Scriptures in your life and I guarantee you will grow spiritually in the grace of God:

Colossians 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

And pray:

Psalms 119:18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

Before the invention of the printing press, Bibles were very expensive because they were copied by hand. Today Bibles are abundant and inexpensive. We have no excuse not to know the Word of God and build our faith upon it. The more faith we have, the more God will pour His grace upon us.

Up till now in this article, I’ve tried to emphasize the importance of knowing and believing the Bible record as the true Word of God in order to grow in faith. If you grow in faith, you will also grow in grace as well. The rest of this study puts emphasis on the importance of faith in the Word of God in establishing our relationship with Him.

The importance of faith:

Gal.5:6 [Nothing] availeth any thing, (except) faith which worketh by love

A. We are saved by faith:

Jn.3:16 Whosoever believeth in Him (Jesus) should…have everlasting life
Jn.3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life
Lk.7:47-50 (Jesus said unto the lady who anointed His feet) Thy sins are forgiven. Thy faith hath saved thee
Acts 10:43b (Peter’s testimony to Cornelius and his family:) Whoever believeth in Him…receive remission of sins
Acts 16:31 (Paul and Silas to the jailer) Believe on…Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved
Rom.5:1 Being justified by faith, we have peace with God
Gal.3:26 Ye are all children of God by faith in Christ Jesus
Eph.2:8,9 For by grace are ye saved through faith
Eph.3:17a That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith
(See also 1Pet.1:9)

B. We must live by faith:

Gal.2:20 Life which I live, I live by the faith of (Jesus)
Heb.10:38a The just shall live by faith (See also Rom.1:17b)
1Jn.5:4b This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith

C. We cannot please God without faith:

Heb.11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)
Rom.14:23b Whatsoever is not of faith is sin

D. Faith gives us the strength to keep going:

Psa.27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living
Rom.11:20a Thou standest by faith
2Cor.4:16-18 We faint not…while we look not at things which are seen, but at things which are not seen

3. The Word tells us to have faith:

A. In God and Jesus:

2Chr.20:20 Believe in the Lord your God
Mk.11:22 Jesus saith unto them, Have faith in God
Jn.6:28,29 Believe on Him (Jesus) Whom He (God) hath sent
Jn.14:1 Ye believe in God, believe also in Me
1Jn.3:23 His commandment, that we should believe on Jesus
(See also Acts 20:21)

B. We are also to trust the Lord day by day:

Psa.37:5 Commit way unto the Lord; trust also in Him
Prov.3:5,6 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart
Jer.17:7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is

C. Have faith in the Word, God’s promises to us:

Mk.1:15b Repent ye, and believe the gospel
2Pet.1:19 We have a…sure Word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed (See also 2Pet.3:2)
(See also Acts 15:7)

4. How to obtain faith:

A. Faith is a gift from God:

Heb.12:2a Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
Rom.12:3b God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith
1Cor.12:7,9a To another (is given) faith by the same Spirit
Gal.5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is…faith
Eph.6:23 Peace be to brethren…and love with faith, from God

B. Pray for it:

Mk.9:24 Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief
Lk.17:5 [They] said unto the Lord, Increase our faith

C. Read the Word:

Rom.10:17 Faith cometh by hearing…the Word of God
Jn.20:30,31 These are written that ye might believe
Acts 15:7b Hear the word of the gospel and believe
Rom.15:4b Written…that we through…Scriptures might have hope

D. The Word nourishes and builds up our faith:

Acts 20:32 The Word of His grace, which is able to build you up
1Tim.4:6b Thou shalt be…nourished up in the words of faith

E. Read the Word in a receptive, believing spirit:

Lk.8:15 They…which in an honest and good heart, having heard the Word, keep it, and bring forth fruit
Heb.4:2 The Word…did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it
Heb.11:13 [Past saints died in faith believing and embracing the promises of the Word]

F. Listen to testimonies of faith:

2Ki.5:1-5 [The Hebrew maid’s witness inspires Naaman’s faith]
Jn.4:28-30,39 Many of the Samaritans…believed on Him (Jesus) for the saying of the woman, which testified
Jn.17:20 Them which believe on Me through their word
(See also 2Pet.1:16,19)

G. Miracles glorify God’s power and often inspire faith:

Acts 3:1-13,16 ; 4:4 [After the lame man was miraculously healed], many of them which heard the Word believed…5,000 men
Acts 8:5,6,14 [Samaritans believed Philip and received the Word] seeing the miracles which he did
Acts 9:36-42 Many believed in the Lord [when Peter raised the dead]
(See also 1Ki.18:30-39 ; 2Ki.5:9-17 .)

H. Faith grows:

2Thes.1:3 We thank God for you…your faith groweth exceedingly

I. Becoming strengthened and steadfast in the faith:

Acts 14:22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith
1Cor.16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith…be strong
Col.1:23a Continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel
Col.2:6,7 Rooted and built up in Him, stablished in the faith

J. We should have faith when we pray:

Mat.21:21,22 Have faith, and doubt not…whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive
Mk.11:24 What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them
Rom.4:21 Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform
Heb.10:22 Let us draw near…in full assurance of faith
Jam.1:5,6 Ask of God…ask in faith, nothing wavering

5. The rewards (blessings or fruits) of faith:

Heb.11:6 He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him

A. Access to God:

Rom.5:2 We have access by faith into this grace
Eph.3:11,12 We have access…by the faith of Him

B. God’s love:

Psa.32:10 He that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him
Jn.16:27 The Father loveth you, because ye…have believed

C. Righteousness and purity:

Gen.15:6 He (Abraham) believed in the Lord; and He counted it to him for righteousness (See also Rom.4:1-5)
Acts 15:9 Purifying their hearts by faith
Rom.4:8,9 Faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness
Rom.9:30b The righteousness which is of faith
Phi.3:9 That which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

D. The Holy Spirit:

Jn.7:38,39 He that believeth on Me (Jesus)…out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water…the Spirit
Gal.3:14 We…receive the promise of the Spirit through faith

E. Protection against the devil’s attacks and lies:

Eph.6:16 Shield of faith…quench all the fiery darts [doubts] 1Thes.5:8 Putting on the breastplate of faith and love

F. Rewards in Heaven:

Jn.14:1-3 Believe in Me…I go to prepare a (mansion) for you
Heb.11:13,16 These all died in faith…He (God) hath prepared for them a city

G. Conviction to witness our faith:

2Cor.4:13 Having spirit of faith…we believe, and therefore speak

H. Spiritual strength:

Psa.27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see
Psa.31:24 He shall strengthen your heart, ye that hope in Lord
Isa.26:4 Trust ye in the Lord…for in the Lord is… strength
Isa.30:15b In confidence (faith) shall be your strength
1Jn.5:4b This is the victory that overcometh the world…faith

I. Stability:

2Chr.20:20b Believe in the Lord…so shall ye be established
Psa.125:1 They that trust in the Lord…cannot be removed

J. Joy:

Psa.33:21 Our heart shall rejoice in Him, because we have trusted in His holy name
Psa.146:5 Happy is he…whose hope is in the Lord his God
Pro.16:20b Whoso trusteth in the Lord, happy is he
Acts 16:34 He…rejoiced, believing in God
1Pet.1:8 Ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy

K. Understanding:

Heb.11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the Word of God

L. Protection:

Psa.5:11 [They] put their trust in Thee…Thou defendest them
Psa.115:1 Trust in the Lord: He is their help and their shield
Pro.29:25 Whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe
Pro.30:5 (God) is a shield unto them that put trust in Him
Jer.39:17,18 I will surely deliver thee…because thou hast put thy trust in Me
Heb.11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not (See Josh.2:1-22 ; 6:17,22-25 .)

M. Provision:

Psa.33:18,19 Them that hope in His mercy…keep alive in famine
Psa.37:3 Trust in the Lord…so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed
Jer.17:7,8 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord…he shall not (worry) in drought, [nor] cease from yielding fruit
Mal.3:10 Prove Me herewith, if I will not open you the windows of Heaven, and pour you out a blessing

N. Healing:

Psa.42:11 Hope thou in God…Who is the health of my countenance
Mk.5:25-29,34 If I…touch His (Jesus’) clothes, I shall be whole. [Jesus said:] Thy faith hath made thee whole
Mk.10:51,52 Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole
Lk.8:49,50 Fear not: believe only, and she shall be made whole
Jam.5:14,15 Prayer of faith shall save the sick…Lord shall raise him

O. Desires of your heart:

Psa.37:4,5 Trust in Lord…and He shall give desires of thine heart

P. Resurrection from the dead:

Job 19:25-27 [Job declared that though his flesh was utterly consumed and destroyed, he would have a new body]
Jn.11:25,26 He that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live (See also 1Cor.15:12-20)

6. Trusting in the Lord’s promises:

A. You trust in God’s promises because you trust Him:

Mat.8:5-10 The centurion said, Lord…speak the word only
Lk.5:4,5 We have toiled all the night, and taken nothing: Nevertheless at Thy word I will let down the net
2Tim.1:12b I know Whom I believed, and am persuaded He is able
Heb.10:23 Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; for He is faithful that promised
Heb.11:11b [Childless Sara] judged Him faithful Who had promised
(See also 2Chr.6:14,15)

B. You trust He is able to fulfil His promises:

Rom.4:20-24 Being fully persuaded that, what He had promised, He was able also to perform
2Cor.1:20 All the promises of God in Him (Jesus) are yea, and Amen
Eph.3:20 He is able to do exceeding…above all that we ask

C. God is able to do anything:

Jer.32:27 I am the Lord…is there anything too hard for Me?
Jer.32:17 Ah Lord God! There is nothing too hard for Thee
Mat.19:26 With God all things are possible
Lk.1:37 With God nothing shall be impossible
Rom.4:17 God…calleth those things which be not as though they were

D. You trust Him because He has not failed in the past:

1Ki.8:56 There hath not failed one word of His good promise
(See also 2Chr.6:15)

E. You know He will not go back on His Word:

Num.23:19 Hath He said, and shall He not do it? Or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?
Psa.119:49 Remember the Word…upon which Thou hath caused me to hope
Heb.6:18a It (is) impossible for God to lie

7. Faith vs. natural reasoning:

1Sam.16:7 The Lord seeth not as man seeth; man looketh on the outward appearance…Lord looketh on the heart
Psa.118:8 It is better to trust in the Lord than…in man
Pro.3:5,6 Trust in Lord; and lean not unto thine own understanding
Isa.11:3 He shall not judge (according to) the sight of his eyes
Isa.55:8,9 Neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord
Jer.17:5 Cursed be the man that trusteth in man [and not in God]
Jn.20:29b Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet…believed
1Cor.1:21 The world by wisdom knew not God
1Cor.2:5 Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God
1Cor.2:14a The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit
2Cor.5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight

8. The power of faith:

A. Genuine believing faith has tremendous power:

Mk.9:23 If thou canst believe, all things are possible
Lk.7:50 Thy faith hath saved thee [woman who touched His hem]
Lk.18:42 Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee
Jn.14:12 He that believeth on Me…greater works…shall he do
Acts 6:8 Stephen, full of faith…did great wonders and miracles
Jam.5:15 The prayer of faith shall save the sick

B. “Faith as a grain of mustard seed”:

Mat.17:20b Say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place
Mat.21:21,22 Ye shall not only do this which is done to fig tree
Mk.11:22,23 Have faith in God…say unto mountain, Be removed
Lk.17:6 Say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up

C. Faith trusts God to do outright miracles:

Num.13:26-30 [Caleb had faith to conquer the promised land]
Josh.14:6,12 [Caleb had the faith to drive out the giants]
1Sam.17:37 [David said:] The Lord will deliver me (from Goliath)
Lk.18:27 Things…impossible with men are possible with God
Heb.11:11 Through faith, Sarah received strength to conceive …when she was past age
Heb.11:29 By faith they passed through the Red Sea
Heb.11:30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down
Heb.11:33-35 Through faith…stopped the mouths of lions…women received their dead raised to life again [etc.]

D. Answer to prayer depends on our faith; the Lord can do anything, but we need to believe:

Mat.9:27-30 Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said, Yea. [Jesus said:] According to your faith be it unto you
Mat.8:13 As thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee
Mat.17:19,20 Why could not we cast him out? Because of unbelief
Mat.21:21,22 If ye have faith, and doubt not…ye shall receive

E. Believing, expectant faith will be rewarded:

Mat.15:28 Great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt
Mk.5:22,23 [Jairus said:] Come…that she may be healed. [And she was–See vs. 35,36,41,42 .]
Mk.9:23 All things are possible to him that believeth
Mk.11:23 Whosoever…shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe…he shall have whatsoever he saith
Lk.1:45 Blessed is she that believed: for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her
Jn.11:40 If thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God

F. Persevering faith:

Mat.15:22-28 A woman…cried to Him, Have mercy on me…He answered not a word [She continued insisting until He did]
Mk.10:46-52 [Blind Bartimaeus continued crying out to Jesus until Jesus granted his request for healing]

G. Faith and patience:

Rom.8:25 If we hope (have faith) for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it
Heb.6:12b Who through faith and patience inherit the promises
Heb.6:15 After he patiently endured, he obtained the promise
Heb.10:35,36 Cast not away your confidence (faith)…After ye have done the will of God…receive the promise
Jam.1:3 The trying of your faith worketh patience

9. The testing of our faith:

1Pet.1:6,7 Trial of your faith…more precious than gold
Job 23:10 When He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold

A. God tests our faith:

Gen.22:1-18 [God tested Abraham to see if he was willing to offer Isaac as a sacrifice] (See also Heb.11:17-19)
Josh.6:2-5 [He had Israelites merely walk around walls of Jericho]
Judg.7:2-7 [He had Gideon drastically reduce the size of his army]
Jn.11:23,39-40 Take ye away the stone. Lord, by this time he stinketh
Acts 5:17-20 [Just released from prison, the apostles are commanded to go preach publicly again]
(See also Deut.8:2)

B. He allows the devil and wicked men to test saints’ faith:

Dan.3:14-27 [Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego:] God…will deliver us …but if not…we will not serve thy gods
Mat.4:1-11 [The devil tempted Jesus :] If Thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down
Heb.11:35-38 [Saints were] stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain

10. If you have true faith:

A. You will continue to trust God, even when things look hopeless:

Job 13:15 [Job, having lost his wealth, family and health, said:] Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him
Dan.3:16-18 Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace…and out of thine hand, O king
Mat.8:24,26 There arose a great tempest…the ship was covered with waves, [but Jesus chided His disciples for fearing]
Jn.11:21,22 [Four days after Lazarus died, Mary said:] I know, that even now, whatsoever Thou wilt ask…God will give it
Acts 27:18-25 All hope…was taken away. (But Paul said:) I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me
Acts 28:3-6 [Paul calmly shook off a poisonous snake that had just bitten him]
Rom.4:18 Who against hope believed in hope, that he (Abraham) might [re ceive the promise]
Rom.4:20 He staggered not at promise of God through unbelief
(See also 2Chr.32:7,8 ; Isa.26:3 ; Jon.2:1-9 ; Acts 9:36-38 .)

B. You will not be shaken or alarmed at bad news:

Psa.112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed (established), trusting in the Lord

C. You will not fret or run around anxiously:

Isa.28:16b He that believeth shall not make haste
Pro.19:2b He that hasteth with his feet sinneth

D. If you trust, you will obey and put your faith into action.–Your deeds and words will show your faith:

Psa.116:10 I believed, therefore have I spoken
Mat.8:5-8,13 [The centurion believed Jesus’ word, returned home] and his servant was healed in the selfsame hour
Mat.12:10a,13 [Jesus tells man with withered hand:] stretch forth thine hand. And he (did); and it was restored whole
Mk.7:25-30 [Syrophenician woman believed Jesus, went to her home and found her daughter well]
Lk.17:11-19 [Ten lepers:] As they went, they were cleansed (healed)
Jn.4:46-53 Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word…and he went his way
Jn.11:39-41 Take ye away the stone. They took away the stone [and Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead]
Heb.11:7 By faith Noah, moved…prepared an ark
Jam.2:21-26 As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also
(See also Josh.6:1-16,20 ; Judg.7:7,16-22 ; 1Ki.17:9-16 ; 2Ki.3:9-11,16-20 ; 4:1-6 ; Heb.11:8,17,23 .)

E. Declarations of faith, followed by victorious action:

1Sam.14:6-16 There is no restraint to Lord to save by many or few
1Sam.17:32-50 The Lord…will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine
Judg.7:15-22 Arise; for Lord hath delivered [them] into your hand

11. Lack of faith:

A. Warnings not to doubt or lose faith:

Mat.14:31 O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
Jn.20:27 Be not faithless, but believing
Lk.12:29,30 Neither be ye of doubtful mind
Heb.3:12 Take heed…lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God
Heb.4:11 Lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief
Heb.10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence (faith)

B. The consequences of not having faith:

Deut.32:20 I will hide My face from…children in whom is no faith
Isa.7:9b If ye will not believe, ye shall not be established
Mat.13:58 Did not many mighty works because of their unbelief
Jn.3:36b He that believeth not the Son shall not see life
Rom.14:23b For whatsoever is not of faith is sin
1Tim.1:19 Faith…which some having put away, made shipwreck
Heb.3:18,19 They should not enter in [and receive God’s promises] because of unbelief
Heb.11:6 Without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)
Jam.1:6,7 Ask in faith, nothing wavering…he that wavereth…shall receive (nothing) of the Lord
Jude 5 The Lord…destroyed them that believed not

C. Weak or doubting faith seeks miracles and signs:

Mat.16:1,4 A wicked…generation seeketh after a sign
Jn.20:24-29 Jesus saith, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed
1Cor.1:22a The Jews require a sign

D. Faith or doubt?–To do or not to do:

Mat.9:29 According to your faith be it unto you
Rom.14:5b Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind
Rom.14:22 Hast thou faith? Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth
Rom.14:23 He that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Conclusion

True faith comes from knowing the written Word of God, the Bible. Read and study your Bible. Don’t just accept what the pastor tells you but check it out with the Bible.

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