FAITH
(Transcribed Message)

Sunday Morning:  December 9, 2001

Text: Hebrews 10:34-39  ". . . knowing [present active participle] in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring [present active participle] substance. 35. Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. 36. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry. 38. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul."

Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith [noun] is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

FAITH DEFINED

Faith is a noun that names something:

Hebrews 11:1  "Now faith [noun] is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."

FAITH NAMES HOPE AND EVIDENCE

Faith names the substance that a child of God hopes for. Faith names the evidence of the things not seen, yet hoped for.

EXAMPLE

Matthew 9:21-22  "For she said within herself, If I may but touch [evidence of faith] his garment, I shall be whole [substance]. 22. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour."

FAITH IS NEW TESTAMENT

Romans 10:17  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [Christ]." (Word of the kingdom Mat. 13:19)

THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM

Luke 8:10-11  "And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God (the word of the kingdom, Matthew 13:19): but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. 11. Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God."

FAITH AFTER LAW

Galatians 3:23  "But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed."

BEFORE LAW, FAITH RECKONED

Romans 4:9 "Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness."

STRONG IN FAITH

Romans 4:20-24  "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; 21. And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22. And therefore it (faith) was imputed to him for righteousness. 23. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it (faith) was imputed to him; 24. But for us also, to whom it (faith) shall be imputed, if we believe [present active participle] on him [God the Father] that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;"

FAITH CAN FAIL

Luke 22:32  "But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted (turned around, come back to me), strengthen thy brethren."

LACKING FAITH

1 Thessalonians 3:10  "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?"

 

LITTLE FAITH

Matthew 8:25  "And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save (hope to be saved) us: we perish. 26  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful (no  evidence of faith), O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm."

SALVATION NOT A HOPE

Acts 16:30-31  "And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? 31. And they said, Believe [verb, not faith, aorist tense] on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved [not a hope, it is indicative, a fact], and thy house."

HOPE OF GLORY

Romans 5:2  "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."

HOPE OF JUSTIFICATION

Galatians 2:16  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed [verb, aorist tense] 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."

DEPARTING FROM THE FAITH

1 Timothy 4:1  "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

HOPE OF FAITH A CROWN

2 Timothy 4:7-8  "I have fought a good fight (evidence of faith), I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness (substance of faith), which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."

 

SUBSTANCE, REWARDS

Hebrews 10:35  "Cast not away therefore your confidence (evidence of faith), which hath great recompense of reward (substance of faith)."

HOPE OF THE PROMISE

Hebrews 10:36  "For ye have need of patience (evidence of the hope), that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the (definite article, a defined promise) promise (substance hoped for)."

THE PROMISE DEFINED

1 John 2:25  "And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life."

THE PROMISE NOT SURE

Hebrews 9:15  "And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions (transgressors) that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the (definite article, a defined promise) promise of eternal inheritance."

AGELASTING LIFE A HOPE

Titus 1:1-2  "Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2. In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;"

HE IS COMING!

Hebrews 10:37  "For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry."

WARNING TO DISCIPLES

Matthew 16:24-26  "Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 25. For whosoever will save his life [yuch, soul] shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life [yuch, soul] for my sake shall find it. 26. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul [yuch, life]? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul [yuch, life]?"

REWARDS?

Matthew 16:27  "For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works."

REWARDS FOR EVIDENCE OF FAITH

Revelation 22:12  "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be."

EVIDENCE OF THAT

James 2:18  "Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works."

SUBSTANCE WITH EVIDENCE

James 2:20-22  "But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith (hope of justification) without works (evidence of that hope) is dead? 21. Was not Abraham our father justified by works (evidence of that faith), when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? 22. Seest thou how faith (justification hoped for) wrought with his works (evidence of faith), and by works was faith made perfect?"

DRAW BACK FROM FAITH

Hebrews 10:38  "Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back (just but not living by faith), my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

FAITH PLEASES GOD

Hebrews 11:6  "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 (substance of things hoped for) of them that diligently seek him (evidence of that faith)."

NOT LIKE ISRAEL

Hebrews 10:39  "But we are not of them (Israel) who draw back unto perdition [destruction, ruin]; but of them that believe [of faith] to the saving of the soul [life and rewards]."

HAVE FAITH

Hebrews 4:1-2  "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it."

CONTINUE IN THE FAITH

Acts 14:22  "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

BE NOT MOVED AWAY

Colossians 1:22-23  "In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, . . ."