Faith: What It Is and How to Have It

March 11, 2015 Save Article

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Romans 10:17-21
(Program 2069, Airing on 1.3.10)

1. INTRODUCTION
   1. The book of Romans tells us about the grace of God.
   2. Grace can be articulated as “God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense”.
      1. Jesus died on the cross, in agony and blood, for our sins in order to provide for us all of the riches of God.
   3. Faith means, “Forsaking All, I Trust Him”.
   4. Faith receives what grace provides. Without faith, there is no way to acquire the grace of God.
      1. Ephesians 2:8-9
   5. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins; but we must believe and receive the Lord Jesus, or His death does us no good.
   6. Grace is God’s ability; faith is man’s responsibility. It is our responsibility to respond to God’s grace.
      1. Do you want to be saved? Romans 5:1
      2. Do you want to be sanctified? Acts 15:9
      3. Do you want your prayers answered? Mark 11:24
      4. Do you want to overcome the world? 1 John 5:4
   7. Faith is the medium of exchange in the kingdom of Heaven.
      1. Matthew 9:29
   8. A lack of faith is not weakness; it is wickedness.
      1. Unbelief is slander against God.
      2. 1 John 5:10
      3. John 3:18
      4. In Matthew 13:58, the Bible says that Jesus limited His ability to do mighty works because of the people’s unbelief.
      5. Hebrews 3:12
      6. Romans 1:17
2. THE OBJECT OF FAITH: ALMIGHTY GOD – KNOW HIM
   1. Faith is not positive thinking or hoping for the best.
   2. Faith is no better than its object. Misplaced faith is a terrible thing.
   3. The object of our faith is God Himself.
      1. Mark 11:22
      2. Romans 10:11
   4. Weak faith in the right object is better than misplaced faith in any object. Weak faith in God is better than strong faith in anything else.
   5. In Biblical accounts, most who received a blessing from God had weak faith.
      1. Mark 9:23-24
   6. Hebrews 12:2 – The word “looking unto Jesus” in this passage literally means looking away from everything else and looking unto Jesus.
      1. Don’t look at circumstances; look at nothing except Jesus.
   7. Many people doubt their salvation because their faith is in their faith and not in Jesus Christ.
   8. Since the object of our faith is God, our ambition should be to know Him.
      1. The more we know God, the more our faith in Him will grow.
      2. Romans 9:33
      3. Psalm 9:10
      4. Daniel 11:32
3. THE ORIGIN OF FAITH: THE WORD OF GOD – HEAR HIM
   1. Romans 10:8
   2. Romans 10:14
   3. We must learn to listen to God if we would have faith.
      1. We cannot pray outside the will of God and have our prayers answered; and in order to pray in the will of God, we have to hear the Word of God.
   4. We cannot generate faith; faith comes.
      1. Romans 10:17
      2. 2 Peter 1:1
      3. Philippians 1:29
   5. Faith is not a leap in the dark; it is a step in the light. The instrument God uses to enable us to believe is His Word.
      1. It is not simply the Bible that we hold in our hands that will give us faith; it is God speaking to us through the Bible.
   6. Hebrews 11:1
4. THE OBJECTIVE OF FAITH: THE WILL OF GOD – YIELD TO HIM
   1. Faith is not man’s way of getting man’s will done in Heaven; faith is God’s way of getting God’s will done on Earth.
   2. It is God’s will for everyone to be saved, and He has sent messengers to carry the Gospel message.
      1. Romans 10:12
      2. Romans 10:15
   3. To do the will of God does not mean fewer blessings for us if we submit to His will; it means more blessings for us. It’s not that we have to do the will of God; we get to do the will of God.
   4. The objective of faith is that God’s will be done through us.
   5. How do we know His will? We know His Word. How do we trust His Word? We know Him.
   6. In order to have faith, we must submit to His will.
   7. 1 John 5:14
5. THE OPERATION OF FAITH: THE WORK OF GOD – OBEY HIM
   1. If we say we believe God but do not obey Him, then we really do not believe Him.
   2. Faith is belief with legs on it. Faith obeys.
   3. Romans 10:17-18
   4. Romans 10:21 – the word “gainsaying” means “obstinate”. They refused the Word of God.
   5. We are not saved through faith and works; we are saved through faith that works.
      1. James 2:20
      2. We are not saved because of our works; we work because we’re saved.
6. CONCLUSION
   1. Faith is a gift of God.
   2. God gives us the opportunity to either refuse or accept this gift.
   3. Receive Him today.
   4. Romans 10:13

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