FAITH
There is “great faith” (Luke 7:9), also “little faith” (Matthew 6:30), and faith can grow--“your faith groweth exceedingly” (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Faith is not found in a bar, grocery store, or at a university. Things that will help one’s faith to grow are to read the Bible: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). If you want more faith, read the Bible. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Pray for more faith. “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Your faith will be strengthen by being around those with strong faith—also reading godly books. When people see God’s hand move, they often (but not always) will believe, so pray for this. When Lazarus was raised, “many” people were saved, but the same miracle made the Pharisees want to kill Jesus Christ (John 11:42–53). Spirit-filled preaching will give faith. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4–5).
Without Faith you cannot please God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is” (Hebrews 11:6). But even a little faith can works miracles so use the faith you have. “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).
If one has faith in Jesus Christ, he will be saved (Galatians 2:16). But to be more precise, faith gives us access to the grace that saves us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8, see GRACE). God’s Spirit that saves us is received by faith, not by the works of the Ten Commandments or any other good work (Galatians 3:2), even miracles were done by faith, not because of good works. “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:5–7). That is why when Jesus would miraculously heal someone, He would say, “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29), not according to your brownie points. In Jesus’s home town it was said, “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58).
Though good works do not save, they will follow the faith of the person who has faith. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). This verse does not say that “Faith plus works saves,” as some have tried to twist it, but that his faith was dead; such a person was never saved. If a person has been made alive by the Spirit of God, he will naturally begin to have good works. Just as an apple tree will have apples in its season, and, of course, it is still an apple tree even before it has apples, the apples do not make it an apple tree; they just shows what type of tree it is. To carry this analogy a step further, if someone thinks he has an apple tree growing in his yard, but when summer comes he finds little lemons growing on it, it is really a lemon tree. That is why Christ said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15–20). “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:4–5). That is why James said, “Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). If a person is really saved, good works will follow.
There is “great faith” (Luke 7:9), also “little faith” (Matthew 6:30), and faith can grow--“your faith groweth exceedingly” (2 Thessalonians 1:3). Faith is not found in a bar, grocery store, or at a university. Things that will help one’s faith to grow are to read the Bible: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). If you want more faith, read the Bible. “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Pray for more faith. “And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Your faith will be strengthen by being around those with strong faith—also reading godly books. When people see God’s hand move, they often (but not always) will believe, so pray for this. When Lazarus was raised, “many” people were saved, but the same miracle made the Pharisees want to kill Jesus Christ (John 11:42–53). Spirit-filled preaching will give faith. “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4–5).
Without Faith you cannot please God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is” (Hebrews 11:6). But even a little faith can works miracles so use the faith you have. “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matthew 17:20).
If one has faith in Jesus Christ, he will be saved (Galatians 2:16). But to be more precise, faith gives us access to the grace that saves us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith” (Ephesians 2:8, see GRACE). God’s Spirit that saves us is received by faith, not by the works of the Ten Commandments or any other good work (Galatians 3:2), even miracles were done by faith, not because of good works. “He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham” (Galatians 3:5–7). That is why when Jesus would miraculously heal someone, He would say, “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matthew 9:29), not according to your brownie points. In Jesus’s home town it was said, “And he did not many mighty works there because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58).
Though good works do not save, they will follow the faith of the person who has faith. “Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone” (James 2:17). This verse does not say that “Faith plus works saves,” as some have tried to twist it, but that his faith was dead; such a person was never saved. If a person has been made alive by the Spirit of God, he will naturally begin to have good works. Just as an apple tree will have apples in its season, and, of course, it is still an apple tree even before it has apples, the apples do not make it an apple tree; they just shows what type of tree it is. To carry this analogy a step further, if someone thinks he has an apple tree growing in his yard, but when summer comes he finds little lemons growing on it, it is really a lemon tree. That is why Christ said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them” (Matthew 7:15–20). “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (1 John 2:4–5). That is why James said, “Shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (James 2:18). If a person is really saved, good works will follow.
