Confident Faith

Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

 

The Thru the Bible program is a five-year production to read through the entire Bible with commentary to explain. I used to listen to Dr. J. Vernon McGee unpack the Scriptures verse by verse on the radio. I purchased the CD sets of specific books of the Bible to listen to in my truck, and most recently bought the entire 5-year program on a little thumb-drive memory stick that plugs into any USB port on any device to hear the teachings. The broadcasts are now heard around the world in hundreds of languages. I highly recommend that you listen too.

 

Did you know that God created the soul of every human being in three parts that make up who we are? (1) Your mind - where you think and reason, (2) Your emotions – Where your heart speaks and feels,  and (3) Your Will – where you decide and act. Faith shows up and speaks in all three parts. The Greek word for faith is “pistis” meaning the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation in the kingdom of God through Christ; a belief with the predominate idea of trust (or confidence) whether in God or in Christ, springing from faith. 

 

The 1828 Webster’s dictionary defines faith as: the assent of the mind or understanding to the truth of what God has revealed. Simple belief of the scriptures, of the being and perfections of God, and of the existence, character and doctrines of Christ. The faith of the gospel is that emotion of the mind, which is called trust or confidence, exercised towards the moral character of God, and particularly of the Savior. Evangelical, justifying, or saving faith, is the assent of the mind to the truth of divine revelation, on the authority of God's testimony, accompanied with a cordial assent of the will or approbation of the heart; an entire confidence or trust in God's character and declarations, and in the character and doctrines of Christ, with an unreserved surrender of the will to his guidance, and dependence on his merits for salvation. In other words, that firm belief of God's testimony, and of the truth of the gospel, which influences the will, and leads to an entire reliance on Christ for salvation.

 

Pastor McGee explains that the simple definition of faith is found in 1 John 5:14a, “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him.” Faith is a personal confidence in God. That confidence touches everything that we are. First, faith speaks to our mind’s intellect. Faith is not blind, but rest upon the tangible. God gives us evidence for our minds to consider. Romans 1:19-20 explains that what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Feeling come and feelings go, so feelings are deceiving. Believe God. 

 

Secondly, Pastor McGee states that faith speaks to our emotions. God made us with emotions. It is in our hearts that we live and move and have our being; not in our heads. Proverbs 4:23 instructs us, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.” Our hearts need to be stirred. Thirdly, faith speaks to our will. God appeals to the volitional part of mankind – to our will. Faith is more than mental assent. Faith is something that we act upon. Faith is a choice and belief is action.  

 

Affirm these truths in your heart, your mind and your will. Affirm your confident faith in God.

 

In Christ, Brian