How We Get Faith

How Do We Get Faith?

Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ. Rom. 10:17 NIV

I. The Importance of Faith

A. Do you feel like you are always running out of faith?

1. Do you think that you have your faith all built up and then something happens to drain it out of you?

2. You believe that if you can just get more faith, you could handle everything going on in your life.

B. Faith is very important to the Christian.

1. It is he way we COME TO GOD.

Heb. 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

2. The Bible says that we LIVE BY FAITH.

Heb. 10:38-11:1 "But my righteous one will live by faith . . ."

3. Even more, everything we do OUTSIDE OF FAITH IS SIN.

Rom 14:23 "everything that does not come from faith is sin."

4. Faith is ESSENTIAL TO OUR SALVATION.

NIV Romans 3:22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

"know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified." Galatians 2:16 NIV

C. Since faith is so important should we try to get as much faith as we can? If so, how do we get more faith?

1. The Bible tells us how faith comes.

2. It tells us how much we need.

3. It also tells us how to keep it.

II. What is Faith?

A. Hebrews 11:1 says that it is "being sure" of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

1. How can we be sure of what we hope for?

2. How can we be certain of what we cannot see?

B. This does not make sense if we go by the standard definition of faith.

1. The standard definition is that faith is power or force that we muster up in our own hearts.

2. Most see it as a power of our will by which we convince ourselves of something.

3. Whole denominations define faith as ‘faithfulness' or our obedience to God.

4. In all of these views it is the AMOUNT of one's faith and not the OBJECT of one's faith which is emphasized.

C. The faith which the Bible teaches is something far different.

1. First, faith is always placed in a Person.

a. We are saved by believing in Jesus Christ.

b. He is the reality in which we trust.

2. Second, faith is based on knowledge.

a. You can't believe what you don't know.

b. That is why doctrine is important - it tells us about God.

c. We are not saved by the doctrine, we are saved by Christ.

d. But, we believe in Jesus through the doctrine.

D. Faith is not a power, force or substance we possess

1. It is not what we create - but what God creates in our hearts when the Word of God enters our heart.

2. When the promise of God from Scripture enters our heart it gives light. It creates faith.

3. Faith is a confidence or trust that what God has promised is true.

4. Faith is lifting up empty hands

5. It does not look to itself. 6. It is saying God's promise back to Him.

E. Faith is in the Person of Christ

1. Faith is not believing God for the many things you want or need.

2. Our Faith is in the Person of Jesus Christ.

III. So, How Do We Get Faith?

A. Paul says that faith comes by hearing the Word of God. [cp. "Unbelievable"]

6 But the righteousness that is by faith says: "Do not say in your heart, 'Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or 'Who will descend into the deep?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). As the Scripture says, "Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame." For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile-- the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Rom 10:6-15 NIV

B. It does not come by . . .

. . . Seeing; Praising; Experiencing; Singing; Loving; Serving; Deciding; Feeling; Striving.

C. "God has selected the Word as His means of implanting faith and the ear as the human organ of redemption." [Michael Horton, White Horse Inn tape, "Revivalism & the Church", 7-12-98]

D. Through the preaching of the Gospel the promise of God is heard and through that the Holy Spirit grants faith. It is this faith which unites us with Christ and thereby gives to us every gift which God gives to everyone of his children.

IV. How Do We Keep Faith?

A. Paul said that he "kept the faith."

1. He did that by preaching the Word in season and out of season

2. His life was focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the very end.

B. WE KEEP FAITH WHEN WE KEEP HEARING THE WORD OF GOD.

1. Faith is hearing God's Word and repeating it back to Him.

2. As we confess what Jesus has done for us, we show faith.

Rom. 10: 9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.

C. HOW DOES GOD GIVES US HIS WORD?

1. PREACHING OF THE GOSPEL

a. Paul told Timothy to "preach the Word"

b. God has call ministers to preach the Gospel to us.

c. We keep faith by continually hearing the Scripture taught and preached.

2. READING SCRIPTURE

a. Paul told Timothy to give attention to "reading of Scripture."

b. We need to listen to the Gospel speaking from the Bible every day.

3. WORSHIP

a. We need to faithfully attend worship and hear the Gospel read, sung and preached.

Eph. 5:19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

b. We need to keep the Lord's Supper and Baptism which preach the Gospel to us.

1 Cor. 11:26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

c. We need to accept our responsibility for one another, as brother or sister, to tell each other the Gospel.

Phil. 2: 4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

4. INSTRUCTION IN THE FAITH (Catechism)

Eph. 6:4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

a. We need to be taught in a systematic way the doctrines of Scripture to establish the Word in our hearts.

b. You cannot believe what you do not know.

V. How Does the World Get Faith?

He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Mark 16: 15 NIV

A. It is the Church which knows the Gospel.

B. Therefore, it is the Church, you and me, who are to tell the world the Word of God.

C. As the world hears the Word of God, it creates faith in hearts, and brings them to salvation faith.

D. EVANGELISM should be at the heart of the mission of every church.