“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.”

Hebrews 11:1-3

Faith is something that sets the Christian apart from the world.

The Christian believes in a God unseen. The Christian believes differently from the world.

1. Faith is trust that Jesus Christ truly did die for my sins, personally, on the cross. Faith is belief that Jesus Christ received the punishment I deserved, and that through his death and resurrection I’ve been given eternal life. (Son)

•          Do you really believe that this man was God?
•           Do you really believe he was the only human being who lived a perfect life? 
•          Do you believe he really died for your sins on the cross? 
•          Do you really believe he reclaimed his life after being dead three days? 
•          And do you believe that victory gives you eternal life?  T
•          Do we believe?  If you do, you have eternal life.  Period. 

For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:21

2. Faith is trust in the person of God, via relationship. Faith is seeing God as father. Faith is a relationship built around trust, love, and obedience. (Father)

•          In light of Jesus Christ, we may have  the blessed and wonderful relationship to our Heavenly Father.  This is a relationship of love, kindness, and tender affection. 
•          God adores you.  He absolutely loves you completely, because you have taken the simple step to accept his son. 
•          He wants to build a relationship with you
•          We build on that relationship, through daily prayer, talking to God, asking him questions, talking to him about our day, and seeking his will for our lives.  And through studying our Bible.  And of course through fellowship, and serving others.

Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.

3. Faith is also a response. Faith is receiving the Spirit of God within. Faith then is the action of turning from sins, proactively taking part in the process of growing in holiness and embracing the new mindset of Christ. (Spirit)

•          Faith is not just a feeling, not just a set of truths, and not just a trusting relationship, faith is also an action.  Faith and repentance are joined at the hip when it comes to the conversion experience found in the mystery of Jesus Christ.

Faith and change: We turn to Christ, and we throw ourselves entirely upon his grace.  Yet also in that moment begins the action of faith: change.  The sins begin dropping away from our lives. 

•          Change in lifestyle
•          Change in relationships
•          Change in what is important to me – serving vs being served. Community

4. Faith is trusting God’s plan. Faith is understanding that God is sovereign over the world. Faith is letting God run my life. Faith is believing that God really is, and that he is working in my life. Faith is not just believing but knowing.

•          Fears, Nervousness, depression can all be signs that we are trying to run the world, vs letting God take command in our lives. Trust in God.
•          Self-reliance can be a positive virtue – being responsible in our life. But only if God is steering the ship.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

5. Faith is trusting that the word of God (The Bible) is flawless, true, and universally relevant.

•          Common culture wants to revise the Bible to societal norms of the day.
•          The Bible today, in the 66 books is the exact words that were originally written thousands of years ago.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

6. Faith is trust in the character of God.

Faith means that we trust that God is really good.  Many of us grew up with a God of hellfire and brimstone, who was going to get us when we were bad.  God isn’t really like that.

So what is God like?  The scriptures tell us this:

•          God is love (1 John 4:8). 
•          God never changes (Hebrews 13:8). 
•          God is patient (2 Peter 3:9). 
•          God is our protector and shield (Psalm 18:30). 
•          God is perfect (Psalm 18:30). 
•          God is a righteous judge (Psalm 7:11). 
•          God created everything (Genesis 1:1). 
•          God is eternal and timeless, in fact, God created time itself (Job 36:26). 

7. Faith is the expectation, anticipation and hope of things to come (the future perfection of reality).

Romans 8:24-25 (ESV) says “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” 

•          Jesus is alive. Jesus will return again.
•          God will remake the universe into it’s original state of perfection.