FAITH IN CHRISTH

“What does the Bible say about faith?”

Answer: Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is “being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Perhaps no other component of the Christian life is more important than faith. We cannot purchase it, sell it or give it to our friends. So what is faith and what role does faith play in the Christian life? The dictionary defines faith as “belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proof.” It also defines faith as “belief in and devotion to God.” The Bible has much more to say about faith and how important it is. In fact, it is so important that, without faith, we have no place with God, and it is impossible to please Him (Hebrews 11:6). Faith is belief in the one, true God without actually seeing Him.

Where does faith come from? Faith is not something we conjure up on our own, nor is it something we are born with, nor is faith a result of diligence in study or pursuit of the spiritual. Ephesians 2:8-9 makes it clear that faith is a gift from God, not because we deserve it, have earned it, or are worthy to have it. It is not from ourselves; it is from God. It is not obtained by our power or our free will. It is simply given to us by God, along with His grace and mercy, according to His holy plan and purpose, and because of that, He gets all the glory.

Why have faith? God designed a way to distinguish between those who belong to Him and those who don’t, and it is called faith. Very simply, we need faith to please God. God tells us that it pleases Him that we believe in Him even though we cannot see Him. A key part of Hebrews 11:6 tells us that “he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” This is not to say that we have faith in God just to get something from Him. However, God loves to bless those who are obedient and faithful. We see a perfect example of this in Luke 7:50. Jesus is engaged in dialog with a sinful woman when He gives us a glimpse of why faith is so rewarding. “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” The woman believed in Jesus Christ by faith, and He rewarded her for it. Finally, faith is what sustains us to the end, knowing that by faith we will be in heaven with God for all eternity. “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9).

Examples of faith. Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the “faith chapter” because in it great deeds of faith are described. By faith Abel offered a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord (v. 4); by faith Noah prepared the ark in a time when rain was unknown (v. 7); by faith Abraham left his home and obeyed God’s command to go he knew not where, then willingly offered up his only son (vv. 8-10, 17); by faith Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt (vv. 23-29); by faith Rahab received the spies of Israel and saved her life (v. 31). Many more heroes of the faith are mentioned “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies” (vv. 33-34). Clearly, the existence of faith is demonstrated by action.

Faith is essential to Christianity. Without demonstrating faith and trust in God, we have no place with Him. We believe in God’s existence by faith. Most people have a vague, disjointed notion of who God is but lack the reverence necessary for His exalted position in their lives. These people lack the true faith needed to have an eternal relationship with the God who loves them. Our faith can falter at times, but because it is the gift of God, given to His children, He provides times of trial and testing in order to prove that our faith is real and to sharpen and strengthen it. This is why James tells us to consider it “pure joy” when we fall into trials, because the testing of our faith produces perseverance and matures us, providing the evidence that our faith is real (James 1:2-4).

Definition

Wherever we see the words “faith” or “believe” in the New Testament, they are usually a translation from the original Greek root word pistis. The noun form of the word, pistis, is usually translated as “faith” and the verb form, pisteuo, is translated as “believe.”

The ordinary definitions of “faith” and “believe” imply intellectual agreement with an idea or accepting something as truth, but pistis means more than that. As used in the Bible, it also impliestrust in and reliance on God or Christ, surrender of our wills to God or Christ, and conduct consistent with that surrender¹. All those elements are present in any mention of “faith” or “believe” in the New Testament, but from the context we can often see that some of the elements are emphasized.

Unfortunately, there are no words in the English language that capture the full meaning of the original pistis and pisteuo, so we are stuck with the often inadequate words “faith” and “believe.”

Examples from the Bible

In the New Testament, the words “faith” and “believe” often imply confidence, trust, reliance and humility with respect to God or Christ. That is the case with Jesus’ healings. In the story below, the woman had confidence that she would be healed if she could merely touch Jesus’ clothing. She put her trust in Jesus and relied on Him, because all worldly attempts to cure her had failed. She approached Jesus with utmost humility – in fear and trembling. Jesus’ power healed her, but her faith enabled that healing.

Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard about Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said, “If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well.” Immediately her hemorrhage stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease. Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my clothes?” And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, ‘Who touched me?’ ” He looked all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” (NRSV, Mark 5:25-34)

The story of the woman with a hemorrhage also has a lesson. If we approach God with humility and put our confidence and trust in Him instead of in worldly things, our faith will enable our spiritual healing and salvation.

John 3:16 is one of the best known and most beloved verses in the Bible, but it must be read in context to appreciate its full meaning and implications:

¹⁴ And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

¹⁶ “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.

¹⁷ “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. ¹⁸ Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

¹⁹ And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed.

²¹ But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”
(NRSV, John 3:14-21)

From the verses immediately before and after John 3:16, we can see that the word “believe” (translated from pisteuo) brings to mind these ideas:

Verses 14-16: We can trust in Christ and rely on Him for salvation just as the Israelites trusted in Moses and relied on him while wandering in the desert. The image of a serpent that Moses lifted up on on a pole was the cure for the snake bites suffered by the Israelites (Numbers 21:4-9). Similarly, Jesus was lifted up on the cross and then “lifted up” into His glory for the salvation of sinful mankind. That salvation is now available to the whole world, not just Israel.
Verses 17-18: We must put our trust and confidence in Christ as the way to salvation. By implication, our wealth, earthly power, intelligence, popularity, good deeds or obedience to rules and laws cannot save us from being condemned to hell.
Verses 19-20: People who do evil deeds have not come into the “light” of Christ – they are not true believers and do not have true faith. A thief works by night to avoid being seen in the light of day. Similarly, many people prefer their sinful ways and avoid facing the “light” of Jesus’ teachings about love, greed, morality, arrogance, etc. (Matthew 5:43-45, Mark 7:21-23, 12:28-31).
Verse 21: Although we are not saved by doing good deeds, good deeds and holy living will show clearly in the lives of those who do have saving faith.

Faith vs. Works of the Law

The apostle Paul was not one of Jesus’ original followers or disciples. In fact, he despised the growing Christian movement and fiercely persecuted the early Christians. Then, several years after Jesus was crucified, raised and ascended to heaven, Paul had a dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). After that, he spent time learning from some of Jesus’ disciples and became the most energetic disciple of all. He founded many Christian communities among the Gentiles, and his letters to these communities are among the earliest Christian documents preserved in the New Testament.

A group of people know as Judaizers opposed Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles. They told the Gentile converts to Christianity that they must observe all of the Jewish Law – circumcision, dietary restrictions, and all the many other rules and laws. But Paul said that was wrong; salvation comes through faith in Jesus Christ, not by observing the Jewish Law.

Galatia, a region of central Asia Minor (modern Turkey), was one of the places the Judaizers were active. Paul wrote this to the Galatian Christians to correct the false teachings of the Judaizers:

We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. (NRSV, Galatians 2:15-16)

Paul’s teaching has sometimes been interpreted as meaning that if we have faith, nothing else matters; we don’t need to repent of sin or do “good works.” But that was not Paul’s interpretation at all. He said if the Spirit of Christ is truly within us, we will turn away from evil deeds:

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. (NIV, Galatians 5:19-26)

Faith vs. “Good Works”

Church officials of the Middle Ages had fallen into the corrupt practice of selling indulgences to raise money. In return for the “good works” of a monetary contribution to the church, it was claimed that people could be released from penance for their sins, virtually guarantee their entry into heaven, or even purchase release from the pains of purgatory for a deceased relative.

Martin Luther (1483-1546), was a Catholic monk and Professor of Scripture at the University of Wittenberg in Germany. From his study of Scripture, Luther knew that indulgences bought from the Church did not have the power to forgive people’s sins. Instead, Luther taught that we can be justified (made acceptable to God) only by faith.

But Luther did not deny the importance of good works. He wrote, “For grace and faith are infused apart from our work, and when they are infused, then the works follow.” In other words, when one is saved by the grace of God, through faith, he or she will practice good works as a result of that transformation. He also taught that a believer must practice repentance throughout his or her whole life.

In 1517, Luther tacked his famous 95 theses entitled “On the Power of Indulgences” to the door of the castle church at Wittenberg. That document was a scathing indictment of the practice of selling indulgences, and it set off the chain of events that led to the Protestant Reformation. However, the Catholic Church soon undertook its own reforms and the practice of selling indulgences was abolished.

Today, the mainstream Christian churches, both Protestant and Catholic, take a position similar to Luther’s: We are justified (made acceptable to God) and saved through faith alone. However, good works will follow as the necessary result and evidence of that justification.

It is a great comfort to know we do not have to be perfect to find God’s favor. Even the worst of sinners can become a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17) through faith. Then, through good works and repentance, the light of Christ will shine brightly in our lives (Matthew 5:16, Luke 15:7).

Sin is disobedience to God’s commandments, either by doing what is forbidden or failing to do what is required. (See the Ten Commandments , the Greatest Commandments of Jesus, Mark 7:20-23, Galatians 5:19-26). In the Bible, sin is a serious evil that disrupts our relationship with God (Matthew 5:29-30, Mark 9:42-48, Romans 8:7-8, Romans 6:23).

Availability of Forgiveness

The good news is that, no matter how serious the sin, God is always seeking us out and is willing to forgive and forget our sins and give us a fresh start. As long as we live, it is never too late to ask for forgiveness and make a new start!

So Jesus used this illustration: “If you had one hundred sheep, and one of them strayed away and was lost in the wilderness, wouldn’t you leave the ninety-nine others to go and search for the lost one until you found it? And then you would joyfully carry it home on your shoulders. When you arrived, you would call together your friends and neighbors to rejoice with you because your lost sheep was found. In the same way, heaven will be happier over one lost sinner who returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! (NLT, Luke 15:3-7)

When we have sinned, we can ask God for forgiveness, as in the Lord’s Prayer:

and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. (TLB, Matthew 6:12)

Conditions of Forgiveness

Although God is always ready and willing to forgive us, He requires two things of us as conditions of forgiveness: repentance and forgiveness of others.

1) Repentance. Repentance means a sincere resolve to turn away from sin and toward God.

From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.” (NIV, Matthew 4:17)

If our sin has harmed another person, we should try to make amends for the wrong done (Luke 19:8-10). If we have tried to hide our sin, we should confess it (Matthew 3:1-6, Matthew 18:15-18,Acts 19:18, James 5:16-17). True repentance involves sorrow for acts of sin and leads to a fundamental change in attitude. We are not perfect and may fail in our attempt to avoid sin. In that case God is always willing for us to start over and make another attempt. However, if we ask for forgiveness with the intention of sinning again, we have not really repented.

2) Forgiveness of others. Jesus said we must be willing to forgive people who sin against us:

If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. (NLT, Matthew 6:14-15)

Forgiving another person means pardoning the offender and ceasing to feel resentment or hold a grudge. There should be no limit to our willingness to forgive others (Matthew 18:21-22). We should have a forgiving spirit whenever someone has committed an offense against us (Mark 11:25). Some people believe there is no obligation to forgive unless the offender repents, but that condition is mentioned in only one of the many passages on this topic (Luke 17:3-4). Continued anger and holding a grudge are always wrong (Matthew 5:21-24).

Forgiving others does not mean we are required to remain in an abusive or exploitive situation. Neither does it deny the right of governments to punish offenders. Jesus and other New Testament leaders supported the authority of civil governments (Matthew 22:15-22, Romans 13:1-7).

The Unpardonable Sin

Jesus said blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin:

I tell you the truth, all the sins and blasphemies of men will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; he is guilty of an eternal sin. (NIV, Mark 3:28-29)

The nature of this sin has been the subject of much debate. The most common interpretation is that Jesus was referring specifically to the sin of the teachers of the law (Mark 3:22-30) who said Jesus was possessed by demons and had an evil spirit. The total spiritual blindness of those who mistook the work of Jesus for the work of Satan put them beyond hope of repentance, faith and forgiveness.

Many people worry about committing the unpardonable sin accidentally or in a moment of weakness, but most Bible experts say there is no need for such worry. It is not that any sin is beyond the power of God’s grace. The sin of the teachers of the law was not forgiven because their own stubborn perversion of the truth and hardness of heart prevented them from repenting. Those people who are concerned enough to worry about their sins are not in danger of committing an unpardonable sin.

Related verses: Matthew 12:31-32; Luke 12:10.

Process of Forgiveness

Nearly all Christians agree that repentance and forgiveness of others are key elements of forgiveness, and that forgiveness comes from God. However, there are some doctrinal differences about the process of forgiveness.

The Catholic doctrine. Jesus had the power to forgive sins (Matthew 9:2, Luke 5:20). Jesus granted that authority also to His apostles (Matthew 16:18-19, Matthew 18:18, John 20:22-23). In Catholic doctrine that authority is now vested in the Church through the bishops as successors of the apostles. The Church exercises that authority to forgive sins, through its bishops and priests, in the sacrament of Reconciliation (also known as confession or the sacrament of Penance). A sinner confesses his or her sins to the priest who assigns a penance (often some prayers to recite) and grants forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church “in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.” The sacrament of Reconciliation is practiced in Catholic and Orthodox churches, although some other Christian churches also have rites of individual confession.

The single most important thing in a person’s life is faith.

Ephesian 2:8-9 says we are saved by faith. “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.”

Hebrews 11:6 Tells us we can not please God a part from faith.

“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

The very heart of missions is Faith. In truth, missions is the result of faith.

I. THERE IS A FALSE IDEA OF FAITH.

A. Christians have too often let the world, or the false teachers define for us Biblical truths. Many get their understanding of biblical faith from the TV/Radio Health and Wealth preachers who are con artists, defrauding their listeners out of millions of dollars. They present a distorted deliberate perversion of biblical faith.

B. What are some false ideas about faith?

1. Many have the idea that faith is something mystical and faith is some invisible attribute. Some think it to be some mystical thing we conjure up in our minds. In other words, we focus our minds on believing something and force ourselves to accepting it. Thus faith becomes some type of mental exercise we coerce ourselves into accepting.

2. Clearly many have been deceived and do not understand what biblical faith really is. Thus misunderstanding of faith effects their understanding of salvation and the function of faith in the believer’s daily life.

C. What is a simple and true description of faith?

1. BIBLICAL FAITH IS ACTION BASED ON BELIEF AND TRUST IN GOD.

The basis of Biblical faith is in accepting and putting into practice the promises of God. Faith is accepting what God has said in His word. When true faith is present action will be the result. In other words faith if real will produce action.

2. Lets try to illustrate it:

Suppose I said I believed in something. Wouldn’t the proof of my belief be the action it produced in my life? No action no faith. James said that “faith without action (works) is dead!” There was a bridge. Some said the bridge was unsound and others that it was okay to cross. What is someone asked me what I believed about the bridge and I said I believed it to be sound. Then the person said they did too and so asked me to walk with them across the bridge. If I truly believe in the soundness of the bridge I would cross the bridge…but if I didn’t deep inside really believe it was sound I would hesitate and not cross. Then the test of my belief would be in the action it caused me to take. Biblical faith believes God and acts on what God says. Lots of people claim to believe in God, but they allow Him no part in their life. The say they understand their is a heaven and hell, and that those who reject the Lord Jesus will go to hell. Yet, many say they believe in hell, but it does not effect their lives.

LISTEN CLOSELY:

3. For too long many Christians have let the world define faith for them instead of God’s Word. The basis of Biblical faith is not in miracles and visible demonstrations of God’s power. The heart of the error of the modern popular religious movements, yes even some Baptists….is that they look to signs on which to base their faith instead of the promises of God. They want to feel somethings and see something supernatural. That is why the modern contemporary service have so much appeal. They get people worked up emotionally and the people think they are having a spiritual experience. 4. Many who claim to know Christ are not experiencing His presence and power in their lives because they are not living by faith. Some then turn to look for something tangible that can hang their faith on…..some sign that God is real…..some feeling or outward manifestation of God in their lives.

They conclude God is present because they feel He is there. YET, if they have no experience, no feeling, nothing exciting happens they falsely conclude that God is not there or has abandoned them! Do you see the error of that kind of thinking? Folks God is not a fair-weather God! He is always present in the believers life….whether we know it or not. That is His promise. Whether I feel He is there or not, if I have truly believed in Jesus Christ…He is always and eternally present in my life.

Many feel that if things are going well then God is there and blessing, but when things are bad or not so good they lose sight of God. Many become disillusioned and their supposed faith wanes. Biblical faith truly believes and bases action on accepting what God has said regardless if it can be ssen or not.

Sad to say….I have seen occasions when miracles and supposed acts of God were made up or even faked to keep folks excited about God! Turn on your TV and what the religious con artists, who claim to be faith healers, for a demonstration of fake mirages and orchestrated excitement.

For some churches it is a regular practice, to try and stir up emotions so folks can feel like God is there. How sad it is to ignore God who is present and try to lure people into a false sense of God’s presence by putting on a show.

D. The Biblical record is that the great miracles of God have not really turned men to the Lord and have not increased men’s faith in God. Folks I do not mean to lessen the importance of miracles in the Bible. God used them and they always achieved the effect God intended.

1. Faith in God was only real when men and women simply believed God and trusted in His promises.

2. What a great miracle God performed when he divided the waters of the Red Sea and the Children of Israel escaped Pharaoh’s chariots that were bearing down on them. Yet, in only a short time the people had forgotten what God had done and began complaining bitterly against Moses and God. The whole history of Israel is one of God’s deliverance over and over again….but when God performed the miracles their devotion was short lived and they soon returned to unbelief.

3. In the NT Jesus performed miracle after miracle. Everyone in Israel new of Christ’s supernatural acts. Nicodemus, said what was the undisputable fact….”no man can do these mirages except God be with him.”

Yet, did the people in seeing the signs and wonders turn in faith to God? The answer is NO! They rejected the Lord following the con artists and religious leaders of their day who were called Pharisees. They dismissed Jesus’ miracles saying that He did them in the power of Satan. Clearly, the miracles did not instill faith in the Jews.

E. In John 6:26 READ It says the Jews followed Jesus for the food he put in their bellies. They were not motivated to faith by the miracles! However, Jesus reveals their true hearts. The Jews were not really looking for a spiritual Savior who would take away the sins of the world. They were selfish self centered people who were looking only for material things.

John 6:30 Foolishly they continued to ask for a sign. They had already seen the signs in the miracles Jesus performed! Note what they said: “Show us a sign that we might believe!” What they wanted was something spectacular. Is that not what the modern attitude is today…..show us something spectacular…some great and exciting thing.

Look at V35-36. They saw Jesus the Messiah standing before them, they heard His message, they had seen His miracles, but they did not believe. Verse 40 states, “This is the will of God…BELIEVE on the SON.” Verse 47 says “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” John 6:47

Jesus then told them again, but look at verse 60 at the disciples response, “This is a hard saying; who can hear it” meaning who can accept it. Does that sound familiar? Today we hear that we must be upbeat and preach only positive messages with no mention of sin. I was told recently that I should only preach salvation messages, because that is what people wanted to hear.

Verse 66 explains (READ) They all left, but the twelve. Jesus then asked them “Will you also go away?” What did Peter respond to Jesus’ question. Did He say “You have the signs the miracles” NO. . . Peter correctly said “You have the words of life.”

Here lies the crux of the matter. Many people come to church wanting some spiritual experience so they can leave and feel good about themselves. They are not there to address their faithfulness to the Lord, nor hear God speak to their hearts about godly living. They are not interested in addressing and confessing their sins…..in other word they are not there to hear the word of God preached with conviction….but rather to receive a pat on the back.

F. Luke 16: Jesus told the story of Lazarus and the rich man.

The rich man in Hell, begged for Lazarus to be sent back to warn his brothers. Abraham replied to him:

“Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. (Luke 16:29)

“And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.” (Luke 16:30) The rich man knew his brothers did not believe the Word of God….He knew he had not believed it. His wrong thinking continued even in Hell. He concluded that they would believe if they saw a dead man return to life.

“And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead. (Luke 16:31)

What saved Lazarus was simple faith, he believed and trusted in what God said. He trusted the promises of God. He certainly had little to feel good about. He was a poor beggar and sick with sores over his body.

He was a poor sick beggar. He was not blessed with material things. You cannot say his faith was evidenced in God’s material blessings as he had only the crumbs that fell from the rich mans table. By the way you do not hear the modern TV health and wealth evangelists preaching about Lazarus’s sorry condition do you? Yet, he as a man of faith….he was man loved and used of God. Even today…in this message God is using Lazarus faith as an example to us.

G. Two words are associated with faith which are “belief and trust.” They can not be separated.

Belief and Trust are two words that define what faith is.

Belief is an acceptance of the truth. Trust is an action and result of belief.

Paul Harvey said, “If you don’t live it you don’t believe it.”

You cannot separate these three words. They are totally interdependent on each other.

In the Old Testament the two Hebrew words used for faith literally mean: “TRUTH, trustworthiness: meaning something that is set, firm, stead fast, stable.”

In the New Testament, the Greek word is “pistis” {pis’-tis}; which means: “persuasion, conviction truth, or the truthfulness of God.”

Jesus said, “Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake.” John 14:11

Faith is the medium by which the power of God is made visible. The evidence that people had faith was that they responded to Jesus, they responded to what Christ said. In simple terms they believed and thus the acted on their belief.

Hebrews 11:1, Faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of thing not seen.

1. The heart of the Bible is faith…faith in God. It is believing what God has said and then acting upon it.

2. By looking at the faith of Noah, we can understand what is saving faith is in action. What it is and what it is not.

II. WHAT WAS THE BASIS OF NOAH’S FAITH?

The verse says being, “warned of God.”

– Faith is not a leap in to the dark. Biblical faith knows the final outcome.

– True faith is based on TRUTH. It is based the One who is Truth…it is based on God’s Word.

– Some have misunderstood the statement Jesus made about having faith the size of a mustard seed.

Jesus was making a common use of language. Suppose I said I was big as a cow. Am I? No, I am over weight, but not that big. The phrase simply means large. Jesus was rebuking them for not having any faith, He was not suggesting a way to excavate mountains. He was simply saving if faith were present, if you believed, you could do great things.

B. God told Noah the world was going to be destroyed because of sin.

So Noah’s faith is simply this: He believed it was God who spoke to him. If it was God who spoke to him, then what he heard was true so he acted upon it.

C. QUESTION? Does God speak today?

1. What is it that I hold in my hand? The Bible…God’s recorded Word to man. He believed God’s word, so he lived it!”

He prepared the ark and he preached to the lost souls around him. Not one other person believed! But Noah did!

His faith in God Word, God’s promises saved Noah.

2. Does God speak audibly today? Yes, in His recorded word.

“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” (John 5:24)

3. John 1:1 says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

The “word” is translated from the Greek word “Logos.” So says John the “Logos” is Christ. Christ and His word is the same.

Today we cannot see physically Christ Jesus. To us he is known by the Bible, which is the Word of God.

D. So, today, we still have the Word of God, as powerful as it was in New Testament times. We have it in recorded form.

God’s promises are immutable! They do not change! In the OT and NT, God spoke to some directly. Today He speaks to us through His word.

“God, who at various times and in different ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets. has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; Hebrews 1:1-2

E. Question? Can we hear the Word of God and have God speak to us today? Clearly we can….every time we pick up our Bibles and read God’s word. Some people are looking for signs and even to hear God speaking to them. Folks we can hear God speak to us anytime…..just open the pages of this Bible.

III. WHAT WAS NOAH’S FAITH BASED ON?

A. Was Noah’s faith based on what he could see?

1. No. It had never rained, or had there been a world wide flood.

2. There was no physical evidence in Noah’s life or knowledge that what God said could happen.

3. He had no knowledge to base his belief on except that God said it would happen.

B. Did Noah believe God? Yes. He believed God in spite of what logic and experience had taught him.

1. The verse says he moved with fear”.

2. Greek Word is “eulabeomai” {yoo-lab-eh’-om-ahee}; to be circumspect, i.e. (by implication) to be apprehensive; religiously, to reverence: -(moved with) fear.

3. When he heard the Word of God, that God was going to destroy the world, he became apprehensive and fearful. Clearly he believed what God said.

4. With no physical evidence on which to base his actions, he acted anyway, based solely on what God said.

IV. WHAT ACTION DID NOAH’S FAITH DIRECT HIM TO TAKE.

A. With God’s warning was also a promise of deliverance!!!

1. Noah believed God, and accepted God’s promise of salvation.

2. Note the evidence that he truly believed. “he moved with fear, prepared an ark in order to saved his house.”

V. WHAT WAS THE EVIDENCE OF NOAH’S FAITH?

A. He prepared an Ark. He set out to build something no one there had ever seen.

1. He build a large barge or boat on dry land. Noah could see the action of faith in his life. Others could see too.

2. How did the people who did not believe in God react? They rejected Noah’s warning and they all died in unbelief.

B. Could these people have been saved?

Yes. Absolutely. Did God warn them? Yes. He warned them through his preacher Noah.

2 Peter 3:19-20 – “by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison, who formerly were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while {the} ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.” 1 Peter 3:19-20

2 Peter 2:5, “and did not spare the ancient world, but saved Noah, {one of} eight {people}, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly;” 2 Peter 2:5

Noah preached for 120 years while the ark was being built, yet only his family believed, only seven people were saved.

C. How then is God warning men today of the coming judgment? By His word, preached and taught by His faithful messengers. Does God offer redemption today? Yes. Again, He promised to save all who will believe.

VI. WAS NOAH’S FAITH LIMITED TO HIS OWN FAMILY?

A. NO. The verses in 1 and 2 Peter indicated he was a witness by his actions, and he also spoke his witness for God.

B. Noah preached at home and in his country.

C. The verse says, “by which he condemned the world.”

Homer Kent, in his commentary on Hebrews, explains. “Noah, in his preaching condemned the sin and wickedness of the people, but won no converts.” But his lack of converts did not change his message. He did not water it down to make it more pleasing to people God was trying to reach. He did not bring in a so called “rock Christian band” to draw people. He just preached the simple word of God.

1. The people were condemned because they heard the truth, and yet refused to believe.

2. In Baker’s commentary on the Bible he says, “the very nature of the Word and of faith becomes an obstacle to the proud and powerful”.

3. Jesus said in John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” John 3:19

4. Noah’s faith was evident. He obeyed and lived a righteous life for God. Homer Kent further says, “the very fact that Noah believed God made the guilt of his contemporaries all the more inexcusable.”

VII. WHAT WAS THE REWARD OF NOAH’S FAITH?

A. Was Noah right? The world and those around him said he was a fool, a fanatic, pushy, to bold, self-righteous, and had no right to say such things. Today the call such godly preachers, fanatics, Pharisees, ignorant, legalistic and a host of other uncomplimentary things.

1. Yet, in love Noah preached. Out of a love borne only from the love of God he tried to help.

2. He was a righteous man. That means he did not hold bitterness and contempt in his heart for those that would not believe.

3. He loved them more and continued to preach when it was not popular or was it even accepted.

His preaching was based on God’s Word. It was not his word, but God who spoke to the people through him.

B. Noah is safe with the Lord even at this moment, as well as all who have believed and obeyed God.

1. He was saved!!!! Not only physically from the Flood, but more importantly God saved his soul.

2. Noah and his family lived through the greatest and most destructive event in the history of the Earth.

3. One day, I will ask Noah about all the events of the Flood. I have many questions. All which are to the glory of God, how God worked and what God did in saving him and his family.

CONCLUSION:

1. How do you stand in light of the statement, “If you don’t live it you don’t believe it.”

2. Faith is believing and trusting what God has said.

It is not looking for some special feeling, or just the right time to receive Christ as one’s Savior. It is not looking for a flash of light or a voice from heaven.

3. Saving faith comes my believing simply what God has said!

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9-10)

JOHN 3:16

“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Gal. 3:22

“Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)” Hebrews 10:23

“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.” (2 Peter 1:4)

Maybe there is someone here today that has heard the Word of God but you have not believed. You know that God says to believe, to accept Him at his Word and be saved and today….you have seen God’s truth and now do believe in Him. You need to come forward in the invitation and publicly declare your faith in Him. That is obeying His word.

There is a heaven and a hell, you are a sinner and Christ died for your sins. If you will receive Him he will save you, forgive your sin and give you eternal life.

MAKING GOD"S WORD OUR OWN

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