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Filtered Faith (A Series)
Text: (Jeremiah 17:5-10 KJV)
5 Thus saith the Lord; "Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord.
6 For he shall be like the heath[i] in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.
7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is.
8 For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit.
9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
10 I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings."
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Definition of Faith- Miriam-Webster
noun \ˈfāth\
Simple Definition of faith
- : strong belief or trust in someone or something
- : belief in the existence of God : strong religious feelings or beliefs
- : a system of religious beliefs
Full Definition of
faith
- 1 a : allegiance to duty or a person : loyalty b (1) : fidelity to one's promises (2) : sincerity of intentions
- 2 a (1) : belief and trust in and loyalty to God (2) : belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion b (1) : firm belief in something for which there is no proof (2) : complete trust
- 3 : something that is believed especially with strong conviction; especially : a system of religious beliefs <the Protestant faith>
- : without question <took everything he said on faith>
On faith
Finding out what the Bible says about faith is very important. Why? A few reasons come to mind: First, faith is often defined in a number of different and conflicting ways by religious persons. If we want to know how God defines faith we will have to go to the Bible. God's definition of faith takes precedence over man's definition of faith.
- Second, there are all kinds of faith in the world -- even the demons have faith (James 2:19) -- but only one faith is true. If we want to have true faith (2 Timothy 1:5), we will have to let God tell us what true faith is.
- Third, faith is necessary to please God (Hebrews 11:6). If we want to please God we need to know about the faith that pleases God.
- Fourth, faith is necessary for salvation (Ephesians 2:8). If we want to be saved we need to know about the faith that saves.
- Fifth, there are many people who do not have faith (John 6:64) -- at one point even Jesus' own family did not believe in Him (John 7:5) -- and God destroys people who do not have faith (Jude 5). If we don't want God to destroy us, if we don't want to die in our sins (John 8:24), we must believe.
- Finally, there are those who have faith but they are letting their faith slip away (2 Timothy 2:18). If we don't want evil forces to overthrow our faith we need to know how to keep our faith strong.
Many verses in both the Old and New Testaments could be used to illustrate each point below but only a few have been chosen. This study is confined to the New Testament. The references listed below are examples of the verb form of faith (Greek pistuo, usually translated, believe), and the noun form of faith (Greek pistis, usually translated, faith).
Let us now examine what the Bible says about faith so that we can have the faith that God wants us to have.
OBJECT OF FAITH.
- The Bible teaches that the object of faith (who or what is believed in) is God and His Son Jesus Christ.
- There are many persons, places and things that we could put our faith in during our lifetime, but we must prioritize our life, and put our faith in God and Jesus Christ above all else.
- Jesus said: "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me" (John 14:1).
- We are not to put our faith in that which is false (Matthew 24:23,26).
- Unless our faith is in God and His Son, we do not have the right kind of faith.
For Further Study:
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Mark 11:22King James Version (KJV) 22 And Jesus answering saith unto them
, Have faith in God.
- Acts 14:23 King James Version (KJV) 23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.
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Acts 19:4King James Version (KJV) 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.
- Acts 20:21King James Version (KJV) 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Galatians 2:16King James Version (KJV) 16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
- 2 Timothy 3:15King James Version (KJV) 15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
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Hebrews 6:1King James Version (KJV) 6 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
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Hebrews 11:6King James Version (KJV) 6 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.
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1 Pet 1:21 King James Version (KJV) 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.
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1 John 3:23King James Version (KJV) 23 And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.
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1 John 5:1King James Version (KJV) 5 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
- 1 John 5:5King James Version (KJV) 5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Closing:
Hope a Correct Filter for Faith
Hope is the essence of the Christian faith. We hope to go to heaven one day, we hope that God hears and answers our prayers, and we hope that our labor isn't in vain.
But what if hope was unnecessary for our faith? What if we could just look up and see heaven physically right in front of us? What if we never had to persevere in faith and prayer? What if everything you ever wanted just happened the way you planned?
"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?" (Romans 8:24).
Without hope we can never fully trust in God with all our hearts. Hope is grasping for what we can't see, but we believe because of the assurance in our hearts from God.
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"No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame" (Psalm 25:3)
[i] During Bible History, a shrub variety of Juniper was known to the Hebrews as (pronounced in Hebrew) ar-awr. It was found existing ("growing" would not be an appropriate word) in dry, infertile places, which resulted in it being stunted and calloused.
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