FAITH
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) Faith is a word with many meanings.
@1. It can mean faithfulness (see Matthew 24:45).
i) 45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? (Matthew 24:45 NKJV)
@2. It can mean absolute trust, as shown by some of the people who came to Jesus for healing (see Luke 7:2-10).
i) 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. (Luke 7:2-10 NKJV)
@3. It can mean confident hope (see Hebrew 11:1).
i) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
@4. Or, as James points out, it can mean a barren belief that does not result in good works (see James 2:14-26).
i) 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:14-26 NKJV)
1. What does Paul mean when, in Romans, he speaks of saving faith?
a) We must be careful to understand faith as Paul uses the word, because he ties faith so closely to salvation. It is not something we must do in order to earn salvation - if that were true, then faith would be just one more work, and Paul clearly states that human works can never save us (see Galatians 2:16).
#i) 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in 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)
b) Instead, faith is a gift God gives us because he is saving us (see Ephesians 2:8).
#i) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV)
c) It is God's grace, not our faith, that saves us. In his mercy, however, when he saves us he gives us faith - a relationship with his Son that helps us become like him. Through the faith he gives us, he carries us from death to life (see John 5:24).
#i) 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24 NKJV)
d) Even in Old Testament times, grace, not works, was the basis of salvation. As Hebrews points out, "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (see Hebrews 10:4).
#i) 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4 NKJV)
e) God intended for his people to look beyond the animal sacrifices to him, but all too often they, instead, put their confidence in fulfilling the requirements of the law - that is, performing the required sacrifices.
f) When Jesus triumphed over death, he cancelled the charges against us and opened the way to the Father (see Colossians 2:12-15).
#i) 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:12-15 NKJV)
g) Because he is merciful, he offers us faith. How tragic if we turn faith into work and try to develop it on our own! We can never come to God through our own faith, any more than his Old Testament people could come through their own sacrifices. Instead, we must accept his gracious offer with thanksgiving and allow him to plant the seed of faith within us.
The End ...
0. Introductiona) Faith is a word with many meanings.
@1. It can mean faithfulness (see Matthew 24:45).
i) 45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? (Matthew 24:45 NKJV)
@2. It can mean absolute trust, as shown by some of the people who came to Jesus for healing (see Luke 7:2-10).
i) 2 And a certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. 3 So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they begged Him earnestly, saying that the one for whom He should do this was deserving, 5 “for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue.”
6 Then Jesus went with them. And when He was already not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to Him, saying to Him, “Lord, do not trouble Yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
9 When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!” 10 And those who were sent, returning to the house, found the servant well who had been sick. (Luke 7:2-10 NKJV)
@3. It can mean confident hope (see Hebrew 11:1).
i) Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV)
@4. Or, as James points out, it can mean a barren belief that does not result in good works (see James 2:14-26).
i) 14 What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:14-26 NKJV)
1. What does Paul mean when, in Romans, he speaks of saving faith?a) We must be careful to understand faith as Paul uses the word, because he ties faith so closely to salvation. It is not something we must do in order to earn salvation - if that were true, then faith would be just one more work, and Paul clearly states that human works can never save us (see Galatians 2:16).
#i) 16 knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in 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)
b) Instead, faith is a gift God gives us because he is saving us (see Ephesians 2:8).
#i) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:8 NKJV)
c) It is God's grace, not our faith, that saves us. In his mercy, however, when he saves us he gives us faith - a relationship with his Son that helps us become like him. Through the faith he gives us, he carries us from death to life (see John 5:24).
#i) 24 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. (John 5:24 NKJV)
d) Even in Old Testament times, grace, not works, was the basis of salvation. As Hebrews points out, "it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins" (see Hebrews 10:4).
#i) 4 For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins. (Hebrews 10:4 NKJV)
e) God intended for his people to look beyond the animal sacrifices to him, but all too often they, instead, put their confidence in fulfilling the requirements of the law - that is, performing the required sacrifices.
f) When Jesus triumphed over death, he cancelled the charges against us and opened the way to the Father (see Colossians 2:12-15).
#i) 12 buried with Him in baptism, in which you also were raised with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. (Colossians 2:12-15 NKJV)
g) Because he is merciful, he offers us faith. How tragic if we turn faith into work and try to develop it on our own! We can never come to God through our own faith, any more than his Old Testament people could come through their own sacrifices. Instead, we must accept his gracious offer with thanksgiving and allow him to plant the seed of faith within us.
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