BIBILE STUDY WEEK # 3 (7/29/14)

In the School of Faith: Bible Study
From a study of Charles F. Stanley
Date: 7/29/14
Week # 3


SUBJECT: Three Types of Faith
(III) Saving Faith
Key Passage:  James 2:18-19
Supporting Scriptures: Matthew 6:30; 8:5-10; 16:5-10; Luke 22:31-32; 24:45-47; John 16:30-31; 20:25-27; Acts 2:36-38; Romans 1:28-32; Philippians 2:10-11; Mark 4:35-41


Faith begin with believing in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, a living person, for the forgiveness of sin and trusting Him because He provides eternal life with God. It isn't enough to simply believe in the actions of Jesus Christ or the abilities of God. True saving faith is more than that; it is a personal relationship with the Savior. (Mark 4:35-41)
This is defined as trusting in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, as the One who provides us with the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of everlasting life. This type of faith involves having a personal relationship with the Lord, renouncing sin, and turning our lives over to Him.

The primary reason the Father wants us to have great faith is because we respond to Him in proportion to how much we trust Him. If we have strong faith, He can entrust us with assignments that will have a greater impact for His kingdom.

Saving faith must come first.
However, we cannot even begin the journeys God has in mind for us if we do not have saving faith. There is a terrible gap between intellectual belief and true trust in God, and that chasm can only be bridged by an intimate relationship with Jesus. When you receive Him as your personal Savior, from that moment, the Holy Spirit will direct and empower you. Also, an individual does not exhibit saving faith if he or she refuses to repent. If a person truly believes that Jesus is his or her Savior, he or she will want to turn away from anything that is inconsistent with who Christ is and how a believer should live. Repentance and faith go hand in hand, and both acknowledges God as sovereign over all things and that He has the right to govern our conduct.

Having a saving faith is a key because it determines our eternal destiny. Many people are deceived. They think because they go to church, are baptized, and tithe regularly, they are saved. They know Jesus intellectually, but they don't have a relationship with Him.

One of the greatest things God has given us can't be bought with money.
We use this gift from Him continually, and the more we exercise it, the better we do with it. What is this great, precious, and powerful fruit of the Spirit? It is faith—and God provides it to every person who is rightly related to Him through Jesus Christ. There is so much to learn about trusting our heavenly Father. We are not born knowing how to rely upon Him or understanding the importance of depending on His wisdom and strength. Therefore, we must discover how to do so as we mature spiritually.

A. A person who has saving faith both knows the truth of Scripture and practices it (Rom. 1:32).
B. Even demons and the devil have intellectual faith. We must both believe and bear fruit (James 2:18-20).
C. Jesus is addressed as "Lord" 185 times in the gospels. This is important to note because it shows that the disciples recognized His lordship. This truth is the foundation of our faith, the bedrock upon which everything else is built.
D. Those who believe must also express repentance for sin if we truly acknowledge Jesus as our Savior (Luke 24:45-48; Acts 2:36-38). Repentance and faith go hand in hand.

Matthew 14:22-23
When you accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the Holy Spirit comes into your life and seals you as a child of God. This is an amazing one-time experience; however, you are meant to grow in your walk with God. As you do, you get to know Him in a personal way, discover His purpose for your life, learn to listen to and obey Him, experience His presence, power, and wisdom, and understand what it means to live the Christian life.

Jesus spent a great deal of His time on earth instructing His disciples and helping them understand what true faith is. For example:

 A. When His disciples were concerned about bread, Jesus reminded them how He fed thousands with only a handful of fish and loaves (Matt. 16:7-11).
 B. When the disciples could not drive out demons because their faith was little, Jesus explained how faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains (Matt. 17:14-21).
Jesus knew what opposition they would be up against and what they would need to minister to new believers. This is why teaching them about faith was His priority. He knew that for them to be effective as witnesses and servants, they had to have absolute faith in His promises and in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Faith is not a feeling; it is a confident conviction that God will do what He has promised.
 A. It was His desire that all believers would be saved and also that they would grow in faith and walk in Him daily (Col. 2:6).
 B. Just as Jesus grew in wisdom, so should we (Luke 2:51-52). You should be able to ask God for more than you did a year ago or even to ask for things you might never have believed possible in the past. Those who are not walking in the Spirit and trusting God are not advancing in their faith or being used by God for His glory.

A saving faith in Jesus Christ means that we accept Him as the Son of God, the only sacrifice that could atone for our sins.

As a result, we desire to repent and to surrender every aspect of our lives to Him. He will then transform us and conform us to His image. As we walk with God, the more He will bless each of us with perfect assurance regarding our salvation and our relationship with Him.

The Bible speaks of people who are saved by faith, but it also mentions others who have "faith," yet are not saved. What then is required in order for a person to "believe to the saving of the soul" (Hebrews 10:39)?

Saving faith requires 3 things. First there is conviction. One must be convinced in his heart that God exists - Hebrews 11:6. Yet, this conviction alone is not enough to save, since James 2:19 says that demons believe there is one God, but they are not saved. So, something more must be required in order for one to have saving faith. Second, saving faith also requires trust in God. One must depend on God as the source of salvation. Daniel was saved from the lions, because he believed in God (Daniel 6:23). He did not just accept in his heart that God exists. He trusted God to deliver him from the lions. Third, one does not really trust God unless he has the last element of faith, and that is obedience. Now, many people will tell you that you are saved by faith without obedience. But the truth is that faith that does not obey is faith that does not save. James 2:14-26 shows that faith without obedience cannot justify, because it is dead and barren. Hebrews chapter 11 is the role-call of Old Testament people of faith. But, when you study their lives you will see that every individual was rewarded by God only after his faith led him to obey God - never before that!

It is said that years ago a man was about to push a wheelbarrow across a tightrope over Niagara Falls. He asked the crowd how many believed he could make it. Many held up their hands. Then he asked them how many had faith enough to ride in the wheelbarrow! No, you do not need to cross Niagara Falls in a wheelbarrow to please God, but you do need the kind of faith that leads you to act in obedience to His revealed teachings.


Reflections:

1. Do you recall a faith failure in your life?
2. What or who was standing in the way of you having a perfect faith in the Lord Jesus Christ?
3. What did you do to restore that faith?
4. How can you help someone else who is suffering in their faith and lead them to a place of renewed faith?

Questions:

1. What is saving faith to you?
2. What are some of the signs of genuine saving faith?
3. How can I have assurance of my salvation?
4. If you doubt your salvation, does that mean you are not truly saved?
5. What if I don't feel saved?
6. How can I detect a false conversion?
7. What does it mean to test the spirits?


Prayer:

Father God, we come to You in faith asking for knowledge of how the faith system work, and how we can walk closer to You in faith. Thank You Lord, for the faith You have given us. We ask for You to encourage our faith, and help our unbelief. Help our faith today to stay strong, so we can experience a godly faithful relationship with You, in Jesus' name. Forgive us for the weakness of our faith now. Thank You that our faith has sealed us as a child of God. Today we will walk by faith, and not by sight. We will keep the Word of God in our hearts and mind, so that our faith will stay strong and continue to grow, because we do go from faith to faith. Help us not to walk according to our sight or our feeling. Bless us to walk in conviction, trust in You, and in obedient. When doubt come help us to rise up in faith by putting on the whole armor of God. In Jesus' name, amen.


Quiz: Saving Faith Quiz: Week # 3

1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.

True False

2. Faith comes by hearing the word of God.

True False

3. The unjust shall live by faith.

True False

4. A faithful person will abound with blessings.

True False


5. God's people should live by faith.

True False

6. All things should be asked in unwavering faith.

True False

7. Faith expresses itself by love.

True False

8. By God's gift of grace, we are saved through faith.

True False

9. Faith is the helmet in our armour of God.

True False

10. Faith should be placed in the wisdom of men.

True False    

11. Christians should fight the good fight of faith wherever they are sent.

True False      
 

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 2 (SUMMARY)

(Godly Faith) WEEK # 2



Godly faith is a type of faith that pleases God, and it's the faith that saves us. God desires that every believer lead a righteous life, and have this kind of faith. But our culture places a tremendous amount of pressure on Christians to "fit in." The doctrines of our faith are often mocked and ridiculed in the public arena. Individual believers sometimes make spiritual or moral compromises in an attempt to be accepted. How can we resist the secular influence of our time? In Romans 12:1-2, the apostle Paul reveals how to pursue holiness and resist compromise. The key to living a godly life is full surrender. That means we must let God have complete control over our lives. The Lord is looking for faithful men and women who will stand up for truth in a world that is increasingly opposed to the gospel. Rather than base your standards on popular opinion, allow Scripture to set your values. Answer the Lord's call to a godly life, and you will never be the same.


We will study Saving Faith in our next lesson.    

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 2 (QUIZ TIME)

Multiple Choice Section: Week 2

1. The phrase "the just shall live by faith", quoted at least three times in the New Testament, is found in this Old Testament book:

XA. Habakkuk.
B. Haggai.
C. Hezekiah.
D. Psalms.


2. Choose the most Biblically accurate description of the nature of the faith that justifies lost sinners.

A. The gift of God which must be cultivated by the sinner in order for him to be justified.
B. An imperfect work done by the sinner under grace which God accepts in the place of perfect obedience to the Law.
C. Recognition by the sinner of the truth of essential Biblical doctrines.
XD. The gift of God which conveys His grace in Christ to a needy sinner.

3. Jesus commended a woman's faith when she compared herself to:

A. a goat.
B. a raven.
XC. a dog.
D. a wild olive tree.

4. Which person's faith is not mentioned in connection with what God did in his or her case?

A. Sarah, in conceiving Isaac.
B. Enoch, when he was taken to heaven without seeing death.
C. The woman who said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."
XD. Lazarus, when he was raised from the dead.

5. Jesus illustrated the power of faith when He said that mountains could be moved by it. Similarly, He said that one with even a little faith would be able to:

XA. Command that repentant sinners receive the Holy Spirit.
B. Walk on water.
C. Say to a mulberry tree "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea."
D. Charm snakes

I almost put (C), but then I remember that Jesus was not talking about a real tree, but that a person that believe can help another person receive the Holy Spirit when they ask for it.

What do you think on this one?    

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 2 (ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS)

Answers to Questions: Week # 2

1. What is Faith?

Hebrews 11: 1 says, "Faith is the substance of things hope for, and the evidence of things not seen." Faith is when you totally trust that something will happen before you see it happen.

2. How do we apply our faith to our lives?

Be a born again believer, allow the Bible to be the ultimate authority in your life, Know that whatever it is that you desire from the Lord must line up with His Word, and pray believing that you have received the thing that you ask for in faith.

3. Who is listed in the Hall of Faith?

Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel and the prophets.

4. In order to have godly faith, what must we do?

We must first believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him, and

5. In James 2, how do we show our faith in God?

A person who has faith in the promises of God will show their faith through their actions.

6. Who is the Redeemer of our faith?

Jesus Christ is the promised Redeemer through our faith in Him.

7. Explain one of the Hero's life in the Hall of Faith.

God Calls Moses Out To Deliver His People:

After 40 years of Moses being in the desert, God hears the cries of His people under their Egyptian bondage. The Bible says that God acknowledges their cries and plight under the Egyptian rule and decides He will deliver them out of their bondage because of the previous covenant that He had made with their earlier forefathers – Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God first makes contact with Moses through a burning bush. Initially an angel of the Lord appears to Moses in a "flame of fire from the midst of a bush." This bush is burning with fire, but the bush itself is not being consumed by the fire! God then starts to speak directly to Moses. He tells Moses that He has heard the cries of His people in Egypt and that He is calling Moses out to be the one who will go in there and deliver them from their plight with the Egyptians. God is thus going to deliver the Israelites from the Egyptians through Moses! God then proceeds to tell Moses that he will be the one to deliver and lead them out of their captivity, and that he will then lead them into a "good and large land, to a land flowing with milk and honey, to the place of the Canaanites and Hittites." Moses' initial response to God was that who was he to go down and bring the children of Israel out from their Egyptian bondage? God then tells Moses that He will be with him during this entire deliverance and for him to tell the children of Israel when they ask the name of his God, he should them that His name is: "I AM!"

8. How does faith play a part in our life?

Faith is an integral part of every Christian's life. It's with faith that we overcome trials, it's with faith that we look ahead to our future, and it's with faith that we withstand our enemy.    

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 2 (ANSWERS TO REFLECTION)

Reflections:

1. What stage of faith are you currently experiencing?

I walk in godly faith, because I walk by faith and not by sight, but sometimes my faith fail me, and then I repent and ask God to forgive; I read and study to strength my faith.

2. What might you do to strengthen your faith?

Keep reading God's Word, and exercise my faith through my actions, and keep trusting Him with all my heart.

3. Does your behavior positively reflect the Lord and His godliness?

Yes, I believe it does! I really try to bring glory to Him and God always.

4. Do you exhibit faith in a way that shows God's sovereignty in your life?

Yes, I do! I trust God in keeping me health through my faith in Him, and others are encouraged from it. I have been healed many times, because I trust Gods Word that says, "By Jesus' stripes I was healed." (1 Peter 2:24)     

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 2 (MORE SHARING)

This was a great point!


"While many of the stories point to specific actions that were done, it is important to see that their faith produced the action and not the other way around. We don't earn our faith because of good actions; right actions are a result of proper faith. Romans (4) tells us that Abraham was not saved because he obeyed God; rather, his obedience to God was a result of his faith. James 2 teaches that a man (or woman) who has faith in the promises of God will show their faith through their actions.


Also I noticed this one too!

In Hebrews 11 there is a constant reference to the promise that God had given to various people. The initial promise was given in Genesis 3:15. God promised that there would be a Redeemer who would come and save humanity from the punishment of their sin. This promise was originally given to Eve when God said that from her seed the Redeemer, a Savior, would come. Throughout the Bible God gave more and more specifics for who the Redeemer would be and where He would come from.

The promised Redeemer was later defined as coming from the family of Abraham; specifically through the line of Isaac. Later God narrowed the promise through Isaac's son Jacob and then through the house of David. Through Hebrews 11 we can see that God takes a general promise and throughout history narrows down the promise to exactly where the Redeemer would come from.
He mentioned the promised Redeemer, promised Messiah, promised Savior a lot in this study. Our faith should be in the promised One.


Listen to this…..

After all these great stories of faith in verse 39 tells us that these individuals never received the promise in a physical way. That promise was the future birth of the Redeemer Savior and Messiah Jesus Christ. They did not see the day of His coming. However, their faith in that promised Redeemer was counted for their salvation. Their faith was in something they never saw, but that does not mean that their faith was in vain. They believed God for something He promised. (They didn't see, but they believed!)
Though we don't see Jesus Christ walking among us today, we can receive the promise in the same way these Old Testament believers did: through faith. We don't look forward to the future promise of a Redeemer, we look backwards through the written Word of God to see what God has given. AMEN!!!     

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 2 (SHARING)

Faith is more than just having the thought or belief of something in your mind. It is an action word. It involves doing something. In James 2:18, it reads, "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (New International Version, 1989) For example, a farmer may believe that crops will grow on his land but if he never plants the seeds, he will never have a crop. So, the farmer has faith by planting the seeds in the ground, watering them, weeding the soil and allowing the sun to shine on them. Then a crop will spring up. Praying in faith is saying what God's Word says about the situation. The seed is the Word of God. Your heart is the ground for planting the seed of the Word. Then keep trusting in the Word of God by confessing (saying or speaking) the Word of God. Keep out doubt and unbelief. Nourish the Word by protecting it in your heart until it comes to pass in your life. "Believe that you have received it and ye shall have it."


The 11th chapter of Hebrews is known as the Hall of Faith in the Bible. It lists many men and women who showed faith in God and His promise. This wonderful chapter is an example to us on how we can, and should, have faith in God as well. Beyond reading the accounts of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, we should look into the Old Testament stories which are referenced in this great chapter.    

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 1 (SUMMARY)

 Summary:

Intellectual faith is one of the three types of faith that don't please God, because it's half dead. LOL we have this kind of faith if our works do not measure up to our words. Jesus said, the people who call Him, "Lord, Lord," had the knowledge to know what they should do; they simply were not doing it. Jesus makes a direct contrast between the man who acts upon the knowledge he has and the one who does not act on that knowledge. Both have the same knowledge, but one has chosen to commit to living according to the truth he knows, while the other have not. For the one who simply knows the truth without acting on it, Jesus says, "…the ruin of that house was great."

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 2 (7/22/14)

In the School of Faith: Bible Study
From the s study of Charles F. Stanley
Date: 7/22/14
Week # 2


SUBJECT: Three Types of Faith
(II) Godly Faith:
Key Passage: Genesis 22:1-5
Supporting Scriptures: I Samuel 17; Matthew 9:20-22; 8:5-10; Hebrews 11:1, 6

This is the confident conviction that whatever the Lord has promised to do, He will absolutely fulfill. He has never failed to keep His word, and that will never change.
God's faith is when you believe in God's existence and His abilities. A person with this kind of faith possesses a confident conviction that God will fulfill what He has promised.
A mustard seed is a very small but powerful seed. The common mustard of Palestine is the Sinapis nigra. This garden herb sometimes grows to a considerable height, so as to be spoken of as "a tree," as compared with garden herbs. Mustard seeds of the various mustard plants are among the smallest of seeds. The seeds are about 3mm in diameter but can grow to a very tall height.

Jesus Christ spoke of the mustard seed in parables so that people could easily understand the Kingdom of God.


What is Faith?

The Bible explains faith in Hebrews 11:1 as follows: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (King James Version) Let's also look at another version of the Bible: "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (New International Version, 1984)

Faith is described as "being sure" and "certain". Faith says "I have the thing I hope for now." It says assuredly and certainly I have it now and it exists now.

How Do I Apply Faith to My Life?

1) Be a born again believer.
Admit that you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. Repent of your sins, that is, turn from your sin. Then, confess and believe in Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior. Romans 10:9 and 10 reads, "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."
This takes faith. Hebrew 11:6 says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."

2) Allow the Bible to be the ultimate authority in your life.
The Psalmist in Psalms 119:89 says, "For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven." The Word must be the final authority in your life as it is in Heaven and on the earth.

3) Know that whatever it is that you desire from the Lord must line up with His Word.
Study of the Word of God is very important.

For example, if a person is a narcotics dealer, he cannot pray and ask God for more finances. God would never condone the illegal sale of narcotics. Your petition must be what God would want for you or someone else. That means you must know what His Word says about your situation.

4) Pray believing that you have received the thing that you ask for in faith.
Mark 11:24 says, "Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them."

Faith is more than just having the thought or belief of something in your mind. It is an action word. It involves doing something. In James 2:18, it reads, "But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do." (New International Version, 1989) For example, a farmer may believe that crops will grow on his land but if he never plants the seeds, he will never have a crop. So, the farmer has faith by planting the seeds in the ground, watering them, weeding the soil and allowing the sun to shine on them. Then a crop will spring up. Praying in faith is saying what God's Word says about the situation. The seed is the Word of God. Your heart is the ground for planting the seed of the Word. Then keep trusting in the Word of God by confessing (saying or speaking) the Word of God. Keep out doubt and unbelief. Nourish the Word by protecting it in your heart until it comes to pass in your life.
"Believe that you have received it and ye shall have it."

The 11th chapter of Hebrews is known as the Hall of Faith in the Bible. It lists many men and women who showed faith in God and His promise. This wonderful chapter is an example to us on how we can, and should, have faith in God as well. Beyond reading the accounts of the people mentioned in Hebrews 11, we should look into the Old Testament stories which are referenced in this great chapter.
A simple definition of faith is given in verse 1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." While faith is putting our trust in something we cannot see, it does not mean that there is no evidence for that faith. We believe there is a God, not because we can see Him, but because we have plenty of evidence that He exists. We have nature which tells us there is a Creator (Romans 1:19-23; Hebrews 11:2). We have God's Word, the Bible, which proclaims that God exists. There are plenty of evidences through history and science which proclaim the accuracy of the Bible. While we cannot see God, we can have faith in Him because of the proof that He has given to us through history, science, nature and His Word.
Beyond the simple definition of faith in verse 1 there is a practical application of faith in verse 6. It says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We must have faith to please God. When we try to work out our salvation or our daily Christian walk in our flesh, that is not pleasing to God. Everything we do should be done in faith.

Hall of Faith
In this chapter there are various names of men and women of faith and snippets of their stories. To understand each of these it is necessary to read the account in the Old Testament where these stories originate.
While many of the stories point to specific actions that were done, it is important to see that their faith produced the action and not the other way around. We don't earn our faith because of good actions; right actions are a result of proper faith. Romans 4 tells us that Abraham was not saved because he obeyed God; rather, his obedience to God was a result of his faith. James 2 teaches that a man (or woman) who has faith in the promises of God will show their faith through their actions.

Here is the list of names mentioned in Hebrews 11 which make up the Hall of Faith: Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sara, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthae, David, Samuel and the prophets.

The Promise: A Redeemer
In Hebrews 11 there is a constant reference to the promise that God had given to various people. The initial promise was given in Genesis 3:15. God promised that there would be a Redeemer who would come and save humanity from the punishment of their sin. This promise was originally given to Eve when God said that from her seed the Redeemer, a Savior, would come. Throughout the Bible God gave more and more specifics for who the Redeemer would be and where He would come from.
The promised Redeemer was later defined as coming from the family of Abraham; specifically through the line of Isaac. Later God narrowed the promise through Isaac's son Jacob and then through the house of David. Through Hebrews 11 we can see that God takes a general promise and throughout history narrows down the promise to exactly where the Redeemer would come from.

Specific Examples of Faith
There are many stories mentioned or alluded to in these verses. Let's look at a few and see how their faith was manifested.

Abel: The first two children of Adam and Eve were Cain and Abel. They knew that God had promised a Redeemer and that the acceptance of the promised Savior was not through their works, but through faith. Cain brought a sacrifice to God which was based on his own labor: not based on faith. Though God had given a specific example—the slaughtering of a lamb to cover Adam and Eve's sin—Cain came to God with his own work. However, Abel sacrificed to God in faith trusting the promised Messiah.

Abraham: Most of the evidences of Abraham's faith that are mentioned in Hebrews 11 show that Abraham was trusting God for a promised inheritance. Abraham left his home to obtain land. He believed God when He said that Abraham's family would be multiplied like the stars of the sky or the sands of the sea. Abraham's faith in the physical promises from God were proof that he trusted in the potential promised Redeemer who would come long after Abraham's own death.

Moses: Though raised in the house of the Pharaoh of Egypt, Moses knew that his birth family was the people of God. You can read the Old Testament account of the life of Moses (Exodus-Deuteronomy) and see that Moses was not a perfect man; yet what drove Moses to obey and trust God was that he had faith in the promise of a coming Savior.

The Prophets: Though not mentioned individually by name, the prophets were each called to a task which was difficult and against the status quo. They proclaimed God's promises and His righteousness to a nation which wandered away from their God. Many of the prophets were ridiculed, beaten and killed for their faith in the promises of God.

The Results of Their Faith
After all these great stories of faith verse 39 tells us that these individuals never received the promise in a physical way. That promise was the future birth of the Redeemer Savior and Messiah Jesus Christ. They did not see the day of His coming. However, their faith in that promised Redeemer was counted for their salvation. Their faith was in something they never saw, but that does not mean that their faith was in vain. They believed God for something He promised.
Though we don't see Jesus Christ walking among us today, we can receive the promise in the same way these Old Testament believers did: through faith. We don't look forward to the future promise of a Redeemer, we look backwards through the written Word of God to see what God has given.
Is your faith in Jesus Christ for your salvation? He is the promised Redeemer that the whole Old Testament points to. These men and women in Hebrews 11 put their faith in the promise of a Savior that had not yet come. How much easier should it be for us who can put our faith in something that has already taken place?

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1).
Faith is an integral part of every Christian's life. It's with faith that we overcome trials, it's with faith that we look ahead to our future, and it's with faith that we withstand our enemy.

Reflections:
1. What stage of faith are you currently experiencing?
2. What might you do to strengthen your faith?
3. Does your behavior positively reflect the Lord and His godliness?
4. Do you exhibit faith in a way that shows God's sovereignty in your life?

Questions:
1. What is Faith?
2. How do we apply our faith to our lives?
3. Who is listed in the Hall of Faith?
4. In order to have godly faith, what must we do?
5. In James 2, how do we show our faith in God?
6. Who is the Redeemer of our faith?
7. Explain one of the Hero's life in the Hall of Faith.
8. How does faith play a part in our life?    
 
Multiple Choice Section: Week 2


1. The phrase "the just shall live by faith", quoted at least three times in the New Testament, is found in this Old Testament book:

A. Habakkuk.
B. Haggai.
C. Hezekiah.
D. Psalms.


2. Choose the most Biblically accurate description of the nature of the faith that justifies lost sinners.

A. The gift of God which must be cultivated by the sinner in order for him to be justified.
B. An imperfect work done by the sinner under grace which God accepts in the place of perfect obedience to the Law.
C. Recognition by the sinner of the truth of essential Biblical doctrines.
D. The gift of God which conveys His grace in Christ to a needy sinner.

3. Jesus commended a woman's faith when she compared herself to:

A. a goat.
B. a raven.
C. a dog.
D. a wild olive tree.

4. Which person's faith is not mentioned in connection with what God did in his or her case?

A. Sarah, in conceiving Isaac.
B. Enoch, when he was taken to heaven without seeing death.
C. The woman who said to herself, "If only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well."
D. Lazarus, when he was raised from the dead.

5. Jesus illustrated the power of faith when He said that mountains could be moved by it. Similarly, He said that one with even a little faith would be able to:

A. Command that repentant sinners receive the Holy Spirit.
B. Walk on water.
C. Say to a mulberry tree "Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea."
D. Charm snakes


Prayer:
Father God, We come to You in boldness as Your Word has instructed us. Grant us the knowledge of this study to use for Your glory, Wisdom to use it when the enemy comes against us, and the understanding of it. Thank You Lord! Our faith is so important to us as we walk with You daily. Your Word teaches us that we must walk by faith, and not by sight. Whatever is not faith is sin, help us to strength our faith as we study this lesson on faith. We know that no faith, and little faith is not pleasing to You. We desire to please You in our walk today. Thank You for granting us this faith through our study. This we pray in Jesus' name, amen.     
 
 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK #1 (QUIZ)

I put my X next to the right choices:


Multiple Choices WEEK #1


1. Faith's first mention - by name - in Scripture is in:

A. The Law B. The Gospels
XC. The prophets
D. The Psalms

Habakkuk 2:4


2. Which statement is not found in Scripture?

A. Cursed is the man who trusts in man
B. Do not put your trust in princes
C. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool
XD. All of the above are Biblical statements. (Jeremiah 17:5; Psalm 146:3; Proverbs 28:26)


3. According to the Gospel of Mark, a father agonizing over his son's distress exemplified the best prayer which someone struggling with faith can pray when he said to Jesus:

A. Your will be done.
B. Please give me a sign!
C. I ask this in Your name, Lord.
XD. Lord, I believe; help my unbelief! (Mark 9:17)


4. To which three would the phrase "who through faith...out of weakness were made strong" best be applicable?

A. Isaac, Shimei, and Abigail.
B. Solomon, Jehoida, and Ishmael.
C. Isaiah, Rebekah, and Asaph.
XD. Samson, Elijah, and Nehemiah.


5. Although not mentioned by name in the Hebrews chapter 11 roster, these three were heroic in their faith.

XA. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah (Daniel 3:12)
B. Shiphrah, Puah, and Peninnah
C. Hophni, Phinehas, and Uzzah
D. Joab, Abishai, and Asahel     

BIBLE STUDY WEEK #1 (ANSWERS)

1) What is intellectual faith?
Intellectual faith is faith that changes nothing.

2) Can intellectual faith save us?
No, because faith without works is dead.

3) Do we have intellectual faith?
We do, if our walk does not measure up to our talk.

4) How can we be deceived in our faith?
If the devil can convince a person that counterfeit faith is true faith, then he has that person in his power.

5) What is dead faith?
Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration, it's a dead faith; faith without works is dead.

6) Dead faith is when you do what?
Substitute words for deeds, and is only an intellectual faith.

7) What cleanse us in our walk with the Lord?
Repentance and faith in Jesus Christ will keep us cleanse through His Word; we must remember also that nothing but the blood of Jesus can wash away our sins. (1 John 1:7; Matthew 16:28; Hebrews 9:22).


Praise God today that His own Son's blood was sufficient to cover the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). And be sure to place your faith in "nothing but the blood of Jesus."     

BIBLE STUDY WEEK #1 (REFLECTIONS)

Reflection Answers: 

 

1.   Was there a time when I honestly realized I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and to God? Yes it was! 2.     

 

2.  Was there a time when my heart stirred me to flee from the wrath to come?  Have I ever been seriously worked up over my sins? Yes! 

 

3.  Do I truly understand the gospel that Christ died for MY sins and then rose again?  Do I understand and confess that I cannot save myself? Yes, I do! 

 

4.  Did I sincerely repent of my sins, making the decision to turn from them?  Do I now hate sin and fear God?  Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it? I did repent of my sins; I keep myself away from sin, but if I do sin because of my flesh, then I ask God to forgive me, because I do fear God 

 

5.  Have I trusted Christ and Him alone for my salvation by responding to the commands He has given?  Have I confessed my faith in Christ and then been baptized for the remission of my sins as He and His apostles commanded? Yes, I have. 

 

6. Has there been a change in my life?  A tremendous change.  I think different, the desire to sin don't live in me anymore, and to answer that question, yes, it has been a change.

7. Do I maintain good works, or are my good works occasional and weak?  I try every day to do all the good works God require of me, and to do that I must pray every night and day for help from the Lord.

 

8.  Do I seek to grow in the things of the Lord?  Yes, that is why I study to show myself approval unto God, and to grow spiritually in the things of the Lord.

 

9.  Can others tell that I have been with Jesus? Well, I am told by others that they see Christ in me, and that my life is an encouragement to them. My heart is blessed when I hear those words, and I give God all the glory, because Philippians 2:13 says, and I believe it too, "For it is God which works in me both to will and to do of His good pleasure.

 

10. Do I have a desire to share Christ with others?  Or am I ashamed of Him? I share God every time I get the chance, and I love to share Him online with all I meet. 

 

11.  Do I enjoy the fellowship of God's people?  Is worship a delight to me? Yes, I do!  It's a delight to fellowship with other Christians. My heart is blessed!  

 

12.  Am I ready for the Lord's return?  Or will I be ashamed when He comes for me? I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!!!  Each day I am preparing to meet my Lord when He return.

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 1 (PRAY WITH ME)

Father God, we praise You and honor You with all our hearts.  Bless us to be like Christ in our faith. We desire strong faith in You. Please help our unbelief. Bless us to get a revelation of faith, not just knowledge of the Word, but in deep revelation of Your Word today, and wisdom to live by it. Thank You for saving faith, and for faith to move mountains out of our lives. We ask that You bless all members with the faith we need to stand strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. We pray this in Jesus' Mighty Name, amen.

 

BIBLE STUDY WEEK # 1 (7/15/14)

In the School of Faith

Bible Study

From a study of Charles Stanley

Date: 7/15/14

Week # 1

 

SUBJECT:     Three Types of Faith

I                       Intellectual Faith:

Key Passage:  James 2:17

Supporting Scriptures:  Mark 4:14-15; I John 5:12; Romans 14:23; James 2:14-26

 

We will start with number one, which is Intellectual (Natural Faith)—Believing something is true without proof or commitment. For example, a person can intellectually believe Jesus was a real person who performed miracles but not accept the fact that He was God in Man.

1. Faith is certainly an essential element in the Christian life:

   a. Without faith, it is impossible to please God - Hebrews 11:6

   b. The Christian is saved by faith - Ephesians 2:8

   c. The Christian is to walk (live) by faith - 2 Corinthians 5:7

   d. Whatever we do apart from faith is described as sin - Romans 14:23

2. It is important to realize, however, that there are different kinds of faith, but only one that is truly "saving faith"

3. In James 2:14-26, we find James discussing the different kinds of faith, with an emphasis upon that faith which works to the saving of the soul

[Beginning with verses 14-17, we notice the first kind of faith.  We might call this kind of faith...]

I. DEAD FAITH (14-17)

   A. THIS KIND OF FAITH...

      1. Substitutes words for deeds (consider James' example)

         a. People with this kind of faith:

            1) Know the correct vocabulary for prayer and sound doctrine

            2) Can even quote the right verses from the Bible

         b. But their "walk" does not measure up to their "talk"!

      2. Is only an INTELLECTUAL faith

         a. In one's mind, he or she knows the doctrine of salvation

         b. But they have never really submitted themselves to God and trusted in Jesus for salvation

         c. They know the right "words", but they do not back up their words with their "works"!

B. CAN THIS KIND OF FAITH SAVE?

      1. NO!  Three times in this passage, James emphasizes that "faith without works is dead" - James 2:17,20,26

      2. Any declaration of faith that does not result in a changed life and good works is a false declaration:  A DEAD FAITH!

      3. Dead faith is counterfeit faith and lulls the person into a false confidence of eternal life

   C. DO WE HAVE THIS KIND OF FAITH?

      1. We do, if our WALK does not measure up to our TALK!

      2. We do, if our WORKS do not measure up to our WORDS!

[We need to beware of mere intellectual faith.  As Warren Wiersbe said,

   "No man can come to Christ by faith and remain the same anymore than

   he can if he comes into contact with a 220-volt wire and remain the same."

   (compare this to 1Jn 5:12)

Intellectual faith: belief that changes nothing

Jesus addresses the subject of knowing the right things but not doing them, when He said, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and not do what I tell you?  Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built.  But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great" (Luke 6:46-49 ESV; see also Matthew 7:24-27).  Jesus indicated that, if we truly consider Him to be our Lord, we should be doing what He wants us to do.  The people calling Him, "Lord, Lord" had the knowledge to know what they should do; they simply were not doing it.  Jesus makes a direct contrast between the man who acts upon the knowledge he has and the one who does not act on that knowledge.  Both have the same knowledge, but one has chosen to commit to living according to the truth he knows, while the other have not.  For the one who simply knows the truth without acting on it, Jesus says, "…the ruin of that house was great."

It is important that each professing Christian examine his or her owns heart and life, and make sure that they possess true saving faith, which is a dynamic faith Satan is the great deceiver; one of his devices is imitation.   If he can convince a person that counterfeit faith is true faith, then he has that person in his power!

There is indeed a difference between emotional faith and intellectual faith. When it comes to 'saving' faith, both emotional and intellectual faith must be present.  Emotional faith, without knowledge of the truth, will lead to an enthusiastic journey down the wrong road.  Intellectual faith, without the commitment of the heart, is not faith at all, but merely a mental acknowledgement of facts.
God has given us His Word in order that we might know His plan, our sin, and the Savior, Jesus Christ.  He has told us that we are all sinners in need of forgiveness, we cannot fix ourselves, Jesus Christ died on a cross for our sins, and repentance and faith in Jesus will cleanse us, so that we can have fellowship with God again.  When one realizes this Truth [intellectual faith] and acts upon it by committing himself or herself to Jesus [emotional faith], that person truly gains eternal life.

"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins" (Colossians 1:13-14 ESV).

 

Faith is a "means to a beginning".  When a believer chooses for the first time to believe and have faith in Jesus as their savior, they are starting a brand new way of life.  Faith is a choice that Christians make in believing that Christ was crucified and rose again, and that He is the One and only Son of God.  Let us dive in deep into scripture and see what the Bible says about intellectual faith.

 

Mark 4:14-15

¹⁴ The sower soweth the word.

¹⁵ And these are they by the way side, where the word is sown; but when they have heard, Satan cometh immediately, and taketh away the word that was sown in their hearts.

1 John 5:12

He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

Romans 14:23

²³ And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

James 2:14-26

¹⁴ What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?

¹⁵ If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food,

¹⁶ And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

¹⁷ Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

¹⁸ Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

¹⁹ Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

²⁰ But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

²¹ Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

²² Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

²³ And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

²⁴ Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.

²⁵ Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?

²⁶ For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.

 

Reflection questions we can ask ourselves as we examine our faith:

Was there a time when I honestly realized I was a sinner and admitted this to myself and to God?

 

Was there a time when my heart stirred me to flee from the wrath to come?  Have I ever been seriously worked up over my sins?

 

Do I truly understand the gospel that Christ died for MY sins and then rose again?  Do I understand and confess that I cannot save myself?

 

Did I sincerely repent of my sins, making the decision to turn from them?  Do I now hate sin and fear God?  Or do I secretly love sin and want to enjoy it?

 

Have I trusted Christ and Him alone for my salvation by responding to the commands He has given?  Have I confessed my faith in Christ and then been baptized for the remission of my sins as He and His apostles commanded?

 

Has there been a change in my life? 

 

Do I maintain good works, or are my good works occasional and weak? 

 

Do I seek to grow in the things of the Lord? 

 

Can others tell that I have been with Jesus?

 

Do I have a desire to share Christ with others?  Or am I ashamed of Him?

 

Do I enjoy the fellowship of God's people?  Is worship a delight to me?

 

Am I ready for the Lord's return?  Or will I be ashamed when He comes for me?

To be sure, not every Christian has the same degree of faith; those who have had more time to grow should be stronger in faith.  But for the most part, the spiritual inventory can assist a person in determining his or her true standing before God

May our prayers be similar to that of the Psalmist's

             "Search me, O God, and know my heart;

                try me and know my anxieties;

             "And see if there is any wicked way in me,

                and lead me in the way everlasting."  Psalms 139:23-24

QUESTIONS:

1)  What is intellectual faith?

2)  Can intellectual faith save us?

3)  Do we have intellectual faith?

4)  How can we be deceived in our faith?

5)  What is dead faith?

6)  Dead faith is when you do what?

7) What cleanse us in our walk with the Lord?

 

 

Multiple Choices WEEK #1

 

1. Faith's first mention - by name - in Scripture is in:

A) The Law B) The Gospels C) The Prophets D) The Psalms

 

2. Which statement is not found in Scripture? 

A)   Cursed is the man who trusts in man

B)  Do not put your trust in princes

C)  He who trusts in his own heart is a fool

D)  All of the above are Biblical statements

 

 3. According to the Gospel of Mark, a father agonizing over his son's distress exemplified the best prayer which someone struggling with faith can pray when he said to Jesus:

 

A)      Your will be done

B)     Please give me a sign!

C)    I ask this in Your name, Lord.

D)    Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!

 

4. To which three would the phrase "who through faith...out of weakness were made strong" best be applicable?

 

A)     Isaac, Shimei, and Abigail

B)     Solomon, Jehoida, and Ishmael

C)    Isaiah, Rebekah, and Asaph.

D)    Samson, Elijah, and Nehemiah

 

5. Although not mentioned by name in the Hebrews chapter 11 roster, these three were heroic in their faith.

 

A)     Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah

B)      Shiphrah, Puah, and Peninnah

C)    Hophni, Phinehas, and Uzzah

D)    Joab, Abishai, and Asahel

 

 

PRAYER:

Father God, we praise You and honor You with all our hearts.  Bless us to be like Christ in our faith. We desire strong faith in You. Please help our unbelief. Thank You for saving faith, and for faith to move mountains out of our lives. We ask that You bless all members with the faith we need to stand strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. We pray this in Jesus' Mighty Name, amen.