Review:
But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV)
WiFi signal
By grace through Faith.
Three types of Faith.
Rules of biblical interpretation
The beginning of every subject is the definition of terms. (Christmas light illustration).
Faith:
Strong’s Definitions: πίστις pístis, pis’-tis; from G3982; persuasion
•Pastor Will Definition: simply what you believe.
The words for Faith and Believe are used interchangeably and are the noun form and the verb form of the same word
4102- Pistis- Belief
4103- pisteou.- to believe
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV)
This scripture does not give us what Faith is but WHAT FAITH DOES.
(A dipstick)
We need to understand 3 words:
Faith
Substance
Hoped for
Substance:
Strong’s Definitions: ὑπόστασις hypóstasis, hoop-os’-tas-is; from a compound of G5259 and G2476; a setting under (support),
Legal: GROUNDS.
The Greek word translated substance literally means “a standing under,” and was used in the technical sense of “title deed.” The root idea is that of standing under the claim to the property to support its validity.
Excerpt From NKJV, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible
Thomas Nelson
SUBSTANTIATION OF A CLAIM
PASTOR WILL DEFINITION: BASIS
Things Hoped for:
Strong’s Definitions: ἐλπίζω elpízō, el-pid’-zo; from G1680; to expect
Hope (Noun and Verb), Hope (for) – Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
Hope (Noun and Verb), Hope (for)
[ A-1,Noun,G1680, elpis ]
in the NT, favorable and confident expectation” (contrast the Sept. in Isaiah 28:19, “an evil hope”). It has to do with the unseen and the future
Belief is the Basis for what you expect, if you want to know where your faith is at what are you expecting.
That begs the question:
HOW FAITH COMES.
Faith comes by hearing AND ACCEPTANCE OF TRUTH, based on an accumulation of knowledge.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”…
Romans 10:17 (NKJV)
•You can’t believe beyond actual knowledge.
•If someone says they have no Faith they are saying either:
They have not heard
They’ve heard but rejected it as truth.
•how much do you need to hear?
Woman with the issue of blood:
When she heard about Jesus, she came behind Him in the crowd and touched His garment. For she said, “If only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well.”
Mark 5:27-28 (NKJV)
•Where did her faith come from?
•How long did it take?
•How do we know she accepted it as truth? SHE WAS EXPECTING.
•What did Jesus say to her
And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”
Mark 5:34 (NKJV)
Centurion:
So when he heard about Jesus, he sent elders of the Jews to Him, pleading with Him to come and heal his servant.
Luke 7:3 (NKJV)
•Where did his faith come from?
•How long did it take?
•How do we know he accepted it as truth? HE WAS EXPECTING.
•What did Jesus say to him?
When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him, and turned around and said to the crowd that followed Him, “I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”
Luke 7:9 (NKJV)
UNBELIEF:
But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, And their words to the ends of the world.” But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” But Isaiah is very bold and says: “I was found by those who did not seek Me; I was made manifest to those who did not ask for Me.” But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands To a disobedient and contrary people.”
Romans 10:18-21 (NKJV)
Question: Did they hear? Did they accept what they heard as truth?
Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
John 20:24-25 (NKJV)
•Did Thomas hear the truth? Did he accept it or reject it?
•What would Jesus label him if he had accepted it?
•The nature of faith is acceptance of truth.
•The nature of unbelief is rejection of the truth you heard.
And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables? The sower sows the word. And these are the ones by the wayside where the word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they stumble. Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
Mark 4:13-20 (NKJV)
Then He said to them, “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.
Mark 4:24 (NKJV)
Everything in life demands a response.
And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you–and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.
Mark 4:24 (AMPC)