Faith

What is faith in God?

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Believing in God is having faith in Him and trusting that He will fulfill His promises (Hebrews 11:1). Building a relationship with God is another aspect of having faith in Him. It is more than just agreeing intellectually; it is a genuine relationship with the living God, getting to know Him well and experiencing His presence in one's life.

Obedience to God's commands is a sign of genuine faith. It is an active commitment to live in accordance with God's will and adhere to His teachings, not just a passive belief (James 2:14–26).

1. 1.WHAT is faith?

   Bible⇒ Hebrews 11: 1 .

2. 2.How necessary is faith?

   Bible⇒ Hebrews 11: 6; Romans 1 : 16, 17 .

3. 3.Can a mere assent to the truth save any one?

   Bible⇒ James 2 : 19 ; Galatians 5 : 6

4. 4.How does faith originate?

   Bible⇒ Hebrews 12: 2.

5. 5.On what is saving faith based?

   Bible⇒ Romans 10: 17 .

   There are two errors against which the chil dren of God — particularly those who have just come to trust in His grace — especially need to guard. The first . . . is that of looking to their own works, trusting to anything they can do, to bring themselves into harmony with God. He who is trying to become holy by his own works in keeping the law, is attempting an impossibility. All that man can do without Christ is polluted with selfishness and sin. It is the grace of Christ alone, through faith, that can make us holy. The opposite and no less dangerous error is that belief in Christ releases men from keeping the law of God; that since by faith alone we became partakers of the grace of Christ, our works have nothing to do with our redemption. . . . " Obedience— the service and allegiance of love — is the true sign of discipleship. . . . Instead of releasing man from obedience, it is faith, and faith only, that makes us partakers of the grace of Christ, which enables us to render obedience. We do not earn salvation by our obedience; for salvation is the free gift of God, to be received by faith. But obedience is the fruit of faith. . . . That so-called faith in Christ which professes to release men from the obligation of obedience to God, is not faith, but presumption."—" steps to Christ," pp. 64-66

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7. 6.How are faith and obedience related?

   Bible⇒ Hebrews 11 : 8 ; James 2 : 20-26 .

8. 7.With what, therefore, is faith joined?

   Bible⇒ Revelation 14 : 12; Romans 3: 31 .

9. 8.What relationship is restored by faith?

   Bible ⇉ Galatians 3: 26; Romans 5: 1

10. 9.How do trials affect faith?

    Bible ⇉ James 1: 3

11. 10.How does the Christian walk ?

    Bible ⇉ 2 Corinthians 5: 7

12. 11.How does faith protect us against sin?

    Bible ⇉ Ephesians 6: 16; 1 Thessalonians 5: 8; 1 John 5: 1-4.

13. 12.What is faith's great purpose ?

    Bible ⇉ 1 Peter 1: 8, 9

14. GENERAL NOTE.-" Faith may be strengthened by daily exercise. It is not some great thing, done once for all, that gives an individual faith; but an every-day, simple, childlike trust in God, and an implicit obedience to His word. Some make faith a more difficult matter than God would have them, because they try to embrace too much at one time. They take on the burdens of tomorrow or next week, when the Lord supplies strength only for today. When tomorrow comes, grapple with its duties, but not until it does come. We should remember the precious promise, As thy days, so shall thy strength be.' Deut. 33: 25."—" Bible Readings for. the Home Circle," p. 553.