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Faith is not the only thing involved in being a Christian, but the element of faith is a most significant thing.

When you obeyed the gospel, you responded to the faith (Jude 1:3.

When you were baptized, you became faithful to the Lord (Acts 16:15.

Local churches can be called “faithful” (Colossians 1:2.

All who are Christians are “of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10.

It is by faith that we live (Romans 1:16-17.

The meaning of faith involves the idea of belief

Our believing is in things concerning Jesus and His Kingdom (Acts 8:12.

That faith comes always from the word of God (Romans 10:17.

Believing was the purpose of what the Bible says about Jesus Christ (John 20:30-31.

Faith involves personal confidence in the truthfulness of the gospel message.

The idea of faith involves the willingness to place one’s trust and reliance on someone else (God).

Faith means that I am totally willing to rely on God in all things (Romans 4:3.

Abraham was fully assured that God was able to perform what he had promised (Romans 4:20-21.

If I have faith personally, I have a similar trust in God (I Peter 4:19!

Faith involves the idea of fidelity.

The Bible steward was faithful because he was loyal, committed, and trustworthy (I Corinthians 4:2.

Our faithfulness (commitment and trustworthiness) is to last even tot he point of death (Revelation 2:10.

Living by faith involves confessing our faith

This is a condition of our salvation (Romans 10:8-11.

Confessing Christ is a condition of the Christian’s daily life. Living by faith is always confessing Him (Matthew 10:32-39.

The daily confession of Christ is my tie to the fellowship of God (I John 4:15.

So if by faith we live, we conduct our lives with trust in Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20.

The life of faith trusts in the works of Jesus, especially His death, burial, and resurrection (I Corinthians 15:1-4.

Living by faith always involves “holding fast” the word of God (Titus 3:5-7.

I may say I believe in God, but if my life does not demonstrate that truth, my actions prove my words to be false.

So then, living by faith exercises good works (Titus 3:8.

A faith which is without good works is an unsaving, non-justifying, dead faith (James 2:14-26.

The life of faith involves trusting in the words of Jesus, and living accordingly (Matthew 6:33-34.

Living by faith involves benefitting from faith

Faith brings blessings like joy and peace, hope, and power (Romans 15:13.

Through faith we receive our spiritual blessings. We are blessed because we believe that He hears our prayers (Ephesians 3:12.

Again, the blessing of personal confidence in ourselves coming through faith in Christ (Philippians 4:13.

The life of faith does not go unrewarded in this life, even though its primary concern is the life to come.

Living by faith involves maintaining our faith.

There is a need to stand fast, for faith, if left alone, will die (I Corinthians 15:1-2.

We must take care to hold fast so that unbelief will not replace faith and we fall away (Hebrews 3:12-14.

Otherwise, we might not get to enter into the promised land because of unbelief (Hebrews 3:15-19.

If we should come short of entering His rest, it will be because the gospel was not united by faith in us (Hebrews 4:1-2.

Faith comes by the word, but the word must also be united with personal faith in those who hear it!

We live by faith when we add virtues of Christian character to it (II Peter 1:5-7.

How can one say that he has faith or is faithful, when year after year he continues to woefully lack in these virtues of Christian character? Living by faith means the addition of these virtuous traits. For that reason we need to be all the more diligent in the increasing of those qualities (II Peter 1:8-11.

To be sure we do not fall from our own steadfastness, we need to “grow in the frace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (II Peter 3:17-18.

To summarize:

A “faithful” Christian is one who takes his faith very seriously.

Because it is essential to his salvation.

Because it is essential to receive God’s blessings now and ultimately eternal life!

A “faithful” Christian is one who lives by faith. Are you “living by faith?”

The evidence: the empty tomb - Matthew 28:1-10

Why believe: thewitnesses of Jesus’ resurrection - John 17:20

Number of witnesses: I Corinthians 15:3-8

Cephas - Luke 24:34

Twelve (apostles) - Luke 24:36-43

500 at one time (Galilee) - Matthew 28:10

James, the Lord’s brother

Paul (on the road to Damascus) - Acts 22:6-10

Mary Magdalene - Mark 16:9

Other women returning from the tomb - Matthew 28:9-10

Two disciples on the road to Emmaus - Luke 24:13-33

Apostles, Thomas absent - John 20:19-24

Apostles, Thomas present - John 20:26-29

Seven disciples by sea of Galilee - John 21:1-23

Apostles (His ascension) - Acts 1:3-12

Are the witnesses reliable?

Brothers in the flesh - John 7:3-5

Thomas - John 20:24-28

Saul of Tarsus, former great enemy - Acts 9:1-2

Strength of their witness: “infallible proofs” - Acts 1:3

They ate and drank with Jesus - Acts 10:41

They saw, heard, and touched Him - John 20:24-28

The witness of their transformation

Before…

Afraid at His arrest - Mark 14:50

Peter denied Him three times - Mark 14:66-72

The women mourned His crucifixion - Luke 23:27

After His death…

His disciples were sad - Luke 24:13-17

They hid behind closed doors in fear - John 20:19

After His resurrection…

They fearlessly praised God in the temple - Luke 24:52-53

They proclaimed Christ, despite persecution - Acts 5:28-32

The witness of their high moral standards afterwards

They taught others to live holy lives - I Thessalonians 4:1-7

They lived their own lives in unimpeachable ways - I Thessalonians 2:3-12

The witness of the price they paid

The apostles endured much suffering - I Corinthians 4:9-13

All, but one, died a martyr’s death

The significance of the resurrection for unbelievers

Proves that Jesus truly is the Son of God - Romans 1:4

Demonstrates that the Christ truly has all authority - Matthew 28:18

Verifies the truthfulness of Jesus - Matthew 16:21

If the truth, His other teachings are true

He was from God and spoke the words of the Father - John 8:28

No one can come to the Father but through Him - John 14:6

His blood was shed for the remission of sins - Matthew 26:28

He came to offer abundant life - John 10:10

He went to prepare a place for us - John 14:2

He shall come again - John 14:3

There will be a resurrection and judgment - John 5:28-29

What if Christ is not raised?

Gospel preaching is vain - I Corinthians 15:14

Your faith is vain - I Corinthians 15:14

The apostles were false witnesses - I Corinthians 15:15

They swore that God raised Jesus from the dead - Acts 2:32

They claimed to eat and drink with Him - Acts 10:39-41

We are still in our sins - I Corinthians 15:17

All perished at death - I Corinthians 15:18

We are to be most pitied - I Corinthians 15:19

What the resurrection of Jesus does for the Christian

It verifies our justification - Romans 4:24-25

It demonstrates power available to the Christian - Ephesians 1:18-20

The power of our conversion - Colossians 2:11-12

The power available to live the Christian life - Romans 8:11

It gives us living hope in our own resurrection - I Peter 1:3

It demands our complete loyalty to Him - Romans 14:9

He was raised and exalted to be our Lord - Acts 2:32-26

As the risen Savior, our lives and service belong to Him - Romans 14:7-8

Conclusion: Do you believe in the empty tomb? - John 8:24

The ultimate question: “Whose Son is He?” (Matthew 22:41-42

Faith comes from what is written (John 20:30-31

God is omniscient (Numbers 23:19

What God plans, He accomplishes (Isaiah 46:9-10

The Messiah would be known by prophecy (Isaiah 48:3

Fulfilled prophecy: evidence of Jesus the Messiah (Romans 1:13

The method Jesus used (Luke 24:32

The favored method of teaching about Jesus (Acts 3:18

Fulfilled prophecies concerning His birth (Genesis 3:15

Fulfilled prophecies concerning His lineage

Son of God (Psalms 2:7

Seed of Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3

Son of Isaac (Genesis 21:12

Son of Jacob (Genesis 24:17

Tribe of Judah (Genesis 49:10

Family of Jesse (Isaiah 1:1

House of David (Jeremiah 23:5

Born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2

From deeds of His enemies (Jeremiah 31:15

Fulfilled prophecies from one day in the life of Jesus

Betrayed by a friend (Psalms 41:9

Sold for thirty pieces of silver (Zechariah 11:12

Money thrown down in God’s House (Zechariah 11:13

Price of potter’s field (Zechariah 11:13

Forsaken by His disciples (Zechariah 13:7

Accused by false witnesses (Psalms 35:11

Silent before His accusers (Isaiah 53:7

He was wounded and bruised (Isaiah 53:5

He was smitten and spat upon (Isaiah 50:6

He was mocked (Psalms 22:7-8

He fell under the weight of carrying His own cross (Psalms 109:24,25; Matthew 27:31-32

His hands and feet were pierced (Psalms 22:16

Crucified with common criminals (Isaiah 53:12

Made intercession for His persecutors (Isaiah 53:12

Rejected by His own people (Isaiah 53:3

Hated without a cause prophesied (Psalms 69:4

Friends stood afar off (Psalm 38:11

The people shook their heads as prophesied (Psalms 109:25

He was stared upon (Psalms 22:17

His garments were parted and they cast lots for them (Psalms 22:18

He suffered thirst (Psalms 69:21

Gall and vinegar to drink (Psalms 69:21

He cried out about being forsaken (Psalms 22:1

He committed Himself to God as prophesied (Psalms 31:5

His bones were not broken (Psalms 34:20

His heart was broken (Psalms 22:14

His side was pierced (Zechariah 12:10

Darkness came over all the land (Amos 8:9

Buried in a rich man’s tomb (Isaiah 53:9

Fulfilled prophecies from one day in the life of Jesus

29 specific prophecies fulfilled!

Consider the diversity of the prophets.

The diversity of the historians

The mathematical odds of fulfillment: one in 536,870,000!

What are the odds of fulfilling 440 lifetime prophecies?

Faith in the prophecies of His resurrection (Psalms 16:10

Faith in the prophecies of His ascension (Psalms 68:18

Faith in the prophecies of His reign at God’s right hand (Psalms 110:1

The last prophecy: His second coming (Acts 1:9-11

Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the word of Christ (Romans 10:17.

God attested Jesus with miracles (Acts 2:22

Multitudes responded to the miracles (Matthew 15:31

Concerning miracles

Many exclaim “miracle” when none has occurred.

When someone is healing rapidly

For the most natural of events

When someone escapes injury or death

Claims of miracles: apparitions, delusions, superstitions, frauds, modern day fake “faith” healers

Many do not believe in miracles today or in the Bible

Believers believe in the miracles of the Bible, but not in modern day miracles.

Efforts are often to preach “faith in the miracles,” but need to be preaching to produce faith via the miracles

The role of miracles

Faith came from the Word (Christ) (Romans 10:7

God attested to Christ via miracles (Acts 2:22

Today faith comes from the Word revealed (Romans 10:7

The miracles were written that you might believe (John 20:30-31

What the miracles regarding Jesus tell us about Jesus

Jesus is Lord of Creation

Chemistry

Water into wine (John 2:1-11 - the better wine

Feeding 5000 plus women and children with five loves, two fish … with twelve baskets leftover (Matthew 14:21

Feeding 4000 plus women and children (Matthew 15:38 … using seven loaves with seven “large” baskets leftover

Biology

Cursed the fig tree (Matthew 21:19-22

His virgin birth (Isaiah 7:14

The sea

Walking on water (Matthew 14:25

Peace be still (Mark 4:39

Jesus is Lord over distance (space)

Healing nobleman’s son (John 4:46-54

Healing Centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5-13

Jesus is Lord over the curse of sin: sickness

Healing the blind man (John 9

The lepers (Luke 17:1-19

The lame, crippled, dumb, and others (Matthew 15:30-31

Jesus is Lord over the spirit world - casting out demons

Seven demons of Mary Magdalene (Luke 8:2

The naed man and the Legion of demons which entered the swine (Matthew 8:28-34

Jesus is Lord over the curse: death

Raising son of widow of Nain (Luke 7:11-17

Raising Jairus’ daughter (Mark 6

Raising Lazarus (John 11

The blessing of believing in the miracles (Luke 7:22-23

The resurrection of Jesus

God made Jesus both Lord and Christ by His resurrection (Acts 2:24

The gospel message (I Corinthians 15:3-4

God raised up Jesus (Acts 3:15

Declared the Son of God by the resurrection (Romans 1:4

Therefore all men must confess Him (Romans 10:8-10

All men must obey the plan of salvation (Acts 2:38-41.

Hebrews 11:3 - The ingredients of faith are explained.

Faith is the conviction of things unseen, such as the day of judgment (Philippians 3:8-11.

God’s Revelation, the Bible, does not rely upon and is not subject to experimentation and empirical verification.

The law of the Lord is perfect, sure and right (Psalms 19:7-8, in contrast to the flawed and imperfect nature of scientific investigation.

What is the “causative agent of the preparation of the worlds?”

“By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God.” Genesis 1:3

To make the cause of the origin of the creation anything other than the person of our Lord and means and methods involving things other than the word of God strikes at the very heart of the gospel itself and is a direct attack upon the deity of Christ!

God’s written word is as powerful today as His spoken one (Romans 1:16.

Even today all things are being upheld by the word of His power (HJebrews 1:2-3); either by natural law (Genesis 8:22.

How did the Word of God prepare the worlds?

“So that which is seen was not made out of things which are visible” - creation ex nihilo (creation from nothing)

The question is often asked: “what difference does it make?”

God’s word had power then, so His word has power now. And God’s word caused the creation then, so His word causes the new creation now. If you take the power from the word of creation, you take the power from the word of the gospel of Christ.

On the question of origins, what shall we say?

Since the Bible says it, I will believe it (I Thessalonians 2:13.

Since the Bible says it, I will teach it (I Peter 4:11. If any man speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God.

I must be careful not to add to or subtract from what is revealed (Revelation 22:18-19.

I must earnestly content for the faith revealed (Jude 1:3.

There are two parts to faith:

That God is (Genesis 1:1

God is a rewarder (Matthew 16:8-10

Without faith it is impossible to please God. (Hebrews 11:5-6

Without faith, sin reigns (John 16:8-9

Without faith, prayers go unanswered (Mark 11:24

Without faith, good (and great) things become impossible (Hebrews 11:5-6

Without faith, there is no courage (II Peter 1:5

Without faith, there is no basis for hope (Hebrews 11:6

Hearing is the way by whih faith comes to men.

Not be genetics or hereditary descent (John 1:13

Not by feeling

Not by dreams, visions, or voices

Not through the eloquence, earnestness, or any other good quality of the preacher

Not by hearing anything other than the word of God

What kinds of hearing produces faith?

Hearers that want salvation (John 7:17

Hearers who are convinced that they are lost (Acts 2:36-37

Hearing of the condescending pity and the melting love of Jesus (Romans 2:4

Hearing of the authority of the faith (I Thessalonians 2:13

Hearers that are willing to have the gospel explained (Mark 16:16

Hearers that take the message as personal and pointed (Acts 2:37

The role hearing played in the cases of conversion

On the day of Pentecost, the people listened and heard and were convicted (Acts 2:22

Others of Jerusalem who heard the message believed (Acts 4:1-4.

Those of Samaria gave attention to the message spoken and they believed Philip and were baptized (Acts 8:5,6,12

Cornelius heard the words commanded of God and was baptized (Acts 10:32-33

For all these cases of conversion, it was necessary to hear in order to believe (Romans 10:17. Have you heard? Do you believe? Have you obeyed the gospel?

Developing faith

Hebrews 11:1 - This chapter lists people who showed true faith.

Hebrews 11:7 - Noah had faith in what he had not yet seen.

Hebrews 11:8 - Without faith, we cannot serve God.

What does Romans 10:17 say about how faith is developed?

Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

In I Corinthians 2:5, what did Paul tell them their faith would rest upon?

Their faith would rest upon the power of God.

Given what the Holy spirit said in I Corinthians 15:14, is faith worth anything if it is based on fiction?

Certainly not!

Maintaining faith

Read Philippians 1:21-30. What would help our faith to grow and develop?

Standing firm in one spirit and suffering for Christ’s sake.

What was God’s message to the early Christians in Revelation 2:10?

Be faithful unto death!

What do we learn about faith from the witnesses referenced in Hebrews 12:1?

We have people cheering us on. We should be motivated to maintain our faith.

Losing faith

List some reasons why people stop serving the Lord.

Relationships with unfaithful people

Some calamity happens that is beigger than their faith

Discord in the church

Failure to study and grow

Hypocrisy among other Christians

In Colossians 2:4-8, what did Paul warn the Colossians about?

Persuasive arguments, philosophy and empty deception, and things which have the appearance of wisdom