Commentary On Faith
Continued: How Faith Works
gtcotr/ws081606
Faith comes in many sizes and strengths:
* No Faith
Deuteronomy 32:20 And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.
* Little Faith
Matthew 8:26 And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
* Great Faith
Luke 7:9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Three Ways Faith Works
1. Galatians 5:6 Faith works by love
This speaks to the necessity of a proper motivation.
2. Faith works through our agreement
Philemon 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
(Note: This is one of those scriptures which needs to be studied to understand the full application of it’s truth: I believe that several translations do not strongly represent it’s core meaning.)
Faith works, (becomes effective), by acknowledging every good thing which is already in you in Christ.
Colossians 1:27 … Christ in you, the hope of glory
2 Corinthians 1
KJV
20 For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.
NIV
19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No", but in him it has always been "Yes."
20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God.
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us,
22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
* God and all His promises are in Christ for sure.
* Christ is in you.
* Therefore: God and all of His promises are in you.
Philemon 6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
* This scripture details the power of right thinking.
* The man who had been given the one talent in Matthew 25:24, thought that God was a hard and unfair Master … he received what he believed.
So:
1. Faith works by love (by pure and unselfish motivation)
2. Faith works by agreement (knowing & agreeing with God)
3. Faith works by application (as we work it and work on it)
James 2 KJV
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?
22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?
23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
24 Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only.
25 Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way?
26 For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
Next Week’s Conclusion (hopefully): Recap of Faith
