Walking by Faith (part 4 of a 4-part series)

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

What is Faith?

Webster defines faith as, “1. A confident belief in the truth, value, or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing. 2. Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence. 3. Loyalty to a person or thing; allegiance. 4. a. Belief and trust in God. b. religious conviction. 5. A system of religious beliefs. 6. A set of principles or beliefs.”

The Bible has a very different definition for faith.

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Where does faith come from?

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ. (Romans 10:17)

…to another faith (is given) by the same Spirit...
(1 Corinthians 12:9)

How is faith manifested?

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith... (Hebrews 12:2a)

In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead...Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. (James 2:17, 18)

How significant is faith?

...everything that does not come from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23b)

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.”
(Matthew 21:22)

…he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (James 1:6-8)

How does faith work?

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.(Galatians 5:6b)

The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. (1 Timothy 1:5)

It is necessary for salvation! (Hebrews 4:2)

It is essential in spiritual warfare! (1 Timothy 1:18, 19; 6:12)

True Faith is Not Blind!

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)

Another translation states Hebrews 11:1 this way:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Substance is the basis of everything that is. Evidence is what proves things to be true. Faith is NOT believing something that you cannot prove, but rather acting upon truth that you believe. The expression, blind faith is an oxymoron which has no foundation in scripture. Faith works according to whom or what it is based upon. Biblical faith is based upon the truth of God's Word which has been acted out and proven over thousands of years of human history. Since there is a solid basis for this kind of faith, it is neither risky, nor blind!

For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. (Romans 8:24-25)

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporal, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18)

We walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)

The objects of our faith should be:

• God (John 14:1)
• Christ (John 6:29; Acts 20:21)
• The gospel (Mark 1:15)
• God's promises (Romans 4:21; Hebrews 11:13)

Results of faith:

• “so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.” (Ephesians 3:17a)
• Salvation (Mark 16:16; Acts 16:31; Ephesians 2:8, 9)
• Remission of sin (Acts 10:43; Romans 3:25)
• Eternal life (John 3:15, 16; 6:40, 47)
• Justification (Acts 13:39; Romans 3:21, 22, 28, 30; 4:3; 5:1; Galatians 2:16)
• Righteousness (Galatians 3:6; Philippians 3:9)
• Sanctification (Acts 15:9; 26:18)
• Assurance (1 John 5:1)
• Spiritual light (John 12:36, 46)
• Spiritual life (John 20:31; Galatians 2:20)
• Access to God (Romans 5:2; Ephesians 3:12)
• Adoption (John 1:12; Galatians 3:26)
• Preservation (1 Peter 1:5)
• Edification (1 Timothy 1:4; Jude 20)
• Inheritance of the promise (Galatians 3:22;
  Hebrews 6:12)
• The gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 11:15-17;
  Galatians 3:14; Ephesians 1:13)
• Provides us with a defensive weapon (Ephesians 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 5:8)
• Overcomes difficulties (Matthew 17:20; 21:21;
  Mark 9:23)
• Overcomes the world (1 John 5:4b)
• Assures success (2 Chronicles 20:20)

The righteous will live by faith. (Galatians 3:11b)

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Hebrews 11:3)

Faith produces:

• Hope (Romans 5:2)
• Joy (Acts 16:34; 1 Peter 1:8)
• Peace (Romans 15:13)
• Confidence (1 Peter 2:6)
• Boldness (2 Corinthians 4:13)
• Patience (James 1:3)

Faith causes believers to:

• Live (Galatians 2:20)
• Stand (Romans 11:20; 2 Corinthians 1:24)
• Walk (Romans 4:12; 2 Corinthians 5:7)
• Be commended of God (Hebrews 11:2)
• Overcome the world (1 John 5:4, 5)
• Resist the devil (1 Peter 5:9)
• Overcome the devil (Ephesians 6:16)
• Hope in God (1 Timothy 4:10)

Obstacles that test our faith:

• Discouragement (Luke 5:18, 19)
• Unbelieving friends (Mark 5:35)
• Scoffers (John 9:24)
• Divine delays (John 11:3-6)
• Lack of sympathy (Matthew 15:23; Mark 10:13)

...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (1 John 5:4)

The rest of the above passage states that only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God can overcome the world. That indicates that for faith to work, it must be based on Truth. Only Jesus is Truth personified. Therefore, only faith in Jesus is sufficient for overcoming the problems of this world.

There is an illustration in a popular tract that depicts a train with an engine, a coal car, and a caboose. The engine represents fact; the coal car, faith; and the caboose, feeling. The idea behind the illustration is that faith fuels engine of fact and the caboose tags along. Too often, we allow ourselves to be ruled by feeling. It's a small wonder we run out of steam so often. Stated succinctly, function by faith on fact and feelings will follow.

Guidelines for walking by faith:

• Be sincere in your faith (1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:5)
• Abound in faith (2 Corinthians 8:7)
• Continue in your faith (Acts 14:22; Colossians 1:23)
• Be strong in the faith (Romans 4:20-24)
• Stand fast in faith (1 Corinthians 16:13)
• Be established and firm in your faith(Colossians 1:23)
• Hold on to your faith (1 Timothy 1:19)
• Pray for more faith (Luke 17:5)
• Be assured by your faith (2 Timothy 1:12;
  Hebrews 10:22)
• Examine yourself in faith (2 Corinthians 13:5)
• Let your faith produce fruit (James 2:17, 20-26)
• Do everything in faith (Romans 14:22)

Faith in Jesus is:

• God's gift (Romans 12:3; Ephesians 2:8; 6:23; Philippians 1:29)
• The work of God (Acts 11:21; 1 Corinthians 2:5)
• Precious (2 Peter 1:1)
• Most holy (Jude 20)
• Fruitful (1 Thessalonians 1:3)
• Accompanied by repentance (Mark 1:15; Luke 24:47)
• Followed by conversion (Acts 11:21)

By faith (Hebrews 11):

• Abel was commended as righteous (verse 4)
• Enoch pleased God and did not die (verse 5)
• Noah became an heir of righteousness (verse 7)
• Abraham received the promise of God (verses 8-19)
• Moses delivered the Children of Israel (verses 23-29)
• Rahab's life was spared (verse 31)
• Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets conquered kingdoms, gained the promise of God and were commended by Him (verses 32-40)

Examples of men of faith:

• Abraham (Genesis 22:8)
• Caleb (Joshua 14:12)
• Jonathan (1 Samuel 14:6)
• David (1 Samuel 17:37)
• Jehoshaphat (2 Chronicles 20:12)
• Job (Job 19:25)
• Shadrach, Meshach & Abednego (Daniel 3:17)
• Paul (Acts 27:25)

Examples of applied faith:

• The leper (Matthew 8:2)
• The centurion (Matthew 8:10)
• The ruler (Matthew 9:18)
• The blind man (Matthew 9:28)
• The diseased (Matthew 14:36)
• The Canaanite woman (Matthew 15:28)
• The afflicted woman (Mark 5:28)

Lack of faith (unbelief) produces:

• God's wrath (John 3:36)
• Rebuke (Mark 16:14)
• Eternal separation from God (John 8:24)
• Conviction (John 16:9)
• Turning away from God (Hebrews 3:12)
• Delusion and damnation (2 Thessalonians 2:11, 12)
• Wickedness (2 Thessalonians 3:2)
• Impurity (Titus 1:15)
• Double-mindedness (James 1:6)
• The spirit of antichrist (1 John 2:22; 4:3)
• Death (1 John 5:12)
• Destruction (Jude 5)
• Eternal damnation (Revelation 21:8)

Verses to bolster your faith:

Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord's unfailing love surrounds the man who trusts in Him. (Psalms 32:10)

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. (Psalms 125:1)

Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You. (Isaiah 26:3)

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with Him, we shall also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him. If we disown Him, He will also disown us; if we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself. (2 Timothy 2:11-13)

May God bless you and strengthen you as you seek Him with all your heart, know Him with all of your mind, obey Him with all of your strength, and walk with Him in faith.

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