Lessons in Faith

[sheshisown]

:waving~

Studying on faith this morning... I am needing a refresher course in this marvelous doctrine of our salvation...

My faith cannot be gauged by my emotions or moods. Faith is the FIRST virtue we own in Christ. It is paramount to every other virtue of Christianity. I need to teach my moods and my emotions "to obey my faith" AND "to be quiet when they disagree with my faith". :nod

Learning here...

My emotions are often effected by a cloudy day, or my hunger pains. I cannot be sound as a Christian or a sound an atheist <for that matter> if my belief is dependent on the weather around me, or the state of my digestion.

So I must train myself in the HABIT of faith. :D

After I have recognised the fact that my emotions fluctuate daily, the next step is to make certain that some of the main doctrines of my faith are deliberately being held before my mind for some time each day. That is why my prayers, Bible reading, and corporate worship are so necessary to my life as a Christian. Neither Christainity or any other belief will automatically remain alive in my mind, I must be continually reminded of what I believe. I must be fed~ that is how the Bible says it.

If we examine one hundred people who have "lost" thier faith... I wonder how many were reasoned out of thier faith by honest argument? Since they could not give a reasonable reply for their belief... because they had never sought to study it for themselves?

sheshisown

 

[Joe67]

1 Peter 3:15
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: KJV

1 Cor 13:13
13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. KJV

Rom 8:23-25
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. KJV

Joe

 

[Joe67]

In Romans 4:25 through Romans 5:1 the alpha of our faith is witnessed. Jesus is the author/writer/begins our faith as testified in this witness.

Faith continues and finishes as witnessed in Romans 5:2.
Rom 5:2
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. KJV
This aspect of the work of God is further witnessed in the following scriptures.


Luke 17:10
10 So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do. KJV

Luke 20:34-36
34 And Jesus answering said unto them, The children of this world marry, and are given in marriage:

35 But they which shall be accounted worthy to obtain that world, and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry, nor are given in marriage:

36 Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection. KJV

Luke 21:36
36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. KJV

This escaping is the escaping the corruption that is in this world through lust as testified by Peter. 2 Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. KJV

Before we are made partakers of the divine nature, through the earnest of the Spirit of promise, we must needs first be cleansed from the corruption that is in the world through lust. This cleansing is given unto us only by the blood and water that flowed from Jesus' side, that is now ministered unto and upon us from the sanctuary above, the new Jerusalem, the presence of God the Father. Hebrews 12.

Only those who have been made partakers of the divine nature in the earnest of the Spirit of promise will be prepared to received the perfecting of the grace of God unto and upon us when judgment is passed upon the house of God ( which is before judgment is passed upon those who believe not ).

Joe