Living by Faith

Daniel Goodin

Midland SDA Church

October 5, 2019

I. Why is it important to understand faith?

I. Misconceptions regarding faith

I. religious wishful thinking

II. proclamation of believing in Jesus is what saves us

III. at the expense of works

II. “But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6)

III. “… for whatever is not from faith is sin.” (Rom 14:23)

IV. The knowledge of what the Scripture means when urging upon us the necessity of cultivating faith, is more essential than any other knowledge that can be acquired. We suffer much trouble and grief because of our unbelief, and our ignorance of how to exercise faith. We must break through the clouds of unbelief. We can not have a healthy Christian experience, we can not obey the gospel unto salvation, until the science of faith is better understood, and until more faith is exercised. There can be no perfection of Christian character without that faith that works by love, and purifies the soul. (RH 10/18/1898)

II. What is faith?

I. Matthew 8:5-10

I. Speak the word only (KJV) – Centurion

II. I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel – Jesus

II. Definition: Faith is the expecting the word of God to do what it says, and the depending upon that word to do what it says

III. Does the word have the power to accomplish what it says?

I. Genesis 1 – establishes the foundation for faith

I. verses 3, 6-7, 9, 11, 14-15, etc

I. God speaks, and it is so

II. By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth. (Psalm 33:6)

III. Jesus

I. He healed the sick, He cast out devils, He stilled the tempest, He cleansed the lepers, He raised the dead, He forgave sins, all by His word

IV. Prophets – Elijah

I. proclaims drought to Ahab (1 Kings 17:1)

IV. The word of God vs the word of man

I. when man speaks, he must do something in addition to speaking the word

II. when God speaks, the thing that he spoke is accomplished

I. when His word is spoken for a future time, when that time has arrived the word is fulfilled

I. prophecies of Daniel and Revelation

II. wall of Jericho (Joshua 6:2-5)

III. it was impossible that he should remain in the grave after the third day (Matt 16:21)

V. Abraham is the father of all which be of faith (Rom 4:16), so his record gives instruction in faith

I. He accepted the word of God and expected that word to be completed (Gen 15:5,6)

II. Sarah resorted to a device of her own to bring forth the heir (Gen 16:1,2)

I. Abraham had accepted without question the promise of a son, but he did not wait for God to fulfill His word in His own time and way. A delay was permitted, to test his faith in the power of God; but he failed to endure the trial. Thinking it impossible that a child should be given her in her old age, Sarah suggested, as a plan by which the divine purpose might be fulfilled, that one of her handmaidens should be taken by Abraham as a secondary wife. Polygamy had become so widespread that it had ceased to be regarded as a sin, but it was no less a violation of the law of God, and was fatal to the sacredness and peace of the family relation. Abraham's marriage with Hagar resulted in evil, not only to his own household, but to future generations. (PP 145.1)

II. God repudiated it by emphasizing that the child would be born of Sarah (Gen 17:15-19)

III. with old age, there was no possibility of dependence upon anything but God’s word

IV. Isaac was born by faith

I. And not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body, already dead (since he was about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah’s womb. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised, He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness. (Rom 4:19-22)

V. And all “they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.” All they who, excluding – yea, repudiating – all works, plans, devices, and efforts, of their own, depend in utter helplessness upon the word of God only to accomplish what that word says, - these are they which be of faith, and are blessed with faithful Abraham with the righteousness of God. (LOF 20)

VI. Abraham trusted in the word of God, even when it seemed to go against the initial promise of Isaac being the heir

I. Gen 21:12 vs Gen 22:2

I. trusting in the word of God as against the word of God

II. he didn’t insist that God “harmonize the passages” prior to following through with the explicit word of God

I. this doesn’t mean that we can’t plead for more understanding

I. Do not be like the horse or like the mule, Which have no understanding, Which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, Else they will not come near you (Psa 32:9)

II. we must be familiar with the voice of God

III. he had interfered once but wouldn’t make that mistake again

IV. Abraham knew they would go and come back again (Gen 22:5)

VII. Where there is God’s word, there can be faith

I. Anyone who seeks in the word of God the things which God has there provided for all, and upon that specific word prays, for that thing, thus asking according to the plainly expressed will of God, knows that his prayer is heard, and that he has the thing for which he prayed. (LOF 30)

II. Knowing the word of God is vital to a life of faith

I. Prayers to increase our faith (Luke 17:5) can only be accomplished by an increase in the word of God, which can only be done by our hearkening to that word

VIII. Where there is no word, there cannot be faith – there is uncertainty

I. we should still present all our concerns to God

IX. Why is it important to study/understand this topic?

I. the gospel...is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes... (Rom 1:16)

I. this teaching is repeated throughout Scripture

I. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

II. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has everlasting life.” (John 6:47)

II. “The just shall live by faith” (Rom 1:17)

III. How is our salvation assured by faith in Jesus?

I. Because we receive His righteousness by faith

I. But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; (Rom 3:21,22)

IV. Not only do we receive eternal life by faith, but we start that life now by faith

I. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me has eternal life. (John 6:47)

II. I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. God is not the God of the dead but of the living. (Matt 22:32)

V. Where should our actions be directed?

I. We are to eat of His flesh and drink of His blood (John 6:54)

I. this means that we abide in Him through His word (John 6:56,57)

II. From where does faith come?

I. looking unto Jesus, the author (originator) and finisher (perfecter) of our faith (Heb 12:2)

II. God has dealt to all a measure of faith (Rom 12:3)

VI. Jesus is asking us to come to Him that we might be saved

I. John 5:39,40; 6:35; 7:37,38

II. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. (John 17:3)