Bible Study A question of faith

[stovebolts]

You don't learn by having faith. You learn by questioning, by challenging, by re-examining everything you've ever believed.
And yet, all this is a matter of faith
—the faith that there is a truth to be found.
It is another paradox: To truly question, you must truly have faith.

tzi freeman

 

[Tessa]

I agree with this strongly. We should never stop searching instead of resting thinking we know The truth
Forever learning strengthens faith. Forever searching our hearts and seeking out our Almighty God.

 

[WIP]

This is very much what I was trying to say earlier in another thread, don't recall which thread, when I said we like to focus too much on salvation and not enough on our relationship with God our Savior. Once we come to believe we are saved and especially when we believe it is a done deal we consider it a task complete and like graduating from high school we can walk away without looking back. This is so not true. Reality is that life has just begun and we are now tasked with building on our relationship with our Lord (our faith) and living according to that which we have received (our forgiveness and eternal life).

 

[stovebolts]

So true Tessa and WIP
Sometimes, I think we focus so much on having the right answers, we get scared when God wants to take us deeper.

Asking, seeking and knocking... It's what we're supposed to do, but we've been taught not to... It's ok to question God as long as we are seeking.

 

[for_his_glory]

Faith of Christ

Romans 3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

The faith of Christ, (KJV - John 12:44-50; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 3:9), is where we find faith in Christ. The newer translations has changed where it says faith of Christ to faith in Christ. There is a difference between faith of Christ and faith in Christ as you can read in those scriptures out of the KJV. The faith of Christ is what He believed in the Father as He never said or did anything above that which God gave Him to speak or to do while He was on earth. Our faith in Christ is the same faith of Christ He had in the Father as we can never go above that of what He taught us and the works He left for us to follow in.

The Son of God is that free gift of God's grace given to all who will believe by faith in Christ and confess Him as Lord and Savior so they will see the kingdom of God, John 3:5-7; Romans 10:9, 10. There is no working towards something that is free as all we have to do is accept the gift. Believe is a verb that means something we consider to be true as we have heard the Gospel and not only heard it, but also believe what is written for our well being.

Faith works come after we are Spiritually born again and indwelled with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to go out into the world and continue in the good works of the Lord, Acts 2:37, 38; James 2:14-20. The good works are taking His Gospel message to the world as we too are His disciples and to love and help those in need as what we do we do unto the glory of the Lord Christ Jesus, Matthew 25:31-40

 

[JLB]

Faith works come after we are Spiritually born again and indwelled with the Holy Spirit that empowers us to go out into the world and continue in the good works of the Lord,

So true.


However, the principle of faith, for faith to be able to function, requires obedience, otherwise it’s remains dormant.




JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

So true.


However, the principle of faith, for faith to be able to function, requires obedience, otherwise it’s remains dormant.




JLB

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

 

[JLB]

James 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 18 Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

I like to clarify the word “work” when sharing about the law of faith.

This principle of faith works by obedience.


Yes their are works of love.


However that’s not what I’m referring to directly.


Faith, a noun, must have believing, (which is for all practical purposes is obedience), for faith to function and produce the intended divine result that God intends.


In James 2, the intended result of the faith Abraham received, was for him to be justified;
To be declared righteous.


Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
James 2:21


The “work” here in this verse was the corresponding action of obedience.


This was the end result and completion of the “credit” of righteousness Abraham received when he believed, earlier in Genesis 16.



JLB

 

[for_his_glory]

JLB it's all about being obedient to God's commands and stature. If we claim to have faith, but yet walk in unbelief like the disciples did in Matthew 17:14-21 then it is only dead faith not profitable for any good deeds of God's commands.

 

[Nathan12]

Reality is that life has just begun and we are now tasked with building on our relationship with our Lord (our faith) and living according to that which we have received (our forgiveness and eternal life).

The Christian life is compared to how a newborn babe grows into adulthood (and maturity). Those who have been just born again are compared to newborn babes. But they must grow spiritually by feeding on the milk and meat of the Word and seeking the guidance of the Spirit. In the first epistle of John, they are shown as (a) little children, (b) young men, and (c) fathers.

Unfortunately most churches do not watch over their newborn babes to ensure their growth, and many fall by the wayside unnecessarily. Today we live in a time of spiritual confusion because of this.

 

[stovebolts]

The Christian life is compared to how a newborn babe grows into adulthood (and maturity). Those who have been just born again are compared to newborn babes. But they must grow spiritually by feeding on the milk and meat of the Word and seeking the guidance of the Spirit. In the first epistle of John, they are shown as (a) little children, (b) young men, and (c) fathers.

Unfortunately most churches do not watch over their newborn babes to ensure their growth, and many fall by the wayside unnecessarily. Today we live in a time of spiritual confusion because of this.

Very well put.
In addition, we are told to never question our faith and that questioning our faith is bad. I believe if we don't ever question our faith, we never truly mature and when the hardship of life hit us, it strips that shell of a faith we hid behind, which was never truly integrated within us.

There is a difference between knowing something and understanding it.

 

[RevSRE]

Saved by Grace through Faith IS THE STARTING POINT, NOT THE DESTINATION!
We must never stop questioning, learning, growing, this is what we call discipleship.