Apr4-Apr10: Faith

Faith – a Gift From God

1. Faith is a gift from God

SUPPORTING TEXTS:

• Eph. 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

• Rom. 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

• Rom. 12:3 …recognising that God has given to each one his measure of faith. (New Jerusalem Bible)

• Heb. 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

SOP: Faith is a gift from God

• Faith earns nothing for us; it is the gift of God, which we may receive and cherish by making Christ our personal Saviour. We may refuse the gift, and talk doubts, and become unhappy by cherishing unbelief. {ST, May 19, 1898 par. 14}

• We cannot even manufacture faith ourselves. "It is the gift of God: (Eph. 2:8). The whole of our salvation comes through the gift of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. How glad I am. It comes from such a source that we cannot doubt it. And He is "the author"--does it stop there? Does it stop there? "The author and finisher of our faith" (Heb. 12:2). --Manuscript 18, March 4, 1894

• It is impossible to please God without the exercise of genuine, sanctifying faith. We are individually responsible for our faith. True faith is not a faith that will fail under test and trial; it is the gift of God to His people. --The Review and Herald, Sept, 30, 1909. {2SM 375.2}

The Basis of Our Faith

1. What is the basis of our faith according to Rom. 10:17?

• Rom. 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

ANSWER:

• Hearing by the word of God

EXTRA NOTE:

• Notice how the centurion’s faith was based upon the word of Jesus.

• Matt. 8:8 … but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.

• Matt. 8:10 …Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

2. What does it mean “hearing by the word”?

• 189. akoe, ak-o-ay´; from 191; hearing (the act, the sense or the thing heard): — audience, ear, fame, which ye heard, hearing, preached, report, rumor.

• 191. akouo, ak-oo´-o; a primary verb; to hear (in various senses): — give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), (shall) hear(-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.

• John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word.

ANSWER:

• To understand the word of God

3. What is Greek definition for faith?

ANSWER:

• 4102. pistis, pis´-tis; from 3982; persuasion, i.e. credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly, constancy in such profession; by extension, the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: — assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.

OBSERVATION:

• Faith has two major elements; trust and believe

• Trust is connected to our emotional being. In order to trust something or someone, you need to be connected emotionally first. This is dealing with our feelings.

• Believe is connected to our intellectual being. In order to believe something or someone, you need to be convinced first. This is dealing with our thoughts.

• Therefore our thoughts and feelings connected to the way we exercise our faith.

• Since our faith comes from understanding of the word of God, that understanding should affect the way we should feel and think.

• Faith is not based upon your own feelings but it is based upon the word of God. Therefore your faith should be based upon the feelings and thoughts of the word of God.

Exercising Faith

1. According to Galatians 5:6, how does faith work?

• Gal. 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

ANSWER:

• Love

2. What is love according to 1 Corinthians 13:4-8?

• 1Cor. 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 1Cor. 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 1Cor. 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 1Cor. 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

ANSWER: Love is…

• Suffering long

• Kind

• Envying not

• Vaunting (boast) not

• Not puffed up

• Does not behave unseemly

• Seeking not your own

• Not easily provoked

• Thinking no evil

• Rejoicing not in iniquity

• Rejoicing in the truth

• Bearing all things

• Believing all things

• Hoping all things

• Enduring all things

OBSREVATION:

• Therefore when you exercise your faith based upon the understanding of the word of God then by faith you will be able to…

• Suffer long

• Be kind

• Envy not

• Vaunt (boast) not

• Not puffed up

• Behave seemly

• Seek not your own

• Not easily provoked

• Think no evil

• Rejoice not in iniquity

• Rejoice in the truth

• Bear all things

• Believe all things

• Hope all things

• Endure all things

Growing in Faith

1. What other experiences are connected when you grow in faith according to 2Thess. 1:3-4?

2Th. 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 2Th. 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure

ANSWER:

• Abound in charity

• Patience

• Endurance

OBSERVATION:

• Notice the characteristics of the last day people in Rev. 14:12

• Patience of the saints

• Keep the …faith of Jesus

2. How could our faith be increased according to Luke 17:5-6?

• Luke 17:5 And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith. Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.

ANSWER:

• Our faith will grow if we have faith as a “grain of mustard seed”

3. What kind of faith is as a grain of mustard seed?

• Matt. 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

SOP:

• In order to succeed in such a conflict they must come to the work in a different spirit. Their faith must be strengthened by fervent prayer and fasting, and humiliation of heart. They must be emptied of self, and be filled with the Spirit and power of God. Earnest, persevering supplication to God in faith--faith that leads to entire dependence upon God, and unreserved consecration to His work--can alone avail to bring men the Holy Spirit's aid in the battle against principalities and powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world, and wicked spirits in high places. {DA 431.2}

• "If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed," said Jesus, "ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove." Though the grain of mustard seed is so small, it contains that same mysterious life principle which produces growth in the loftiest tree. When the mustard seed is cast into the ground, the tiny germ lays hold of every element that God has provided for its nutriment, and it speedily develops a sturdy growth. If you have faith like this, you will lay hold upon God's word, and upon all the helpful agencies He has appointed. Thus your faith will strengthen, and will bring to your aid the power of heaven. The obstacles that are piled by Satan across your path, though apparently as insurmountable as the eternal hills, shall disappear before the demand of faith. "Nothing shall be impossible unto you." {DA 431.3}

Faith in a Person

1. It is dangerous to believe in false doctrines. Observe the following texts.

• Matt. 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

• Matt. 16:12 Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

• Rom. 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

• Eph. 4:14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive

• Col. 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

• 1Tim. 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils

• Heb. 13:9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

• 2John 1:10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed

• Rev. 2:15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

2. Jesus spent much time giving the correct doctrine. Observe the following texts.

• Matt. 7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine.

• Mark 12:38 And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces

• John 7:16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. John 7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

OBSERVATION:

• It is important to understand the doctrines of the Bible.

• Correct understanding of the doctrines of the Bible helps us to understand God in the right way.

• Let’s us not separate between Jesus and the doctrines of the Bible.

• Jesus did not belittle the importance of the intellectual and the spiritual understanding of the doctrines of the Bible.

• See how main doctrines are closely connected to Jesus.

• Sabbath doctrine helps us to understand that Jesus is the Creator

• Sanctuary doctrine helps us to understand that Jesus is the atonement and the High Priest

• State of the dead helps us to understand that Jesus really did die on the cross

• The Spirit of Prophecy helps us to understand the testimony of Jesus

• Second Coming helps us to understand that how Jesus will come back