First Christian Church
By Bruce Humes
Pastor
Faith is defined in the Oxford Dictionary like this: “1) Complete trust or confidence. 2) Firm belief, without logical proof. 3) A system of religious belief (the Christian faith).”
The Holy Bible, the source of the Christian faith or belief system, has much to say about faith. For instance, in Hebrews 11:1, the writer gives us a biblical description of faith and what it does for us: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” The verse can be paraphrased like this, “My conviction is the realization of things expected, and my confidence of/in things not seen.”
This faith is confidence in the trustworthiness of God to do what he says and promises.
In John’s gospel, Jesus tells us in Chapter 14, Verses 1-2, “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions; (dwelling places) if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
Jesus continues in verse 3, “‘And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” In these three verses Jesus delivers three great promises that Christians believe by faith.
In Hebrews 13:5 it is written, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; (some clear instruction for Christians) be content with such things as you have. For he himself has said, ‘I will never leave or forsake you.’” Let’s not be mistaken, Christians go through and will go through difficult and trying times, but by faith we believe these two great promises from God that “he will not leave or forsake us.” That is why “we may boldly say: ‘the Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?’” (Hebrews 13:6).
Another promise form God can be seen in Peter 2:6, which says, “Therefore it is also contained in scripture, ‘Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on him (faith) will be by no means put to shame.’” Shame here means disgraced or dishonored.
What another great promise from God.
In the book of John, Chapter 11, the death of Lazarus is recorded. Martha, Lazarus’ sister, had summoned Jesus to come and heal him before he died. We pick up the conversation between them in verses 21-27: “Now Martha said to Jesus, ‘Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother will rise again (a promise).’ “Martha said to him, ‘I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day (a bold statement of faith).’ Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live (another great promise from God). And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ “‘Yes, Lord I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is come into the world.’” Martha expressed her deep faith in Christ. And Jesus kept his promise and raised Lazarus from the dead.
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians wrote in 2:8-9, “For by grace (God’s unmerited favor) you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone one should boast.”
So it’s through our faith, which is the deep conviction in the one who saved us by his grace and has given use the free gift of salvation through the death, burial and resurrection of his son, Jesus Christ, that brings those who believe victory over death. This is the faith of all born again believers in the Christian faith.
No matter how difficult and troublesome the world gets around believers, they can always rejoice knowing that he will never leave or forsake them. Let’s take great comfort in God promises.
If you want to speak to someone at the church or have a need, call the First Christian Church office at (562) 431-8810. Leave a recorded message and someone will return your call.
The LW Weekly 430-0534
