Faith comes from knowing God’s teachings.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
Before a person can be saved, he has to call upon the name of the Lord. Before a person can call upon the name of the Lord, he has to believe in Jesus. Before a person can believe, he has to hear the gospel.
Romans 10:13-17 KJV
- For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
- How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
- And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
- But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
- So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
God chose the seemingly foolish method of preaching the gospel to save men.
1 Corinthians 1:18-21 KJV
- For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
- For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
- Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
- For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
The record says God draws men to Jesus through people listening and learning God’s word.
John 6:44-45 KJV
- No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.
- It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
Teaching or preaching the gospel was the means by which God’s grace was to be made known to all peoples of the earth.
Titus 2:11-12 KJV
- For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
- Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
This method God chose relies on man teaching man, not angels teaching men.
Acts 11:13-14 KJV
- And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
- Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.
But the message taught was not opinions of men, rather, the words of God.
Galatians 1:11-12 KJV
- But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.
- For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
1 Thessalonians 2:13 KJV
The Basis of Faith
Now, the word of God was written to produce faith.
John 20:30-31 KJV
- And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
- But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
The gospel of Christ is God’s power to save those who believe.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Romans 1:16 KJV
Jesus gave us the reason to believe.
Romans 5:6-8 KJV
- For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
- For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
- But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
It follows that if we do not believe, we are condemned already.
He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:18 KJV
This is why faith is important without which it is impossible to please God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6 KJV
However, faith doesn’t just happen. It is developed from an understanding of God’s word.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17 KJV
God intended for us to understand His word and obey it.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Ephesians 5:17 KJV
Paul made clear that God’s revelation could be understood upon reading.
Ephesians 3:3-4 KJV
- How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
- Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
The Faith
God defined for us what faith is.
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 KJV
God’s definition of faith is made clear by the examples given by God Himself in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:7-8 KJV
- By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
- By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Hebrews 11:30-31 KJV
- By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.
- By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.
Considering Noah, his construction of the ark demonstrated his faith (evidence of things not seen) even though no one had ever seen a flood before that would cover the whole earth.
Genesis 6:13-22 KJV
- And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.
- Make thee an ark of gopher wood; rooms shalt thou make in the ark, and shalt pitch it within and without with pitch.
- And this is the fashion which thou shalt make it of: The length of the ark shall be three hundred cubits, the breadth of it fifty cubits, and the height of it thirty cubits.
- A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it.
- And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die.
- But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou, and thy sons, and thy wife, and thy sons’ wives with thee.
- And of every living thing of all flesh, two of every sort shalt thou bring into the ark, to keep them alive with thee; they shall be male and female.
- Of fowls after their kind, and of cattle after their kind, of every creeping thing of the earth after his kind, two of every sort shall come unto thee, to keep them alive.
- And take thou unto thee of all food that is eaten, and thou shalt gather it to thee; and it shall be for food for thee, and for them.
- Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he.
After being warned by God, Noah’s construction of the ark demonstrates his trust in God (substance of things hoped for) to save him and his household from destruction.
2 Peter 2:4-5 KJV
- For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
- And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;
1 Peter 3:19-20 KJV
- By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison;
- Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.
How do we know Noah had faith? Noah demonstrated his faith by building the ark. How do we know Abraham had faith? Abraham showed his faith by leaving his homeland and by offering his son Isaac.
Hebrews 11:17-19 KJV
- By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
- Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:
- Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.
James discussed the faith which God is looking for.
James 2:14-24 KJV
- What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
- If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,
- And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?
- Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
- Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
- Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
- But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
- Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
- Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
- And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
- Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
- Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
Faith is seen by the things that a person does and not by the things a person claims.
Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.
James 2:18 KJV
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 KJV
A person who does not obey demonstrates by his action he does not really believe. Notice how Jesus shifts from discussing obedience to belief.
Matthew 21:28-32 KJV
- But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work to day in my vineyard.
- He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.
- And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not.
- Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you.
- For John came unto you in the way of righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye might believe him.
Hebrews 3:18-19 NKJV
- And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to those who did not obey?
- So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.
Examples of People of Faith
The Corinthians
The Corinthians when they heard the gospel, believed.
Acts 18:5-8 KJV
- And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that Jesus was Christ.
- And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean: from henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles.
- And he departed thence, and entered into a certain man’s house, named Justus, one that worshipped God, whose house joined hard to the synagogue.
- And Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house; and many of the Corinthians hearing believed, and were baptized.
The Corinthians obeyed Jesus’ great commission.
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Matthew 28:19-20 KJV
- Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
- Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:3 KJV
When the Corinthians heard the gospel, believed, and were baptized, their sins were forgiven. It is what Christianity is about.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 KJV
- Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
- Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
- And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
Lydia
Through the teaching of God’s word Lydia’s heart was opened. She listened to the message preached, believed, and was baptized.
Acts 16:13-15 KJV
- And on the sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted thither.
- And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.
- And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.
3000 Souls
The gospel message preached in its fulness, indeed, pricks the heart. Such happened to the 3000 souls on Pentecost day.
Acts 2:22-41 KJV
- Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
- Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
- Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
- For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:
- Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:
- Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
- Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance.
- Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.
- Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne;
- He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
- This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
- Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
- For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand,
- Until I make thy foes thy footstool.
- Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.
- Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?
- Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
- For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.
- And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
- Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
Peter’s focus was the resurrection and exaltation of Jesus to God’s right hand. Jesus’ life and death they already knew. The people’s response to the message was noteworthy:
Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
Acts 2:37 NKJV
The people were “cut to the heart.” This shows the power of God’s word to convict.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.
Romans 1:16 NKJV
It is the Spirit of God who convicts.
John 16:7-8 NKJV
- Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you.
- And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
He does it through the word.
holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.
Titus 1:9 NKJV
However, we recognize that not all people will respond in the same way.
When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth.
Acts 7:54 NKJV
The reply to the people’s question (“what shall we do?”) was also noteworthy. Peter commanded them to repent, which what Jesus said to His apostles before His ascension to the Father.
Luke 24:46-47 KJV
- And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
- And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
Peter commanded them to be baptized, which was also in keeping with what Jesus commanded the apostles.
Mark 16:15-16 KJV
- And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
- He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
The purpose of their baptism was “for the remission of sins”. The identical phrase was used by Jesus when He instituted the Lord’s supper.
For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.
Matthew 26:28 KJV
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 2:38 KJV
Peter’s audience understood what the phrase “for the remission of sins” means:
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
Acts 2:41 NKJV
Conclusion
We have learned where does faith come from. We have also learned what is faith according to God’s definition. We see that faith cannot be separated from action. The example of Noah shows all the faith in the world would not have saved Noah if his faith did not spur him to do as God directed. The same applies to us, our salvation requires action on our part.
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Matthew 7:21 KJV
Jesus saves those who obey.
Hebrews 5:8-9 KJV
- Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
- And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Jesus’ concluding statements in Revelation says it all.
Revelation 22:12-14 KJV
- And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
- I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
- Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.