Now giving the definition from Cruden's Complete Concordance for Faith: "Faith is the dependence on the veracity of another, firm belief or trust in another person, thing, doctrine or statement. And when is said to keep faith when he perform a promise made to another.
1. Historical faith is a belief in the truthfulness and accuracy of the Scriptures, Scriptural narrative and teachings. "James 2:17,24.
2. Saving faith is the acceptance by the intellect, affection, and will, of God's favor extended to men through Christ. This faith produces a sincere obedience in the life and conversation. The firm foundation of faith is the essential supreme perfection of God, His unerring knowledge, immutable truths, infinite goodness, and almighty power. And with this faith we are said to be justified. Romans 5:1.
Formerly, as if it were our righteousness before God, it is called the faith through which we are saved. Ephesians 2:8. Faith is, as it were, a condition on our part whereby we come to be partakers of the blessings of the new covenant. It is a faith which worketh by love. Ephesians 5:6. It is not an idle, inactive grace, but shows itself by producing love to God and our neighbor. Faith in Scripture is also taken for truth and faithfulness of God. Romans 3:3. Faith is also used for the doctrine of the Gospel which is the object of faith. Acts 24:24; Galatians 1:23.
For the Biblical definition of faith, Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." The Lord Jesus, in the Gospel of John, likens faith to the vine and the branches in that we must abide in that relationship with God if we're going to be saved. Salvation is in separable from faith. I Peter 1:5: "Who {Christians} are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." This is a very strong statement in I Peter 1:5: " . . .kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation."
Next we have I Peter 1:9: "Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." Another very strong and powerful statement: " . ..receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
Next verse is Hebrews 10:39: "The just shall live by faith, out if any man draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." A very strong statement to the necessity of abiding in the faith and not drawing back. Also along with that could be studied Ephesians 6:16, actually Ephesians 6:10 all the way, even unto the end of the chapter just for extra context and study. Titus 1:1: "Paul, a bondservant of God and and apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and an acknowledging of the truth which is unto godliness." Here, the faith of God's elect, which is, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness. II Tim 2:11-13: " It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him and if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. If we believe not, yet He abideth faithful. He cannot deny Himself.”
And this, it's a foregone conclusion that there, it uses the word "faithful" more than once, that the necessity of having faith and also without faith it is impossible to please God. We must believe that God is and God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him. Hebrews {I don't know if I got the exact wording of that verse.}
Hebrews 10:2-25: "Let us draw near with a true heart and a full assurance of faith with out hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day drawing near." Here is that abiding in Christ!
And Galatians 2:8: "For by grace ye are saved by faith and not of yourselves. It is the gift of God." Here you're, for by grace ye are saved by faith . . .I cannot overemphasize the importance and the necessity of faith too much according to the Scriptures.
Here is I Tim 6:6-?: "{This is from the Revised Standard Version}"There is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world, but if we have food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction, for the love of money is the root of all evil. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. But as for you, man of God, shun all this, aim at righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good faith, take hold of eternal life to which you were called when you were made through the good confession and presence of many witnesses, in the presence of God who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus who for the testimony before Pontius Pilate, make the good confession, I charge you to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Here in Hebrews 4:1,2 Therefore, since a promise remains of entering His rest, let us fear lest any of you seem to have come short of it. For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; did not profit them, not being mixed with faith." Here it's showing them that the profit of the Gospel did them no good because it was not mixed with faith. Here again, showing the necessity and the importance of faith.
In James 5:15 it says, "And the prayer of faith shall save the sick." Collossians 2:5: "Beholding your order and steadfastness of your faith in Christ." Ephesians 6:16,17: "Above all, taking the shield of faith wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked and take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God."
Here again we have faith mentioned hand in hand with salvation and especially the Word of God. Praise God. There are a few more verses that pertain to faith and the consequences of not holding to the faith that was once delivered to the saints, that "without faith it is impossible to please God." (Hebrews) "The just shall live by faith. But if any man draw back [ apostasize or wander away ], my soul has no pleasure in him." Hebrews. Also in the Gospel: "If any man take his hand from the plow, he is not worthy of the kingdom."
This last quote [I don't think it's an exact quote--I need to get the reference, too] but when the Lord said "take his hand from the plow," also "looking back" or "drawing back," or going back into the world or wandering away from the way of understanding, other terms that are like these here.
In I Tim 4:1: "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith." This departing from the faith is an apostasy or one apostasizes or is an apostate and it's God the Holy Spirit that speaks expressly that in the latter times, or in the last days, or that some shall depart from the faith, we know from other Scriptures that there is one faith, one baptism, one Lord.
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith! He is the Initiator and Perfecter of our faith. Our Lord, as the Good Farmer, nurtures our faith along it's way, to grow as seen in the parable of our Lord concerning the tree that hadn't yet bore fruit. But we also are to water and edify one another in the faith, as brothers and sisters in the Lord. We our exhorted to build ourselves up in the faith by praying in the Holy Spirit, Jude 20.
Called to be faithful for our Lord is the Faithful and True One, Rev.19:11 We're within the pages of the Book! Some of you might have seen the movie " The Never Ending Story" a children's film that depicts the two main characters throughout the movie as laboring, fighting, struggling together side-by-side. The reader finds out that he himself is within the story even while being the reader and as being vitally important to the whole kingdom! We also are within the pages of the Book and have a vitally important mission. To bring others into the Kingdom.
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