| "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." |
| Hebrews 11:6(NKJV-emphasis mine) |
First of all, let's take a look at what faith is.
| "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By Faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible." |
| Hebrews 11:1-3(NKJV) |
So faith is the recognition that God created everything, and that God is everything that He says He is. It is BY FAITH that we be sure these beliefs have SUBSTANCE and the backing EVIDENCE.
Why is it necessary to have faith? First of all, as shown in the first scripture verse, God says it is necessary; that we cannot please God if we do not have faith in who He is and what He says. Second of all because of what it accomplishes.
So what exactly does faith accomplish?
#1. it justifies us.
| "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law." |
| Romans 3:27-28(NKJV) |
| "knowing that a man is not justified by works of the law but by faith Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified." |
| Galatians 2:16(NKJV) |
| "and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ..." |
| Philippians 3:9(NKJV) |
(also see Romans 3:21-26, 4:1-20; Galatians 3:8,14,22,26; Ephesians 2:8; Hebrews 12:2; and 1 Peter 1:5)
Without the faith in Christ we are still bound to the law, and in the law no one can be saved. It is by faith in Jesus Christ as the son of God and His sacrifice that we are justified before God.
#2. it purifies us
| "and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith" |
| Acts 15:9(NKJV) |
#3. It gives us boldness and confidence.
| "in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him." |
| Ephesians 3:12(NKJV) |
#4. It empowers us!
| "So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'move from here to there' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you" |
| Matthew 17:20(NKJV) |
(see also: Matthew 21:21; Luke 17:6)
So where does faith come from?
It comes from God. Who through His word, promise, and previous miracles gives us the basis for faith.
| "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." |
| Hebrews 10:17(NKJV) |
| "For by grace you have saved through faith, and not of yourselves; it is the gift of God." |
| Ephesians 2:8(NKJV-emphasis mine) |
| "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..." |
| Hebrews 12:2(NKJV-emphasis mine) |
I would encourage you now, friends, to seek righteousness with faith (Romans 9:30-32); to live by your faith in Christ (Hebrews 10:38). For it is according to our "measure of faith" (Romans 12:3; 1 Cor 12:9) how many miracles God is able to do...
| "Then He touched their eyes, saying, 'according to your faith let it be to you." |
| Matthew 9:29(NKJV) |
| "And He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief." |
| Matthew 13:58(NKJV) |
(also see Matthew 8:10, 9:22, 15:28; Mark 5:34, 6:6, 10:52; Luke 5:20, 7:50, 8:48, 18:42; Acts 3:16)
So we have many reasons not only to trust God, but to have faith in what He says and what He says we can do through Him! So, my friends, HAVE FAITH!
| "the purpose of my instruction is that all the christians there would be filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscious, and sincere faith." |
| 1 Timothy 1:5 (NL) |
