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[size=large]The Obedience of Faith[/size]
Paul makes it clear that faith absolutely is foundational to the Christian life. It is the means by which we lay hold of the promises we have in Christ. But what is faith exactly? What does it involve?
What do the following texts teach us about the origin of faith? Gen. 15:5, 6; John 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; Gal. 5:6.
Genesis 15:5-6
5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. "And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
John 3:14-16
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but[a] have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Galatians 5:6
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Genuine biblical faith is always a response to God. Faith is not some kind of feeling or attitude that humans one day decide to have because God requires it. On the contrary, true faith originates in a heart touched with a sense of gratitude and love for God
Paul makes it clear that faith absolutely is foundational to the Christian life. It is the means by which we lay hold of the promises we have in Christ. But what is faith exactly? What does it involve?
What do the following texts teach us about the origin of faith? Gen. 15:5, 6; John 3:14-16; 2 Cor. 5:14, 15; Gal. 5:6.
Genesis 15:5-6
5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them. "And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
John 3:14-16
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should not perish but[a] have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
2 Corinthians 5:14-15
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Galatians 5:6
6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
Genuine biblical faith is always a response to God. Faith is not some kind of feeling or attitude that humans one day decide to have because God requires it. On the contrary, true faith originates in a heart touched with a sense of gratitude and love for God