The Definition of Faith

(#100)

Read Matthew 12:33-37.

All depends on faith in the Christian's experience: the new birth, victory over sin, etc.  "Without faith it is impossible to please God" (Heb. 11:6).

What faith is...

ƒ    Negatively:

w   Faith is not blind credulity.  God never asks us to put faith in things or experiences but in Christ and in Him alone.

w   Faith is not "sight".

w   Faith is not feeling or emotion.

w   Faith does not use "I expect" or "I hope" but "I know."

ƒ    Positively:

Heb. 11:1: "Faith is of things hoped for, a confidence of facts, a conviction when they are not seen" (Rotherham).

"Now faith is a confident assurance of that for which we hope, for it will receive a vast reward."  (Weymouth)

w   Faith is confidence in things hoped for.  Noah, Abraham and others in the Old Testament didn't have the substance of things promised but they had confidence.  That confidence became a reality.  Faith is such an adventure as every sailor makes when he sets out for an unseen port..

w   A conviction of things not seen.

w   Faith accepts things now.  Faith believes, not that God can do it, not that God will do it, but that God has done it.

The source of Faith.

ƒ    Faith is of God (Mark. 11:22; Gal. 2:20).

ƒ    Faith is a gift (1 Cor. 12:9).

ƒ    Faith is a fruit (Gal. 5:22).  Union with Christ is necessary because fruit is the result of a union between two.  Christ lives within / through our death.

Have you ever wished you had faith?  You can have it by letting Christ live in you.  Then you'll have Christ's faith.

Faith is the grasping of Almighty power

The hand of man laid on the arm of God;

The grand and blessed hour

In which things impossible to me

Become the possible, O Lord, through thee!