Author: Gary Witcher

Christian Walk: By the Spirit - Faith

     "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen," the Hebrew writer instructs in chapter 11 verse 1.
     "For by it the men of old gained approval," the second verse continues.
     "And without faith it is impossible to please (God)," verse 6 points out, "for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."
     Obviously, faith is critical for those who want to follow God.  Those who are full of this faith are called "faithful."
     Faithfulness is the seventh item on the list of the fruit of the Spirit recorded in Galatians 5:22-23.  So all Christians are expected to develop this trait.
     The first thing that we notice when we look at faithfulness in the Old Testament is that God is faithful.
     "Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God," Deuteronomy 7:9 says, "the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His lovingkindness to a thousandth generation with those who love Him and keep His commandments."
     This means that God's commandments are also faithful, as David confirms in Psalm 119:86 and 138.  Since God is faithful and His commandments are faithful, those who obey these commandments are also called "faithful."  For example, Numbers 12:7 identifies Moses as faithful.
     When we turn to the New Testament, we find that the same principles apply.
     "God is faithful," 1 Corinthians 1:9 states, "through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
     "Faithful is He who calls you," 1 Thessalonians 5:24 promises, "and He also will bring it to pass."
     "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering," Hebrews 10:23 urges, "for He who promised is faithful."
     "Therefore, let those who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right," 1 Peter 4:19 encourages.
     Along with the faithfulness of God, we naturally find the faithfulness of Jesus.
     "But the Lord is faithful," Paul writes in 2 Thessalonians 3:3, "and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one."
     "If we are faithless," 2 Timothy 2:13 points out, "He remains faithful; for He cannot deny Himself."
     Hebrews 2:17 calls Jesus a "merciful and faithful high priest."  Hebrews 3:2 says that Jesus was faithful to God.  In Revelation Jesus is called "faithful and true" or "the faithful and true witness."
     As we saw in the Old Testament, it follows that God's words are faithful, sure and trustworthy.
     "Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance with the teaching," Titus 1:9 says of one who would be an elder, "that he may be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
     According to the New Testament, God is faithful.  His Son, Jesus, is faithful, and His word is faithful.  And, yes, His servants are also faithful.
     "Who then is the faithful and sensible slave whom his master put in charge of his household?" Jesus asks in Matthew 24:45.
     "In this case, moreover, it is required of stewards to be trustworthy," Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 4:2.
     In Ephesians 1:1 Paul refers to the Christians in Ephesus as "those who are faithful in Christ Jesus."  He addresses the Christians in Colossae in the same way in Colossians 1:2.
     "And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses," Paul instructs Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, "these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also."
     "These will wage war against the Lamb," Revelation 17:14 prophesies, "and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful."

     God is faithful.  His Son, Jesus, is faithful.  His word is faithful.  And his servants are faithful.  But just what do we mean by "faithfulness?"
     The word that is translated "faithful" represents an attitude of confidence, certainty, dependable truth, trust in what is real, and firm belief.  This agrees with the definition of "faith" that we read earlier in Hebrews 11:1.  Faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."
     Faithfulness means trustworthiness and reliability.
     "What then?" Paul asks in Romans 3:3.  "If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it?"
     In other words, God is trustworthy and reliable.  We can count on Him to be faithful no matter what.
     Faithfulness is the guarantee that creates the possibility of trust, both on God's part and on our own.
     God has furnished proof that He is faithful by raising Christ from the dead, as we read in Acts 17:31.  This is proof that He will do what He says, including judging the world through Jesus.
     In turn, we must prove our obedience to God by our faithfulness to our pledge to serve Him.  Otherwise we will incur condemnation, as we find in 1 Timothy 5:12.
     As we pointed out earlier, faith and faithfulness are tied together.  So it is important that we have a correct understanding of New Testament faith.
     Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 2:5 that our faith should rest on the power of God and not on the wisdom of men.  This verse actually concludes a passage that contrasts human reasoning and the wisdom of God.
     "This people honors Me with their lips," Jesus comments in Mark 7:6-8, "but their heart is far from Me.  But in vain do they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.  Neglecting the commandment of God, you hold to the tradition of men."
     "You nicely set aside the commandment of God in order to keep your tradition," Jesus observes in verse nine.  He says in verse 13 that these people invalidate the word of God by their traditions that they have handed down.
     If God's word is faithful, how can we pretend to be faithful if we shun this word in favor of human traditions?
     It should also be pointed out that New Testament faith is an action and not a feeling.  Too many people think of faith as some kind of emotion.  James 2:14-26 makes this very clear.
     "And convinced of this," Paul writes in Philippians 1:25, "I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith."
     "Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ;" Paul adds in verse 27, "so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel."  Notice once again that true faith is based solely on the word of God.
     The kind of faith that we are seeing is one that promotes trust and, as we read in Hebrews 11:1, conviction.  It leads us to share Paul's words in Romans 8:38-39.
     "For I am convinced," the passage states, "that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
     Our faith must involve a conviction of the revelation or truth of God.  In Luke 16:27-30, a rich man argues with Abraham that his brothers will believe if someone goes to them from the dead to warn them about eternity.
     "If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets," Abraham replies, "neither will they be persuaded if someone rises from the dead."  Many argue, even today, that their faith is based on some miraculous experience.  The Bible says that this philosophy is false.  We must depend upon what God has revealed in His word, as we learn in John 20:30-31.
     True faith will lead us to do a number of things.  According to John 1:12, faith results in our surrendering ourselves to God.  2 Corinthians 5:7 says we will walk by our faith.  In other words, we will conduct ourselves in a manner consistent with our faith.
     Paul indicates in 2 Timothy 1:5 that faith is associated with sincerity.
     When our faith tends to waver we must remember that, as with anything, we are dependent upon God and not ourselves.  Romans 4:20-21 reminds us that our faith stands on God's power to deliver what He has promised.
     "No temptation has overtaken you but such is common to man;" Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:13, "and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able; but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it."
     As our faith grows, we must be careful to hold on to it.  But, of equal importance, we must give it away.  We must share it with others.
     "How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed?" Paul asks in Romans 10:14.  "And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard?  And how shall they hear without a preacher?
     "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!" Paul quotes from Isaiah in the next verse.
     "So faith comes from hearing," he concludes in verse 17, "and hearing by the word of Christ."
     Faith comes from hearing the truth.  And this will set us free.

Unless otherwise noted, "Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE(R), (C) Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977. Used by permission."