This week we continue looking at the foundational teachings of our faith. Last week we looked at repentance from dead works. That is where it all starts. Jesus' statement that the Kingdom was at hand obliterated the idea that God is somewhere in oblivion, wanting very little to do with sinners, feeling justified that sin brought separation between Him and his creation. Sin did not change God; it revealed God!
Heb. 6:1-2 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment.
Let's look at the second thing that the writer of Hebrews mentions —faith towards God.
The very first mention of faith is the story of God and Abraham. It simply states that Abraham believed, and it was accounted to him as righteousness - Gen 15:6. The meaning is to trust, settle, or establish.
Abraham's faith was 400 years before the Law was given to Moses. Nevertheless, he and his descendants lived by faith. Through the born-again experience, we are Abraham's seed and live by faith just as he did.
Gal. 3:29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
The enemy has offered humanity many other ways to undermine their faith. Faith in self is popular but is nothing more than humanism. Faith in what they have, but that is materialism. Faith in religion, but that is denominationalism. How about faith in doctrine? That is pharisaisism. Even belief in democracy, known as politics. With all these options available, why would they consider faith in God?
There is only one way to God. You must have faith for salvation.
Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Faith in God is a spiritual force that activates when we believe the truth. Therefore, we must accept the truth about what God offers us for our sinful state.
a. Jesus is the Son of God – Matt 17:5
b. Jesus died for our sin – Rom 5:6-8
c. Jesus freed us from the power of sin – 1 Pet 2:24, Gal 2:20
d. Jesus reconciled us to the Father – 2 Cor 5:17-21
e. God raised him from the dead – Rom 14:9, Matt 281-4.
f. HE forgives us when we repent – 1 John 1:8-9, Eph 1:7
Faith is not passive. Faith is an action. You act, or you speak about what you believe.
Rom. 10:8-10 But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart, one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation.
People ask me: "Where do I start?" You start with God. Faith is not something you have. It is something God gives you when you believe His word.
Rom. 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Without this faith, you cannot please God. His word creates an expectation in your heart to receive what you need.
Heb. 11:6 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.
Faith starts small but grows. Jesus said it is as small as a mustard seed - Matt 17:20. The potential of any seed is in it. What begins as a seed becomes a harvest. Sometimes we are too impatient. We have faith as a seed but need to give it time to grow.
Faith is also one of the Spiritual Gifts. However, faith as a Spiritual Gift differs from the faith we get for hearing his word. This kind of faith empowers you to do miracles and signs. Jesus promised us that we would see and do these things.
Mark 16:17-18 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."
God also honors other people's faith. We have the story of the lame man and his friends that brought him to Jesus. They opened the roof of the house and let him down. Jesus responded to his friend's faith by healing him. If you don't have the faith you need, find your friends to believe with you.
Mark 2:4 And when they could not come near Him because of the crowd, they uncovered the roof where He was. So when they had broken through, they let down the bed on which the person with paralysis was lying. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven you."
How do we increase our faith?
Meditate on His word. The more of the word you have in your heart, the easier it is to believe in the outcome.
Pray the word. Let your ears hear the word of God. Faith comes that way.
Believe that if God did it in the past, He could do it again. We cannot expect less from God than what we read about Him in His word.
Stay connected with believers. They will help you stay the course and can believe with you.
Start acting on the word. Act before you see the results. Faith is the substance of things not seen, the essence of our hope.