Christian Core Values--FAITH

Core Values—Faith

I.         Used only twice in the Old Testament (245 times in NT)

A.    Deuteronomy 32:20  And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith. 

a.      Strong’s # 529 Hebrew word—emun (ay-moon) defined as: established, that is, (figuratively) trusty; also (abstractly) trustworthiness: translated as- faith (-ful), truth.

B.    Habakkuk_2:4  Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

a.      Strong’s # 530 Hebrew word—emunah (em-oo-naw) defined as: literally firmness; figuratively security; moral fidelity: translated as - faith (-ful, -ly, -ness, [man]), set office, stability, steady, truly, truth, verily.

b.      God wants us to be established, firm, secure, trusty, have moral fidelity, and be trustworthy

c.       the Bible said it is impossible to please Him without faith (Hebrews 11:6)

So often our definition of faith is associated with receiving something (i.e. healing or blessing) or just believing in the existence of God, but it goes so much further—faith means you TRUST God! A man/woman of faith is established in his/her relationship with God and truly believes that He will take care of them. They BELIEVE God and they live a life that reflects that belief.

II.       Faith without works is dead.

A.    James 2:14-26

a.      14-18—living faith performs and functions, dead faith does nothing 

b.      19-20—even devils know there is only One God, (they even tremble!!)

c.       21-24—Abraham’s faith was justified when he performed what he proclaimed to believe

                                                                                                  i.      Genesis 22:1-14—God tested Abraham’s faith; Abraham obeyed God because he believed the promise God had given him

                                                                                                ii.      Hebrews 11:17-19—he believed God was able to raise Isaac from the dead!!

III.     David even requested that God would reward and show mercy to him according to his actions!!

A.    Psalm 7:8 

a.      according to his righteousness and integrity

B.    Psalm 33:20

a.       according as his hope

IV.      Jesus often rewarded according to people’s faith!             

A.    Matthew 9:1,2

a.        Jesus SAW their faith and their friend was healed!!

B.    Matthew 9:20-22

a.      Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole

C.    Matthew 9:27-31

a.      Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.     

D.    Mark 10:46-52

a.      And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole.

E.    Luke 7:36-5

a.      And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (woman who washed His feet)

F.     Luke 17:11-19

a.      Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole. (leper)

V.        Jesus made a proclamation of GREAT faith only twice, and it was to Gentiles!!

A.    Matthew 8:10 –13

a.      When Jesus heard it, he marvelled

B.    Matthew 15:22-28

a.      great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt

In the Bible, we don’t really see Jesus rebuking sinners for their sins, He does command them to repent and “sin no more” but He doesn’t focus so much on their faults; He DOES, however, rebuke the religious people—He repeatedly rebuked the Pharisees, Scribes, and Lawyers for their hypocrisy and the disciples for their lack of faith.

VI.      You can believe and not believe

A.    Hebrews 3:6-13 

a.      6—we are God’s house if we hold fast and stand firm

b.      7-8—hear His voice!! (cf. Romans 10:17) don’t harden your heart!!

c.       8-10—even though they believed in God, they didn’t believe!

d.      11—they didn’t receive the promise (v19)

e.       12—they had an evil heart of UNBELIEF

f.        13—sin hardens and deceives (v.17)

B.    Hebrews 4:1-11

a.      1-2—we should be diligent to make sure our “hearing” is mixed w/faith

a)     the gospel was preached unto them as well as unto us!!

b)     The “preached” word did not profit them! (v6)

b.      3-9—there remains a rest for the people of God (v8-Joshua)

c.       10-11—we no longer work to obtain salvation, we labor to be faithful, to know God, to draw close to him, to please Him, to keep ourselves in the faith so that we do not fall into unbelief

VII.            Conclusion— What is our Faith??

A.    I Peter 1:3-9 

a.     3—lively hope

b.     4—an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away,

c.      5—kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation

d.     6—though now for a season…ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations

e.      7—the trial of your faith…much more precious than of gold…might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ

f.       8—having not seen, ye love; in whom…believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory

g.      9—receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls