Bible Faith



Introduction
1. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God.

A. Yet many do not even know what this word means.

B. We should all know about this important topic.
2. In order to understand what biblical faith is, one must first understand two things.
3. Let us look at two important facts:

A. What is Biblical Faith?

B. How does biblical faith come?

 

I. What is Biblical Faith?
A. Personal Belief

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

2. As Christians, we do not have to actually see something with our eyes to know that it exists (2 Corinthians 4:18). "While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

3. This does not mean that we blindly accept certain facts without any evidence.

4. Faith could be defined from the Greek as: "a firm unshaken confidence, conviction, or belief in the truth of a proposition, based upon testimony concerning it.”

B. The Bible also uses the word "faith" to denote the system of faith.

1. Galatians 1:23; Paul had preached the faith.

2. Jude 3; Jude encouraged those to whom he wrote to earnestly contend for the faith.

3. Romans 1:5; Paul said that we could be obedient to the faith.

 

II. How does faith come?
A. Romans 10:17. "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

1. Notice that they could not believe in Him of whom they had not heard.

2. This passage sets out for us, how one obtains faith: hear the Word of God, and then believe. This is the beginning of faith.

B. Jesus said that faith would come through the Apostle's word (John 17:20). "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their (the apostles) word.” C. The day of Pentecost.

1. Acts 2:37. "Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?”

2.Notice,they heard; NOT "they felt."

D. Acts 8:12. Philip was preaching in the city of Samaria. "But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.” Philip preached first, and then they believed.

E. God will not miraculously give anyone faith.

1. Explain Ephesians 2:8-9. "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

2. God will give us faith like He gives us our daily bread; we have to work for it.

3. One cannot pray for faith. Paul tried to do this, and he was told to get up and be baptized (Acts 22:16). "And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”

F. The Devil knows how one receives faith (Luke 8:11-12). "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.”

G. There has never been a Christian where the word has not gone (Romans 10:17).

 

Conclusion
1. Do you have Bible Faith?
2. This faith comes from hearing the word of God preached.
3. Not from some feeling deep down in your heart.
4. If you're sitting there waiting on some feeling to tell you to come forward, you'll be waiting forever.
5. Whether or not you want to have biblical faith is up to you. Will you obey? 6. It's a simple choice.