Last week, we talked about grace and mercy, this week we are going to examine the way we attain that grace and mercy. Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Romans 10:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and by hearing the word of God.”
There are many kinds of faith, but only faith in God will allow you to receive grace and mercy. We can have faith in the things of this world, money and possessions, we can have faith in people, but these will fail us, only faith in God will save us, because God will never fail us. Hebrews 12:2, “Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Faith is really not faith until it is tested. We can say we have faith, but until it is tried we will not know if it is true faith. 1 Peter 1:7-9 “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” When your faith has been tested and still remaineth that is the faith that pleases God and results in salvation. 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 of them that diligently seek him.”
FAITH
Salvation is free as we can all see, but without faith it is not to be. It comes by grace to all who believe, but without faith you can't receive. Faith is believing in things you can't see, so you must hear it, if it is to be. The word of God is what brings it to light, so we walk by faith and not by sight. We are saved by the blood of God's only Son, not by works that we have done. We must hide God's word down deep in our heart, and believe by faith he'll do his part. If we confess our sin and have faith in his grace, we are promised to see him face-to-face. The better we know him the more faith we receive, so through studying God's word is how we believe. Through faith we receive all the blessing from above, including his joy, his peace and his love. So hearing God's word is what brings us our faith, and believing it's true is what saves us by his grace.
Things to ponder from the old cowboy preacher; Put your faith in the narrow road, not the broad highway.
From The Old Cowboy Preacher Jerry Canterbury