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

Acts 22:1-11 - Paul is struck blind on the way to Damascus.

He saw Jesus (Acts 9:6.

He saw that he was a sinner (I Timothy 1:15.

This was a revelation to him because he thought he was doing God’s will.

We must study the word of God so that we will know what sin is.

He saw being religious was not enough (Philippians 3:5-8.

Paul saw that the religion of his parents was not enough.

He saw conscience is not a safe guide (Acts 23:1.

I John 3:20-21 - The intellect, emotion, willpower, and conscience are all parts of the Biblical “heart”.

He saw he must change when wrong (Philippians 3:5-8.

An honest man will change from error to truth when he learns the truth.

He saw the tragedy of living a lie (Galatians 1:15-17.

He saw prayer does not save the sinner (Acts 9:11

Paul couldn’t just pray and be saved. He had to do what God commanded him to do.

He saw that baptism is necessary for salvation (Acts 22:16.

He saw that he must make Jesus’ word the rule of his life (Galatians 1:6-12.