Faith

What is faith? “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the men of old gained approval.” (Hebrews 11:1-2) So what is faith? It is an assurance of what is hoped for, and the conviction of that which is not seen. Conviction of that which is not seen means that our faith comprehends the reality of God and His promises as factual, that which we cannot experience by our five senses (sight, smell, hearing, taste, or touch). Where there is sight, there is not much need for faith. Let me say for example, if I see a check with a large sum of money written on it, placed inside an envelope and that envelope has my name written on it, do I need faith to believe it’s mine? No, I can clearly see it, and I can see that it is addressed to me. I can confirm these things; but that which can’t be seen, we must exercise faith in. So on the other hand, if I was told I would be getting a large sum of money in the form of a check from someone that I didn’t know, I would be left having to exercise faith; having an assurance it will come to pass based merely on that person’s word, and trusting that I will get that which I cannot yet see or hold. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9) So, as we see, faith is a gift granted by God. It is the grace of God, or the unmerited favor of God toward us. Faith is not something we can muster up in and of ourselves. It’s often been said that faith is the hand that receives the gift of salvation. It is then inferred that faith is an instrument or an avenue through which God uses to bring about the salvation of His people. God gives us faith based solely on the goodwill of His nature; He is merciful and gracious toward us. Notice in our example above pertaining to the large sum of money, I did nothing to earn or receive the money. There is no work we can do to merit the grace of God. I quite literally had no part in the gift, I did nothing to earn it, nor did I have any part in receiving it. The only thing I then must do is endorse the check and take it to the bank to cash it out. We are not called to a faith that is received and then not exercised. If God has graciously given us faith, then we are expected to exercise that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the promises given us in His word.

This faith is a gift from God and Holy Scripture more than emphasizes this, as it is God alone who deserves all the glory for our salvation. There shall not be, better yet, there will not be one person who is saved that when their time is up and they stand before God, they will boast of how they mustered up the faith to believe and thereby saved their own souls. If we could do anything to merit this gift of God then we would have room for boasting, but all boasting is excluded. “Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith.” (Romans 3:27) God wants us to understand that we do absolutely nothing to merit or deserve the gift of faith, it is solely because of what Christ has done on the cross that God gives to any this gift of faith. “even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having in Himself put to death the enmity.” (Ephesians 2:5,16) The receiving of this gift is not a work in and of itself any more than I received the check for a large sum of money in our example above. We see this clearly in our next passage. “For what does the Scripture say? ‘ABRAHAM BELIEVE GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ Now to the one who works, his wage is not counted according to grace, but according to what is due. Therefore, is this blessing on the circumcised, or on the uncircumcised also? For we say, ‘FAITH WAS COUNTED TO ABRAHAM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.’ How then was it counted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised; and he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be counted to them, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also follow in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham which he had while uncircumcised.” (Romans 4:3-4,9-12)

The gift of God given us, is just that, a gift; God did not give to us the gift of faith with the expectation that He would receive something in return. This diminishes the meaning of a gift. However, if given a gift we must use it, right? How would you feel if you gave a gift to someone only for them to let it sit in their house unopened and forgotten about, maybe finding its way being buried under the clutter of their house? It wouldn’t feel too good, would it? In the same respect, we ought to exercise the faith given us. Knowing that our faith is the grace of God shown to us should encourage us not to think more highly of ourselves than we should, but it should instead be the means by which we remain humble. “For through the grace given to me I say to each one among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound thinking, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.” (Romans 12:3)God is the one whom chooses the measure of faith He gives to each. The only means by which God gives faith is though the hearing of the word of God, more specifically the word about Christ Jesus. “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) It is therefore only the word of God that God uses to bring about faith in the life of anyone He desires to graciously give it to. With that in mind, we would say that someone could receive faith through hearing a sermon that contains the gospel message; through reading about Jesus in the Scriptures; really at any time the true gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is properly communicated there is potential for the outpouring of faith from God upon that person. We ought therefore to be faithful to the Great Commission, as we know God will work though feeble attempts of man to witness and share the message of what the risen Lord Jesus has done for sinful humanity. Faith does not come through eloquent speech, nor a compelling presentation, nor even through the biblical accuracy of one’s theology, but it comes through the message given of Christ crucified for the remission of sins and His resurrection. This is the means God has chosen.

That being said, let me say this, faith is a radical heart commitment to entrust myself, my all, my entire life to God, that results in a radical change in the way that I live my life. “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who draws near to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6) We must believe that He is, what does that mean? It means we must recognize and believe completely and without reservation that He is God. This is the heart’s relational aspect of faith. The living aspect of our faith is followed by the line, “that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. And though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:7-9) There are some major implications to consider when thinking of what faith is. Faith is not based on what is seen. We serve the God whom we cannot visibly see, nor hear, nor touch. That same faith involves the love of your heart. Our lives,whether we recognize it, or admit it or not, are shaped and guided by what we love most. So going back to the passage in 1 Peter 1:7-9, we know that though we do not see Him, we love Him. Why? Because through the same grace that God gifted us with faith, it is He too that has poured out the love of God within our hearts. “and hope does not put to shame, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:5)

This faith is expressed in joyful gratitude, as we read, “you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” Are we quicker to be grateful than we are to complain when things don’t go our way? Do we give thanks more than we grumble? Faith is joyful because it is rooted in the awesome, amazing gift of God’s grace in His Son. “Receiving as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.” This is the centrality of our faith; it is God’s saving work and His promises. If we have been graciously given the gift of faith, then we believe that we are His both now and forever, we believe that we are forgiven, that we are indwelt by His Holy Spirit, that we are being transformed by His grace. That is the very center of our faith. We are then convinced of the outcome, or the fulfillment of His promises. Even though sometimes while in between the “already” and “not yet” of our walk, things can appear hectic and confusing, we trust in God that He will be faithful to His promises. To exercise this faith, we are to be in His word, and we must embrace His work because His word and His work is, as discussed already, the center of our faith; it is what faith is about. The life of faithis a life of joy, it is one of ultimately surrendering my own desires, my way of life, and my supposed glory, to the glory of this God who is so loving, so generous, so merciful, all powerful, and completely faithful, and He has unleashed all of that, for my good. Let me state that it is an urgent thing that those who desire faith, ask for it. God will graciously give to all who ask according to His will and in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ’s name. “So I say to you, ask and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened. But what father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead of a fish? Or, if his sons asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?” (Luke 11:9-13) We should even be asking for our faith to be strengthened and increased. “And the apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!’” (Luke 17:5) “Immediately the boy’s father cried out and was saying, ‘I do believe; help my unbelief.’” (Mark 9:24) Even Christ prayed that Peter’s faith would be strengthened. “But I have prayed earnestly for you, that your faith may not fail; once you have returned, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:32) 

Let us not become complacent, lazy, or apathetic when it comes to the gift of faith that God freely gives. “Therefore I exhort you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice – living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect. but having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: whether prophecy, in agreement with the faith; or service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with generosity; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:1-2,6-8) We can find comfort and peace knowing that faith comes from God, and therefore what He has started He will be faithful to finish. “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6) God is the Author and the Perfecter of our faith. Let us do our due diligence to be in the word of God, to hear and read the gospel of grace, and seek God, asking Him to graciously give to you the faith that is the tool by which He saves His own. “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, laying aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose. Because those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers; and those whom He predestined, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified; and those whom He justified, He also glorified.” (Romans 8:28-30)

As I just gave the exhortation to get to your knees andplead with God to graciously give you the faith necessary unto salvation. We also talked about how, if we ask according to His will and in Jesus Christ’s name, that He will graciously answer those prayers and give according to His goodwill and lovingkindness. Let me continue from there. None can come to Christ or be saved if they have no faith. To try to come to God apart from faith is impossible, as we are told. “as it is written: ‘THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD; ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME WORTHLESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE.’” (Romans 3:10-12) So, there we have it, none seek God. We are actually told there are none who does good. Coming to God and wanting to come to God would be a good thing, but we don’t even do that. Why? “For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind set on the flesh is at enmity toward God, for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, and those who are in the flesh are not able to please God.” (Romans 8:5-8) Even if it were possible for one to come to God apart from faith, which it isn’t, but even if it were, God would not hear their prayer. And the one who could come to God apart from faith, would be offending God with their distrust of Him, His character, and His nature. “Behold, the hand of Yahweh is not so short that it cannot save; nor His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.” (Isaiah 59:1-2) Our sins are what keep God from hearing our prayers. We therefore must acknowledge our sins, come before Him in confession and forsake them.

We don’t do this to clean ourselves up morally, for we know this doesn’t work. First and foremost, we can’t clean ourselves up and come to God expecting Him to receive us based on our work of cleaning ourselves up or preparing ourselves. Moral reformation profits us nothing. We need God to work within us, to raise us to new life, give us a new heart, lead us in repentance and cause us to walk in His ways and not our own. Moral reformation or a seeking to clean oneself up through our own efforts always leads to worse things. “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that manbecomes worse than the first. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.” (Matthew 12:43-45) I can’t begin to tell you how many times in my own life, before God drew me unto Himself, that I sought to clean myself up from drugs and all sorts of sinful habits I was engaged in. Every time I would find myself able to turn from it all for a season, but then I would find myself falling back into the same things and to a much worse degree. It amazes me that God has spared me and kept me, but it is all according to His sovereign will and His providence. He has plans for me, plans that don’t always make sense to me, but plans that glorify Him, and I am in awe when I am reminded while thinking back at how gracious and merciful He has been, how faithful when I have been anything but faithful, this reveals His glory to us. He is unlike anything we can imagine; His ways are not like ours; His thoughts are above ours; He is the King of Glory.

That being said, it is therefore necessary that we come to God and plead with Him to graciously grant us the faith we all so desperately need in order to be saved. So let me ask you a personal question. Do you passionately plead with God in prayer? Is that a habit of life for you? Pleading is a good and necessary part of our lives and His children. See, we understand that adoration, confession, supplication, and thanksgiving are great marks of a vibrant prayer life. However, pleading is often neglected. Pleading with God is the part of prayer in which weargue our case with God, almost as if making a legal plea before an earthly judge. It is done passionately and earnestly, using His word to plead your case, often done with urgency and conviction. Yet in all of it, this should be done in a fervent yet humble manner. It should be well-reasoned and not selfish. This is not just requesting but passionately appealing to God. We essentially are making our case before the God of all glory as to why He should grant our request. Yes, at times this may seem awkward and/or inappropriate. Yet, all of us recognize our natural impulse to plead our case. These things are ingrained in our character from birth and start making their presence during childhood. Such an example would be, “Ma, can I please go to the party tonight? Everyone else is going, why can’t I? I’ll be responsible and safe, please just let me try this, this one time and I’ll show you. Can’t we please talk about this more, I really want to go.” God desires passionate pleadings. “Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.” (Psalm 62:8) See, we can pout our hearts before this God that desires we do so, and never need worry about having to shrink back in fear.

Think of the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7, she does not hesitate to plead her case to Jesus, and she is rewarded with His merciful and gracious answer. “Now Jesus stood up and went away from there to the region of Tyre. And when He had entered a house, He was wanting no one to know of it; yet He could not escape notice. But after hearing of Him, a woman whose little daughter had an unclean spirit immediately came and fell at His feet. Now the woman was a Greek, of Syrophoenician descent. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter. And He was saying to her, ‘Let the little children be satisfied first, for it is not good to take the children’s bread and throw it to the dogs.’ But she answered and said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, but even the dogs under the table feed on the children’s crumbs.’ And He said to her, ‘Because of this answer go; the demon has gone out of your daughter.’ And going back to her home, she found the child lying on the bed, the demon having left.” (Mark 7:24-30) Jeremiah the prophet cried out to the Lord. “Righteous are You, O Yahweh, when I would plead my case with You; indeed I would speak matters of justice with You: why has the way of the wicked succeeded? Why are all those who deal in treachery complacent?” (Jeremiah 12:1)Joshua the successor to Moses pleads the case for the Israelites and the disgrace their annihilation would bring upon the name of God; God responds with His grace. “Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of Yahweh until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads. Joshua said, ‘Alas, O Lord Yahweh, why did You ever bring this people over the Jordan, only to give us into the hand of the Amorites, to make us perish? If only we had been willing to live beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I saysince Israel has turned their back before their enemies? And the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it, and they will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will You do for Your great name?’” (Joshua 7:6-9) 

Hezekiah pleads for his own life and God grants his request by giving him more time. “‘For Sheol cannot thank You; death cannot praise You; those who go down to the pit cannot keep watch for Your truth. It is the living, the living who give thanks to You, as I do today; a father makes known to his sons about Your truth. Yahweh is here to save me; so we will play my songs on stringed instruments all the days of our life at the house of Yahweh.’ Now Isaiah had said, ‘Let them take up a cake of figs and apply it to the boil, that he may live.’” (Isaiah 38:18-21) We also see the parable of the persistent widow and it ends with the following plea. “Now, will God not bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?” (Luke 18:7) Passionate pleading should accompany our prayer life, if not, we are neglecting God His desires at our detriment. But let us take notice, this pleading is not that which is proud or rude but rather filled with fervency and passion. After all we are but subjects crying out to our King, slaves bringing a request before our Lord, creatures petitioning the Creator. He desires our pleading and petitions because through them we are inherently recognizing and relying on His sovereignty. Let us dare not turn this around and demand the Sovereign to follow our decree. Not all pleading may get an answer, or maybe not the answer we want, but we ought to rest content even in that, knowing and trusting that He knows what is best for us and is in control of all things at all times. “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7) 

How do we plead? Well let us consider the following:

– From our wants, dangers and sorrows. An example would be like this: My sorrows and grief, O Lord, ever weigh me down and leave me in danger of dishonoring Your name and Your gospel. My pains and weaknesses hinder me from staying true to Your commands and obedient from the heart, that I am rendered useless upon this earth and feeling more a burden than anything.

– The many perfections of the nature of God. An example of this would be: For Your mercies’ sake, O Lord, save me. Your lovingkindness is infinite; let Your infinite lovingkindness be displayed in my salvation. You are wise, O Lord; even though my enemies are crafty, You can disappoint their motives and endeavors, and You alone know by Your most wondrous counsel how to turn my sorrow to joy.

– Relationships God has with man. An example of this would be: O Lord, My Creator, will you not have a desire to the work of Your hands? You have made me and fashioned me in my mother’s womb, will you now destroy me? Will you delight in my perishing? You are my Governor and my King; to who else can I flee to for protection but You?

– The various and particular promises of the covenant of grace. An example may look like this: Remember Your word is written in heaven; it is recorded among the articles of Your sweet covenant, that I must receive light and love, and strength and joy and happiness. Are you not a faithful God to fulfill every one of these promises? What if heaven and earth pass away? Yet Your covenant stands upon two immutable pillars, Your promise and Your oath.

We could go on and on with the ways we ought to plead with God with fervency and passion. However, the point is that we must plead with Him for faith; apart from faith we cannot please Him, nor can we be saved. If we do not turn to Christ in complete faith, letting go of all hopes of cleaning ourselves up, meriting God’s favor, any self-righteousness and pride we’re hanging on to, then we are going to be left without hope of salvation. If we don’t forsake self and turn to Christ in utter hopelessness and faith, then we will perish in our sins. Look this day to the Word of God, behold your Lord and His perfect life, how He perfectly obeyed and submitted Himself to the Father’s will. Behold Him there upon the cross, bearing the weight of all your sins, behold Him suffering in excruciating agony and pain, having been forsaken by the Father because of your rebellion that He took upon Himself. Behold Him there proclaiming, “It is finished”; the Father’s wrath was appeased for the punishment of your sins that were imputed to Him. Behold the perfect Lamb of God, the one true and perfect Sacrifice of God; behold your Propitiation. Behold Him there rising from death, conquering sin, death, and the grave. The sinless Savior arose in victory and now sits at the right hand of God the Father where He bids you come, forsake all, bring all your imperfections, all your cares and worries, all your burdens and hardships, all your sins, and lay them before Him submitting yourself to His Lordship. Don’t delay answering His call, humble yourself and recognize your true condition, utterly helpless to save yourself, estranged from God, and enemies to Him. But if you would just come, He offers to welcome you into His family. Trust in Him and Him alone, and plead that He would save you, that you might live to His glory and no longer your own.