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8/18/15

Our faith is a response to (and sustained by) God's faithfulness

What is faith? How does a person become a "a person of faith"? How does one grow in faith?

Acts 3:16; Galatians 5:5-6;1 Thes 1:3;3:2-3; Romans1:12

  • (Acts 3:16) Faith in the name of Jesus brings healing
  • (Galatians 5:5-6) Faith is living by the Spirit, expressing itself in love
  • (1 Thes 1:3) Faith in prayer reminds us of other Christians
  • (1 Thes 3:2-3) Faith makes us send God's co-workers to strengthen, encourage and keep you from being shaken by the trouble that is coming
  • (Romans 1:12) Fellowship in faith brings mutual encouragement


Faith and Faithfulness: These two concepts are central to Biblical thought and deals with the relationship of God and a person

  • Correlative: because a persons faith is that which responds to and is sustained by God's faithfulness
  • Progression of Thought: because a person's faith should lead to his/her faithfulness.
  • Attitude of Trustfulness to "the faith" - God has revealed objectively through deed and word and sign in order that it should be trusted.
How does a person become "a person of faith"?
  • God's Initiative
    • His Word - Romans 10:17, Faith comes by hearing the word about Christ
    • His Way - John 14:1-7, Jesus is the way the truth and the life He is God
    • His Grace - Eph 2:8 "For it is by grace (unearned favor of God) that you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.
  • God's Condition
    • Believe God - Hebrews 11:6, Without faith it is impossible to please God
    • Confess Sin - 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins, purify us from all unrighteousness
    • Repent - James 4:8,  Draw near to God and He will draw near to you Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded (So many more verses here)
How does one grow in Faith?
  • 2 Peter talks about adding to your faith, avoiding false teachers by knowing scripture
  • Ephesians talks about putting off the old self and putting on the new self
  • Jesus explains that as He is the vine, we are the branches no-one apart from the vine will produce fruit