Good News About Faith
for
People in Need
This study has many Bible references. Consider downloading
it to your computer for a more comprehensive review.
Questions have been raised about the origin
of faith
in God, and Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world
Consider this: True faith
either comes as a gift from God,
or springs unaided from within the human soul.
Why is the origin of faith important to
understand?
There are people, even professed Christians,
who feel,
or have been taught, that they must have great faith
before
they can come to God, and Jesus Christ, in order to find
eternal life.
So, because they feel they don't have enough
faith,
or feel they don't have any faith, they stay away from God
and fail to obtain that which they need most.
When people keep God at a distance they
experience a lack of power,
and spiritual development which only He can provide through a close,
personal, relationship with them.
What needs to be done to remedy this situation?
Come to God just as you are; and believe
what He tells you
in the Bible. He wants you to come.
His invitation is open to everyone.
Don't wait until you think you have enough
faith,
or feel that you are good enough.
God will provide what you need to begin,
and to continue on ...
successfully.
... he that cometh to God must believe
that he (God) is, and that he is a rewarder
of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6
...my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by
Christ Jesus. Philippians 4: 19
What the Scriptures say about faith,
and
it's relationship to the plan of salvation
God the Father draws people to His Son,
Jesus
Jesus said... No man can come to me,
except the Father
which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the
last day.
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of
God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned
of the Father, cometh unto me. John 6:44, 45
Jesus is the author of our faith
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. Hebrews 12:2
Through Christ we trust God
And such trust have we through Christ
to God-ward... 2 Corinthians 3:4
God has given us faith through grace
Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and
God, even our Father,
which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation
and good hope through grace,
Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and
work. 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17
Faith comes by hearing, and by the word
of God
So then faith cometh by hearing,
and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10: 17
... the hope which is laid up for you
in heaven, whereof ye heard
before in the word of the truth of the gospel; which is come unto
you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth
also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of
God in truth... Colossians 1:5, 6
God gives it freely to you
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory,
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation
in the knowledge of him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened;
that ye may know what is the hope of his calling,
and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance
in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power
to us-ward who believe, according to the working
of his mighty power... Ephesians 1:17-19
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you
through the
knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
According as his divine power hath given unto us all things
that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge
of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious
promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine
nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world
through lust.
And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith
virtue; and to virtue knowledge... 2 Peter
1:2-5
All things are of God
And all things are of God, who hath reconciled
us
to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us
the ministry of reconciliation... 2 Corinthians
5:18
God establishes His people
Now he which stablisheth us with you in
Christ,
and hath anointed us, is God;
Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of
the Spirit in our hearts. 2 Corinthians 1:21,
22
God works in us
For it is God which worketh in you both
to will
and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians
2:13
It is God's work
Jesus answered and said unto them, This
is the work
of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.
John 6:29
Our role in this work is to cooperate with
His efforts.
Faith is among the gifts and fruits
of the Holy Spirit
Now there are diversities of gifts, but
the same Spirit.
And there are differences of administrations,
but the same Lord.
And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same
God which worketh all in all.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man
to profit withal.
For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom;
to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
To another faith by the same Spirit...
But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit,
dividing to every man severally as he will.
1 Corinthians 12:4-11
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law. Galatians 5:22,
23
God opened the door of faith for all
And when they were come, and had gathered
the church
together, they rehearsed all that God had done with them,
and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.
Acts 14:27
What faith isn't
Faith is not a feeling that comes and goes
with
with the rise and fall of human emotions
God loves you whether you feel that He
does,
or not.
For as the heavens are higher than the
earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts
than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:9
For I know the thoughts that I think toward
you,
saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil,
to give you an expected end.
Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray
unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search
for me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13
The LORD hath appeared of old unto me,
saying,
Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love:
therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.
Jeremiah 31:3
The Scriptures assure us that faith
is God's gift.
How large does someone's faith need to
be
in order to be true faith?
Consider what a very small seed can
do...
Jesus said... 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.
Matthew 17:20
What can the gift of faith do for a believer
in Christ?
... You are justified by faith in Jesus,
and saved by grace
Therefore we conclude that a man is justified
by faith
without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:28
For by grace are ye saved through faith;
and that
not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Ephesians 2:8, 9
... Faith brings peace, grace, and rejoicing
Therefore being justified by faith, we
have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith
into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice
in hope of the glory of God. Romans 5:1, 2
... Faith leads to righteousness
What shall we say then? That the Gentiles,
which followed not after righteousness,
have attained to righteousness, even the
righteousness which is of faith.
Romans 9:30
... Temptations and sin can be overcome
Above all, taking the shield of faith,
wherewith
ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of
the wicked. Ephesians 6:16
... It has healed, and made people strong
But ye denied the Holy One and the Just,
and desired
a murderer to be granted unto you;
And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised
from the dead; whereof we are witnesses.
And his name through faith in his name
hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know:
yea, the faith which is by him hath given him
this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Acts 3:14-16
And Stephen, full of faith and power,
did great wonders and miracles among the people.
Acts 6:8
... Many have been added to the Lord's
kingdom
through the exercise of faith
For he (Barnabas) was a good man,
and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith:
and much people was added unto the Lord.
Acts 11:24
The Bible says: The just shall live by
faith
Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who draw back unto
perdition; but of them that believe to the
saving of the soul. Hebrews 10:38, 39
Do all have the same amount of faith?
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. Romans 12:3
Can the gift of faith grow?
And the apostles said unto the Lord,
Increase our faith. Luke 17:5
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... 2 Thessalonians 1:3
That their hearts might be comforted, being
knit
together in love, and unto all riches of the full
assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement
of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
Colossians 2: 2, 3
Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
God wants you to have no doubts regarding
this truth.
How beliefs regarding faith in God
affect the spiritual life
People have asked:
"Does it really matter what
someone believes?"
The answer is yes!
Beliefs and teachings can lead people to
be
spiritually well, and strong; or weak, and lost.
One path leads to good health and life;
and the other leads to defeat, and ultimately...
to death.
God wants you to know the truth and choose the way to life.
Jesus said... ... ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free. John 8:
32
Summary:
Faith will be given to all who truly desire
it. When acted upon daily,
everything from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, to all the
blessings of eternity, will be the reward. This precious, free, gift is
still available.
Will you accept it today?
All you need to do is ask.
God's promise is:
Ask...you will receive...
Matthew 7:7
If you understand this truth... that's
wonderful!
Many, however, still do not. Share the good news
with someone today. Help the kingdom of God grow.
The harvest... is great; but the laborers
are few...
For more World Light studies on the
subject
of God's salvation use the following links:
How to be Right with God
Good
News about Christian
Sanctification
Grace in a
Barren Place
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