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Faith Towards God

Faith towards God is the essence of the entire Christian life. Initially, it has to do with our access to God and our standing before God. It is by faith that we are justified and brought into right standing with God. To be "justififed" means that we are declared righteous, or pronounced or treated as innocent. When a man is justified by God, he is not acquited on the grounds of his innocence, but by God's mercy and love through His Son, Jesus Christ. Faith is a gift of God and not something that we can earn by our own ability (Ephesians 2:8--"For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is a gift of God."). Faith in God gives us the ability to believe His Word and appropriate it in our lives.

  1. WHAT DOES THE WORD "FAITH" MEAN?
    It means: belief, faithfulness, reliability, trust, confidence, firm persuasion, assurance, or firm conviction.

    "Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title-deed) of the things (we) hope for, being the proof of things (we) do not see and the conviction of their reality - faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses" (Hebrews 11:1, AMP VERSION).

  2. WHAT CAUSES FAITH TO ARISE IN OUR HEARTS?
    The Word of God.

    "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." (Romans 10:17)

    There are several ways that we can receive the Word of God:

    1. Preaching of the Gospel (Titus 1:3; Romans 10:8; I Thessalonians 2:13).
    2. Through the written word (Luke 24:44; Psalm 119:105).
    3. In times of prayer (II Corinthians 12:8, 9; Isaiah 65:24; Jeremiah 33:3).
    4. A word of exhortation by another Christian (Colossians 3:16).
    5. In dreams and/or visions (Acts 2:17).
    6. Audible Voice of God (Acts 9:4-6).
  3. FAITH MUST HAVE ACTION OR EXPRESSION.
    1. Noah, by faith, moved with fear and built the ark (Hebrews 11:7).
    2. Moses, by faith, was hid by his parents (Hebrews 11:23).
    3. By faith, 120 believers received the Holy Ghost (Acts 1:14; 2:1-4).
    4. The lame man was healed when Peter had the faith to reach down and pull him up (Acts 3:1-8).
    5. Woman with the issue of blood was healed when, by faith, she touched Jesus' garment (Mark 5:25-34).
  4. HOW IMPORTANT IS FAITH?
    1. We are saved by faith (Ephesians 2:8; Romans 5:1).
    2. The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38).
    3. Kept by faith (I Peter 1:5; I John 5:4).
    4. We are healed by faith (James 5:15).
    5. We cannot please God without faith (Hebrews 11:5, 6).

    Faith is the key that opens the door to pleasing our Lord.

  5. WHAT IS JUSTIFICATION?
    1. Justification is a change in man's standing or relation before God. It is an act of God which frees penitent sinners from the guilt and penalty of sin.
    2. To justify means to declare righteous. When God justifies a man, He aquits him - not on the grounds of man's innocence, but of His own love and grace (romans 3:20-26).
  6. WHY DO WE NEED JUSTIFICATION?
    1. Because man rebelled against God and entered into sin; there is a separation between man and God. All men are sinners by nature and are condemned by a just, righteous and Holy God.
    2. Therefore, God must transfer our guilt onto His account. The death of Jesus made this transfer and forgiveness of sins possible (II Corinthians 5:21).
  7. HOW DO WE RECEIVE JUSTIFICATION?
    1. By the Grace of God (Romans 3:24; Titus 3:7).
    2. Through the Blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9; Hebrews 9:22).
    3. By Faith (Romans 5:1, 2; Galatians 2:16).
  8. WHAT ARE THE RESULTS OF JUSTIFICATION?
    1. Removal of penalty (Romans 4:7; II Corinthians 5:19).
    2. Condemnation is gone (Romans 8:1, 33, 34).
    3. Peace with God (Ephesians 2:14-17).
    4. Imputation of Christ's Righteousness (Romans 4:5; II Corinthians 5:21).

Daily, we must be in the Word of God to keep our faith fresh and daily confessing our sins, asking to be cleansed by the Blood of Jesus Christ (I John 1:8, 9).

Faith Towards God

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Mailing Address and Phone Number

Mailing Address: New Life Church
P.O. Box 975
Franklin, VA 23851
Phone: (757) 562-4705
   

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