17 Faith (2/2)
We are sanctified (made holy) by faith. ”To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto G.o.d, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me”
(Acts 26:18).
We become the children of G.o.d by faith. ”For ye are all the children of G.o.d by faith in Christ Jesus”
(Galatians 3:26).
Jesus Christ dwells in our hearts by faith. ”That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love” (Ephesians 3:17). ”But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe” (Galatians 3:22).
The Holy Spirit is received by faith. ”Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:2). ”That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” (Galatians 3:14).
G.o.d's grace is received by faith. ”For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of G.o.d” (Ephesians 2:8).
We increase our faith by hearing the Word of G.o.d. ”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of G.o.d” (Romans 10:17). ”And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 3:15).
Hearing the Word does not profit without faith. ”For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it” (Hebrews 4:2).
Faith works with G.o.d's love (agape). ”And Jesus went forth, and saw a great mult.i.tude, and was moved with compa.s.sion toward them, and he healed their sick” (Matthew 14:14). ”Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned” (I Timothy 1:5). ”And though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing” (I Corinthians 13:2; also see Galatians 5:6).
Faith is our s.h.i.+eld against the lies and attacks of evil. ”Above all, taking the s.h.i.+eld of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Ephesians 6:16).
Faith is what makes us overcomers. (Revelation chapters 2-3 and 21:7 lists the rewards promised to those who overcome.) ”For whatsoever is born of G.o.d overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of G.o.d?” (I John 5:4-5).
Faith must be held fast to the end. ”Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you [act] like men, be strong”
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(I Corinthians 16:13). ”Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses” (I Timothy 6:12).
It takes faith to believe the Scriptures; it takes faith to believe that G.o.d exists and that He rewards those who diligently seek Him; and it takes faith to seek a heavenly Kingdom when the world tells you to store up treasures on earth and seek the comforts of life now. ”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” (II Corinthians 4:18).
A day is coming when ”we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (II Corinthians 5:10). The Bible says that those who have done good will rise to the resurrection of eternal life, and those who have done evil will rise to the resurrection of condemnation in the lake of fire (see John 5:28-29). Without some evidence that our faith in Christ was real and genuine, we shall only rise again to be condemned.
(Written by David Holt Boshart, Jr. and his wife Shari Boshart. By Chris Reeves From Expository Files 2.5; May, 1995)
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