THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH
As taught in the bible faith is not only found in the New Testament but it is seen in the Old Testament as recorded particularly in the book of Hebrews chapter eleven. This chapter not only defines what faith is, but also shows that faith is what the patriarchs of old used as the reason for their beliefs and actions. Please note that the book of Hebrews is found in the New Testament. While faith came from Jesus Christ, since Christ alone can give faith, it is the faith of Jesus Christ. Therefore, this faith, which is revealed in the Old Testament first, confirms that Christ existed in the Old Testament times and that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Wherever faith is revealed it teaches or gives a knowledge of Christ. This is the faith that Abraham had and the same faith that we must have. Gal. 3: 7—9. A brief review of Hebrews eleven shows the responses only of Old Testament believers to faith. Nowhere not even in one single verse does it mention the names of any of the disciples or believers of the New Testament, clearly showing that faith existed from the very beginning, as it makes mention from Abel onwards. Any teaching suggesting that faith only came and existed in the New Testament times is not in harmony with the evidence as revealed in the Bible. These teachings (doctrines of men) are not of the truth but present errors (lies), and there is no lie in the truth. Lies are of the devil, for he is the father of lies. 8: 44 “Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speakest of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.” 1 Jn. 3: 8 “He that committed sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose, the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”1 Joh. 2: 21 “I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.” The Bible shows that through faith we understand, Heb. 11: 2, and by faith, Abel offered unto God, Heb. 11:4; and by faith Noah being warned of God… prepared an ark. Heb. 11: 7 Faith gives understanding, and understanding comes through a revelation of knowledge. Faith, therefore, is knowledge revealed that we may understand. This knowledge to a Christian is the knowledge of Jesus Christ. It reveals to the Christian all the necessary knowledge of Jesus which can save in the plan of salvation. This knowledge leads a Christian into a life of action as faith provides instructions in all the requirements of God in saving man. As the bible puts it in the book of James 2: 17 “Even so faith, if it had no works, is dead, being alone”. By faith Abel offered, and by faith Noah prepared an ark; this shows that they both received instructions and acted upon the given instructions. These instructions which are revealed through a body of knowledge came from God, Jesus Christ. As one author states dealing with the subject of confession in the book Steps to Christ page 38, “The only reason why we do not have remission of sins that are past is that we are not willing to humble our hearts and comply with the conditions of the word of truth.” Notice now what the author says, “Explicit INSTRUCTION is given concerning this matter.” In other words, sufficient knowledge has been revealed that we could follow the instruction of this matter. Faith, therefore, is knowledge revealed to man from Christ, which teaches the way of Christ, and the way to Christ. Eph. 2: 8. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; ”Eph. 4: 13 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God… ”This knowledge shows that faith is the revealed truths of Jesus Christ which the bible calls the doctrines of Jesus Christ. Whether or not we accept these doctrines of Jesus Christ as true or not, they remain the same, we cannot change any to suit our interpretation. What is being said here? Simply, one may say we have to keep the law of God, and another may say we don’t. But remember that faith is built upon evidence (knowledge) Heb. 11: 1, and this knowledge, evidence comes only from the word of God (the Bible). And the word of God reveals that sin is the transgression of the law of God 1st Joh. 3:4, and that we are all sinners doomed to die. We have all in one way or another broken some aspect of the law of God, we have all committed sin, and the wages of sin is death. On our own we can do nothing to clear our wrongs, we need a Saviour. We are saved only by the grace of God as we accept Him and put away our sins. Could the law of God be changed or removed then there would be no need for Christ to die. The death of Christ confirms the immutability of God’s law. Rom. 3: 23, Rom. 6: 20 – 23, Ecc. 12: 13, Ps. 19: 7 – 8, Matt. 19: 17, Rom. 3: 20, Rom. 7: 7, Jam. 2: 10 – 11, Rom. 3: 30 – 31. The faith, and evidence, are very clear concerning the importance of keeping the law of God. By keeping the law of God, it reflects the faith that we believe and that is in us. So, whoever preaches and teaches that you do not have to keep the law of God is not of faith, and to follow another is certainly a loss of one’s salvation, for there is no other Saviour. Rom. 3: 3 – 4, Isa. 43: 11, Isa. 45: 21, Act. 4: 12. So just how important is faith? Faith gives us hope and assures us that we are doing the things that are right and pleasing in the sight of God. “For without faith, it is impossible to please Him.“ Heb. 11: 6. How then do we please God? How does faith work in us and for us to please God? Again the evidences are recorded and revealed in Hebrews 11: 4 with the experience of Cain and Abel… Abel followed the instructions of faith— the knowledge revealed in the offerings to God and he was accepted, but Cain followed after his own devices and was rejected. Gen. 4: 1 – 7. You see faith reveals that “… without shedding of blood there is no remission “Heb. 9: 22 and that is remission of sin. Fruits cannot atone for sin, for the wages of sin is death, the slaying of animals revealed in the knowledge that Christ would come and give His life that all who accept and obey shall be saved, (accepted).It is extremely important to have and obey the faith of Jesus Christ, for whatsoever is not of faith is sin Rom. 14: 23. God can only accept faith, the truths which He has revealed to man in the plan of salvation. All teachings must be viewed in the fallen condition of man, it must be salvific in its content. Exalting God and directing man on the only one path to God through Jesus Christ. Joh. 14: 6. This faith is given to us as we study and obey the word of God. Rom 10: 8, 17. 1st Cor. 2: 5. 1st Cor. 12: 7 – 9. 2nd Cor. 13: 5. Gal 3: 2. 2nd Thess. 3: 2. 1st Tim. 4: 1, 6. Please remember that faith is not believing but is the revealed truths of Jesus Christ to man in the plan of salvation. As we believe and accept this, we can say we have faith— the just shall live by faith. Faith transforms our lives, and we now live for Christ as all the necessary instructions are revealed in and through His word. May God bless and keep you in the faith of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Please pass this study to as many persons as you can; you may be the one God uses to help another. Yours in Christ Bro. Farouk Billy Karim.
Example Text