Faith, Part 1

What is Faith?

The Word declares this in Hebrews 11:6

"And without faith, it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

Well, that makes sense. Does it not? How can you have Faith in God if you do not know who God is? How can you have Faith and believe in Jesus and the fact that it is through Him, and only Him, that you are Saved if you never heard of John 3:16, John 14:6, or Matthew 28, Mark 16, ETC.

You have to Hear the Truth,,

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." {Romans 10:17}

Then you have to Believe the Truth,,

"He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God." {1 Peter 1:20-21}

So now you know, there is a very real God. Now you know there is a very real Jesus. Now you know that He came to Earth and Died for our Sins. For YOUR Sins. That He has become your Substitute in payment of debt, onto Death itself. So now this is where you need to place your Faith.

But wait. What is Faith? Is it merely a belief? Is it Wishing? It is Hoping? Do we all have Faith? Even those that do not believe in God?

First, Faith is NOT Wishing. Anytime you hear someone say, "I have Faith that I will get the Promotion," or "I have Faith that I will be able to get that new Car." that is NOT Faith. What they are saying is this. "I sure wish that I will get the Promotion," or "I sure wish that I will be able to get that new Car." "I sure Wish so." is not Faith. "I sure Wish God would Save me. I sure Wish that He sees all I have done in the name of my Religion and Blesses me for it." Is not Faith. This is not what we are talking about today.

We are talking about true Faith. Does everyone have Faith? Even those that do not believe in God? The Short answer is Yes. Everyone has Faith in something. Mostly, Faith is Supernatural Hope. Hope is Romans 8:24-25

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it."

In Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

We all have Faith. Think about this. Someone asked me once, "How do you have Faith in something you cannot See or Touch? How can you be so sure that God is real and this Jesus came to Earth and believing in Him, you go to Heaven? I want to believe, yet, I do not know how to have 'Blind Faith.'"

My response? "Did you make plans for Tomorrow? What are you doing this Weekend? How can you have such 'Blind Faith' as to do these things? You cannot Touch Tomorrow. You cannot See the Weekend. How do you make such Plans? You must have Faith that the Sun is going to come back and grant you the Day for the Plans you have made. Right? I believe that The Son is going to come back and keep all His Words that pertain to those who love Him and are "called according to His purpose."

You can think about this all the way back to the beginning. Atheists say it is nonsense to have Faith that God Created everything because we cannot See or Touch this invisible "thing." Yet they believe in what their own Science and Math tells them is impossible. That something came from nothing, and that all things came from one single cell organism. Plants, People, Hot Blooded, Cold Blooded, Dogs and Cats, ETC. Just not possible. Yet they have Faith that it was ANYTHING except God.

These people also, mostly. do not have peace. They see death as the end all. Just close your eyes and cease to exist. They rely totally on themselves and "hope" that the Universe treats them good while they are here. After all, we are all here by a happy accident. Right?

You? As a Child of God, it need not be so.

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost." {Romans 15:13}

We know that we are not here by accident. We know that we will live on long after we close our eyes on this Earth. We know that we do not need to think about Tomorrow. Jesus tells us this Truth in Matthew 6:34

"Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

We know that everything, including Tomorrow, is in God's Hands. James 4:13-17

"Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin."

Next time we will continue this series and talk about the Power you have through Faith, as a Child of God. Do you know Jesus as your Savior? Have you been adopted into the Family of God? If not, say this Prayer. Right now. Wherever you may be. Say it in your own words, and do not doubt in your heart. God will hear you. He will send the Spirit of Life to you. Let us Pray.

"Oh heavenly Father, Lord God. I am a sinner. I know this. I know there is nothing I can do to change that. But I know you can. I accept Jesus's sacrifice for me. I repent my sins. Please send the Spirit of Adoption into my life. Help me to get to know the real you. Save me. Please. In the name of Jesus, Amen!"

That's it. It really is that simple. Now go tell someone what you have just done. "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved." {Romans 10:9} You need to find a Church that God leads you to, and be Baptized the way Jesus said to be. You are now a Child of God. A new Creature. You "have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him." {Colossians 3:10}

If you want to tell me, or comment, question, give testimonials, or just say "Hi," the Email is opntalk@gmail.com

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. {2 Corinthians 13}

Until next time, be blessed, be a blessing, and Jesus IS Lord of all!