Faith...such an intangible...so hard to define...what does faith mean to you?
I guess the verse that comes to my mind the most when I think of faith is the one found in Hebrews...."Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
How can you be sure of a hope...how can you be certain of what you do not see? It is only through faith. And faith of that magnitude has to be confirmed to you by a supernatural means...and we are promised that, that is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is our confirmation. He is the voice that reassures us that what we believe is true.
Some will say that we all have our belief systems, and that one person's belief is as good as another's. I'll go along with that. But what I won't go along with is that a faith that is grounded in the Word of God and affirmed in a believer by the Holy Spirit (Romans 9:1) is comparable to anything else available to mankind. There is a difference between belief and faith. Believing something, to me, is thinking that in all probability it is true. Faith, oh faith, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Does that mean that Christians never have a moment of doubt? Nope. We do. Because we are still human, with human minds that are vulnerable to outside influence. But when we ask God to affirm truth, to kindle in us His Spirit so that we are able to see clearly through our eyes that have reborn through belief in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, He is faithful to do so. Doubts are replaced with confirmation through the Holy Spirit that our faith is solid, our faith is true, what we hope for is sure, what we know will come but we cannot see, is still very certain.
I hope for a life beyond this that is eternal and perfect, where there is no pain or death, where there is no rebellion against God's will and no temptation to do so; a place where we will live in complete and perfect relationship with our Father, forever. This hope is a surety for me; and even though I cannot see this place, I am certain of it. When I have doubts, I pray for God to confirm His truth again to me, and He is faithful to do so.
This is how the righteous live by faith...we live because of God's grace and mercy...we live righteously because of Christ...we live by faith because of the Holy Spirit.
I guess the verse that comes to my mind the most when I think of faith is the one found in Hebrews...."Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)
How can you be sure of a hope...how can you be certain of what you do not see? It is only through faith. And faith of that magnitude has to be confirmed to you by a supernatural means...and we are promised that, that is the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. He is our confirmation. He is the voice that reassures us that what we believe is true.
Some will say that we all have our belief systems, and that one person's belief is as good as another's. I'll go along with that. But what I won't go along with is that a faith that is grounded in the Word of God and affirmed in a believer by the Holy Spirit (Romans 9:1) is comparable to anything else available to mankind. There is a difference between belief and faith. Believing something, to me, is thinking that in all probability it is true. Faith, oh faith, faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Does that mean that Christians never have a moment of doubt? Nope. We do. Because we are still human, with human minds that are vulnerable to outside influence. But when we ask God to affirm truth, to kindle in us His Spirit so that we are able to see clearly through our eyes that have reborn through belief in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, He is faithful to do so. Doubts are replaced with confirmation through the Holy Spirit that our faith is solid, our faith is true, what we hope for is sure, what we know will come but we cannot see, is still very certain.
I hope for a life beyond this that is eternal and perfect, where there is no pain or death, where there is no rebellion against God's will and no temptation to do so; a place where we will live in complete and perfect relationship with our Father, forever. This hope is a surety for me; and even though I cannot see this place, I am certain of it. When I have doubts, I pray for God to confirm His truth again to me, and He is faithful to do so.
This is how the righteous live by faith...we live because of God's grace and mercy...we live righteously because of Christ...we live by faith because of the Holy Spirit.
1 comment:
I live in faith by my belief. I feel the Holy Spirit in my heart. I know the truth of the Word of God. Faith is hard to explain. It is a personal relationship with God.
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