Are You Living By Faith?
Many people struggle with their faith in God and never really get off the ground in their relationship with him. God wants us to know him and if we are to know him, we must have faith in order to enter into a relationship with him.
Here are 5 points that will help you to determine where you are at with your faith.
What is Faith? The definition of faith is: A complete trust or confidence in God and his word of promise ie. (What he says in the scriptures or the word of God). It is the assurance (confirmation, title deed) of what we hope for, and the evidence or proof of what we believe but do not see, and the conviction of their reality. Hebrews 11:1 (AMPC). Our faith brings into reality what we believe for based on the promises of God. Mark 11:24; 1 John 5:14-15. Without faith, we can’t even start a relationship with God. Faith is the access way to coming into an intimate relationship with the one who created us.
We are to live by faith. 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 10:35-39; Galatians 2:20. A life anchored in faith in God and his word, has the possibility and potential to be able to both be and do everything that God has designed that life to be and do. Matthew 17:20; Mark 9:23. We do not live according to circumstances, obstacles or our 5 senses. We base what we believe upon the word of God as our standard and final authority for all of life and practice. 2 Peter 1:3-4 States that we are given by God’s divine power, everything that pertains to life in him and godliness. It comes through having a true knowledge of God. By this same power ie. God’s divine power, he has granted us his precious and magnificent promises, that enable us to become partakers of his divine nature. God enables us to come into a union and unity with him. We access all this by faith!
Without faith, we can not please God. God stated, that it was impossible to please and be satisfactory to him if we do not live by faith. Hebrews 11:6. We must believe that he is God, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. We please God when we purpose in our hearts to remain true to him. Acts 11:23. God wants us to please him in all the we do. Colossians 1:10. One way that we can please God, is by living for Christ Jesus instead of living for ourselves. 2 Corinthians 5:15. This is all done by faith and putting our full confidence on the word of God and living by what it says.
Faith is anchored on something. Faith is not blind as some people think. It is anchored on something, and that thing is the reality of the scriptures or word of God. Jesus stated that his word was and is the truth. John 8:31-32; John 17:17. So, faith is anchored upon truth or what is reality. We as believers must base our beliefs and convictions on the scriptures or the word of God. It is not blind faith, but instead a completely high level of trust and confidence in what God promises in the scriptures. Matthew 4:4. Mankind is to live by or according to every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. The apostle Paul stated that the words that he and the other apostles spoke were the very words of God; and that all scripture is inspired by God, or “God breathed” as the greek defines the word inspired. 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17.
Without faith, there is no relationship with Christ Jesus. Faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ brings us into relationship with him. Romans 1:16-17; Romans 10:6-10. We must believe that Jesus walked the face of this earth over 2,000 years ago, and that he came to specifically bear our sins upon himself on the cross; that he purposed to die for us on that cross to shed his blood for us. Because according to the scriptures, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sins. Hebrews 9:22; Hebrews 9:14. Sin has a penalty, and that penalty is eternal death, which means that mankind has no access to God forever and ever. He/she is cut off from the presence of God eternally. Also, the penalty for sin is to suffer in hell and its fire that never goes out. We must believe that Jesus was buried and rose from the dead, and ascended to heaven to present his blood to the father as our atonement, or payment for our sins. God does not want any to perish and to suffer these consequences. So he sent his Son to suffer our punishment that we deserve. Romans 3:23; Romans 6:23; Romans 10:9-10. When we receive his offer of salvation, we are born anew of the Spirit of God, and brought into his kingdom family. John 3:3-21,36; John 17:3.
Having faith and utilizing that faith, is paramount in our relationship with God. We live by faith and walk by this same faith. Without faith, we wouldn’t be able to sustain a relationship with the God who gave us this wonderful gift.
