What is Faith

INTRODUCTION - ABC's OF FAITH

Text: Hebrews 11: -3.

Introduction:

A. Faith is difficult to define. It means:

1. Believing something without concrete proof of its reality,

2. To trust in a person or a thing,

3. To believe in God.

a. A mere belief in God is not faith in the Biblical sense.

b. Real faith is believing God to the point of trusting

Him for salvation, life-sustaining needs, security

and eternal blessings.

B. The text provides an inspired definition of genuine faith.

1. Faith is "substance," assurance, confirmation of things hoped for.

2. Faith' "evidence,"proof of things not seen.

C. Faith is lief in things whether past, present or future,

as may not be known by experience

and cannot be logically demonstrated, vs 3.

D. With these servants of God, faith,

"Was an abiding confidence in anticipated good,

and a clear conviction of unseen realities. "--A. C. Kendrick in

An American Commentary On The New Testament.

E. "Faith is the key which enables us to decipher God's

otherwise inscrutable communications. "--Malcolm Muggerid ,

"A Skeptic Goes to Bethlehem," Reader's Digest; December, 1988

I. THE NATURE OF FAITH. Faith is a natural principle of the mind.

A. All people exercise faith with regard to earthly things.

1. The farmer in planting his crops.

2. The manufacturer in regards to the sale of his product .

3. The laborer in regards to the tools of his trade.

4. The traveler with respect to the vehicle in which he rides.

B. But spiritual faith has for its objects a higher class of realities.

1. Faith is the "eye"of the soul.

a. A conviction of things not seen.

b. If faith is the eye of the soul, the Bible may be called the eye-glass

through which faith looks and sees the reality of all that God is doing,

has done and will yet do for His creation.

2. Faith is the "hand" of the soul.

a. By faith one lays hold on, grasps and claims, the promises of God.

b. By faith one obtains salvation, justification and security.

c. By faith one obtains heaven and all it holds.

C. The just shall live by faith, Hebrews 10.38

II. THE DOCTRINE OF FAITH

A. It is the reality of the unseen God.

B. It is accepting that creation was by divine decree.

C. Is that salvation is by divine plan.

D. Is that security is by divine power.

E. Is that heaven is a divine place to be realized.

F. Accepts the Bible as the revelation of God to His creatures.

The creation declares God (Psalm 19:1),

but only in the Bible is He revealed.

III. THE POWER OF FAITH.

A. It transforms a person from:

1. A hopeless sinner to a confident saint.

2. Bondage to liberty.

3. Despair to real hope.

B. So orders the life of a believer that it is directly opposed

to that of the unbeliever.

C. Faith has the power to transform character.

1. Turn a liar into a truthful person.

2. Turn a bitter disposition into a sweet disposition.

3. Turn hate into love.

4. Turn a fearful heart into a peaceful heart.

D. Faith forms good habits.

1. Abraham built an altar and worshipped God, Genesis 12.8

2. We, too, should worship often.

3. Regular Bible reading and prayer.

4. Faithful church attendance and regular giving offerings.

IV. THE ASSURANCE OF FAlTH Some examples.

A. Abel saw the "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the orld," John 1.29

B. Abraham saw the city that has foundations, Hebrews 11.10

C. Isaac, Jacob and Joseph saw that the promises concern in Canaan were real.

1. Abraham and Isaac were buried in the land.

2. Jacob put Joseph under oath that he would bury him there.

3. Joseph when dying made mention of the departing of Israel, Hebrews 11.22

D. By faith we are assured of:

1. Salvation in Christ.

2. Provisions of life-needs here.

3. The return of Christ in glory.

4. The resurrection and rapture of the saints.

5. Eternal glory in heaven.

Conclusion:

A. Through faith "the elders obtained a good report," vs 2.

1. Before God and men.

2. They constitute "a great cloud of witnesses"

to encourage all generations to lay hold on the promises of God by faith, Hebrews 12.1

B. Does your faith obtain for you a "good report"?

C. As Jesus' deciples, let us pray, "Lord, Increase our faith," Luke 17.5

Index

--