Hello, I'm Shelley Quinn. 00:00:01.40\00:00:02.77 Have you ever wondered 00:00:02.80\00:00:04.17 why it is impossible to please God without faith? 00:00:04.20\00:00:06.82 How can we better define faith anyway? 00:00:06.85\00:00:09.61 Join us now on "The Grace Pipeline," 00:00:09.64\00:00:11.65 as we see what the Bible has to say about this. 00:00:11.68\00:00:14.71 Welcome to "The Grace Pipeline." 00:00:32.45\00:00:34.56 In our journey through scripture thus far, 00:00:34.59\00:00:36.77 we have spent considerable time 00:00:36.80\00:00:38.56 examining God's three greatest gifts of grace 00:00:38.59\00:00:41.78 and their effects on our life. 00:00:41.81\00:00:43.58 We have identified Jesus Christ 00:00:43.61\00:00:45.77 as God's greatest gift to humanity 00:00:45.80\00:00:48.38 along with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures. 00:00:48.41\00:00:52.08 And their effect on our life is salvation, 00:00:52.11\00:00:55.54 both justification and sanctification 00:00:55.57\00:00:58.81 as well as the empowerment to live the abundant life 00:00:58.84\00:01:03.04 that God wants to give us 00:01:03.07\00:01:04.91 as He recreates His image within us. 00:01:04.94\00:01:08.62 We know that every good and perfect gift 00:01:08.65\00:01:11.17 comes to us from our Heavenly Father 00:01:11.20\00:01:13.40 through His grace pipeline. It is the love of God 00:01:13.43\00:01:16.92 that is the compelling force behind the grace of God. 00:01:16.95\00:01:20.70 Today, we will learn 00:01:20.73\00:01:22.29 how to tap into His grace pipeline by faith. 00:01:22.32\00:01:26.47 Of course, first, we must define faith 00:01:26.50\00:01:29.19 and recognize it is faith itself 00:01:29.22\00:01:32.13 that defines a genuine Christian experience. 00:01:32.16\00:01:35.46 If you were following along in the series companion book 00:01:35.49\00:01:38.71 also titled "The Grace Pipeline," 00:01:38.74\00:01:40.85 we are beginning on Chapter 9 today. 00:01:40.88\00:01:43.55 Now let me share a personal story with you. 00:01:43.58\00:01:47.60 Long ago and far away, 00:01:47.63\00:01:49.47 I took a loved one's picture using for the first time 00:01:49.50\00:01:52.69 a Polaroid camera with self developing film. 00:01:52.72\00:01:56.65 The technology absolutely amazed me. 00:01:56.68\00:01:59.77 As I considered it, I recognized 00:01:59.80\00:02:02.32 an interesting parallel between the development process 00:02:02.35\00:02:06.17 of Polaroid film and the sanctification of our souls. 00:02:06.20\00:02:10.99 With the camera, I had simply focused 00:02:11.02\00:02:13.72 on my loved one and pressed a button. 00:02:13.75\00:02:16.36 The subject of my focus was instantly reproduced 00:02:16.39\00:02:20.22 on a single snapshot film 00:02:20.25\00:02:22.88 that had been previously treated with chemicals. 00:02:22.91\00:02:26.10 Now passing through the camera, 00:02:26.13\00:02:27.85 it was exposed to a polarizing light 00:02:27.88\00:02:30.64 which began the development process. 00:02:30.67\00:02:33.17 And when it first emerged, 00:02:33.20\00:02:34.95 I had to accept by faith 00:02:34.98\00:02:37.43 that the image had actually been captured 00:02:37.46\00:02:40.30 because all I had in my hand was a dark negative. 00:02:40.33\00:02:45.41 But as the polarizing light 00:02:45.44\00:02:47.63 continued to pass through the transparent film, 00:02:47.66\00:02:51.18 an image developed right before my eyes 00:02:51.21\00:02:54.89 and it bore a striking resemblance 00:02:54.92\00:02:57.48 to the subject of my focus. 00:02:57.51\00:02:59.79 Now let's make the spiritual application. 00:02:59.82\00:03:02.85 We need to consider our eyes as the camera of our soul 00:03:02.88\00:03:07.33 and our hearts as the film. 00:03:07.36\00:03:09.55 The word of God is the special chemical treatment 00:03:09.58\00:03:13.07 and the Holy Spirit is the polarizing light. 00:03:13.10\00:03:16.62 When our hearts have been treated 00:03:16.65\00:03:18.66 by the gospel of God's grace, 00:03:18.69\00:03:20.82 if we make Christ the subject of our focus 00:03:20.85\00:03:24.41 and take appropriate action, we're born again. 00:03:24.44\00:03:28.32 Instantly, His image is captured within our heart by faith 00:03:28.35\00:03:33.04 and the polarizing light of the Holy Spirit 00:03:33.07\00:03:35.97 penetrates the heart 00:03:36.00\00:03:37.70 and begins the process of sanctification by grace. 00:03:37.73\00:03:42.50 If we're unfamiliar with this development process, 00:03:42.53\00:03:46.34 we can experience initial disappointment. 00:03:46.37\00:03:49.44 The underdeveloped image 00:03:49.47\00:03:51.35 of our new spiritual nature appears to be 00:03:51.38\00:03:54.26 shrouded in the shadowy darkness of our old sin nature. 00:03:54.29\00:03:58.32 But if by the patience of faith 00:03:58.35\00:04:01.44 we remain focused on Christ and His word, 00:04:01.47\00:04:04.94 the Holy Spirit lights up our heart 00:04:04.97\00:04:07.60 and continues the development of the divine nature within us. 00:04:07.63\00:04:12.04 The result is an amazing family lightness 00:04:12.07\00:04:15.58 to the image of Christ. 00:04:15.61\00:04:17.44 Look at what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17. 00:04:17.47\00:04:22.44 "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 00:04:22.47\00:04:25.96 he is a new creation, old things have passed away, 00:04:25.99\00:04:30.69 behold, all things have become new." 00:04:30.72\00:04:35.97 The problem sinners have who are bound up 00:04:36.00\00:04:38.76 by the chains of sin is that someone is always 00:04:38.79\00:04:42.13 trying to reform their old nature. 00:04:42.16\00:04:45.30 The old nature can't be reformed. 00:04:45.33\00:04:47.81 Our only hope is to be born again with a new nature 00:04:47.84\00:04:51.85 that is united with Christ. 00:04:51.88\00:04:54.13 This brings not reformation 00:04:54.16\00:04:56.37 but regeneration and transformation 00:04:56.40\00:04:59.75 as the indwelling Holy Spirit creates divine life within us. 00:04:59.78\00:05:04.83 To save it, when we are a new creation, 00:05:04.86\00:05:08.52 all things have passed away, 00:05:08.55\00:05:10.71 that's a statement of faith 00:05:10.74\00:05:12.43 and it must be received by faith. 00:05:12.46\00:05:15.35 God knows the end 00:05:15.38\00:05:16.75 from the beginning and He declares it. 00:05:16.78\00:05:18.92 In Romans 4:17, it explained that "God gives life to the dead 00:05:18.95\00:05:24.68 and calls things that are not as though they already existed." 00:05:24.71\00:05:29.36 Currently, we must consider the contradiction 00:05:29.39\00:05:33.43 between the two polarized natures within us 00:05:33.46\00:05:36.90 pointed out by Paul in Galatians 5:16, 17. 00:05:36.93\00:05:42.53 He says, "I say then, walk in the Spirit, 00:05:42.56\00:05:46.42 and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. 00:05:46.45\00:05:50.76 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, 00:05:50.79\00:05:53.78 and the Spirit against the flesh, 00:05:53.81\00:05:56.12 and these are contrary to one another, 00:05:56.15\00:05:59.62 so that you do not do the things that you wish." 00:05:59.65\00:06:04.41 The desires of our human nature are opposite 00:06:04.44\00:06:08.45 of the desires of our new spiritual nature. 00:06:08.48\00:06:11.52 And it cross purposes the one is diametrically 00:06:11.55\00:06:15.86 opposed to the other 00:06:15.89\00:06:17.32 and there is this ongoing struggle of strong desires 00:06:17.35\00:06:22.13 that are contrary to one another. 00:06:22.16\00:06:24.83 Nevertheless, if we make it our habit 00:06:24.86\00:06:27.50 to respond to the Holy Spirit 00:06:27.53\00:06:29.73 and so the word of God into our hearts, 00:06:29.76\00:06:33.40 the Godless human nature within us 00:06:33.43\00:06:36.76 will eventually be overpowered by Christ's righteousness. 00:06:36.79\00:06:41.17 This happens when we walk in the spirit 00:06:41.20\00:06:44.18 as Paul points out in Galatians 5:24, 25. 00:06:44.21\00:06:49.84 He says, "Those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh 00:06:49.87\00:06:54.86 with its passions and desires. 00:06:54.89\00:06:57.30 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." 00:06:57.33\00:07:05.00 Paul's expression of crucifying the flesh 00:07:05.03\00:07:07.79 is another way of saying snuffing out 00:07:07.82\00:07:10.46 selfishness in the old carnal nature. 00:07:10.49\00:07:13.21 Or in other words, dying to our natural unholy interest. 00:07:13.24\00:07:19.27 This takes a day-by-day surrender of our heart 00:07:19.30\00:07:23.49 and will to our Lord. 00:07:23.52\00:07:25.37 When Paul uses the expression, 00:07:25.40\00:07:27.52 "Live in the Spirit and walk in the Spirit," 00:07:27.55\00:07:31.11 he is referring to the sanctifying work 00:07:31.14\00:07:33.60 of the Holy Spirit in our lives as believers in Christ. 00:07:33.63\00:07:38.49 Paul was God's ambassador of grace called by Christ 00:07:38.52\00:07:43.01 to preach the gospel of grace. 00:07:43.04\00:07:45.75 He wrote a lot about dying to self 00:07:45.78\00:07:48.62 by crucifying the old nature. 00:07:48.65\00:07:50.87 Let's look at Galatians 2:20. 00:07:50.90\00:07:53.83 He says, "I have been crucified with Christ. 00:07:53.86\00:07:58.11 It is no longer I who live, 00:07:58.14\00:08:00.42 but Christ lives in me, 00:08:00.45\00:08:03.28 and the life which I now live in the flesh 00:08:03.31\00:08:06.24 I live by faith in the Son of God, 00:08:06.27\00:08:09.25 who loved me and gave Himself for me." 00:08:09.28\00:08:12.88 As Paul picked up his cross 00:08:12.91\00:08:15.29 in a determined effort to die to self 00:08:15.32\00:08:18.15 daily sanctifying grace anchored 00:08:18.18\00:08:21.69 his union to the Savior. 00:08:21.72\00:08:23.68 Have faith, God will do the same for you 00:08:23.71\00:08:27.42 as you live and walk in the Spirit. 00:08:27.45\00:08:30.58 The life that you live in the flesh 00:08:30.61\00:08:34.11 will be lived by faith in Christ who lives in you. 00:08:34.14\00:08:38.20 Your flesh nature will be crucified 00:08:38.23\00:08:41.35 if you simply cooperate, cooperate with the Holy Spirit. 00:08:41.38\00:08:46.91 You know, Paul speaks of this cooperative effort 00:08:46.94\00:08:49.42 in Romans 8:13 where he says, 00:08:49.45\00:08:51.92 "If by the Spirit you put to death 00:08:51.95\00:08:55.28 the deeds of the body, you will live." 00:08:55.31\00:08:58.23 Notice there that it is the work of the Holy Spirit and of you. 00:08:58.26\00:09:03.99 It is only by the Spirit's power 00:09:04.02\00:09:06.68 that you can put to death your misdeeds 00:09:06.71\00:09:09.60 and crucify your old sin nature. 00:09:09.63\00:09:12.54 You will, of course, recall that death by crucifixion lingered. 00:09:12.57\00:09:17.99 It was not immediate. 00:09:18.02\00:09:19.86 Therefore, you must choose to pickup your cross daily 00:09:19.89\00:09:24.13 or the old nature will go unconquered 00:09:24.16\00:09:26.51 only to rear its ugly head and crawl down off its cross. 00:09:26.54\00:09:31.24 Paul warns us in Galatians 6:7, 8. 00:09:31.27\00:09:36.23 "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked, 00:09:36.26\00:09:40.17 for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." 00:09:40.20\00:09:44.91 And he says if we sow to the flesh 00:09:44.94\00:09:47.61 will reap of the flesh, corruption. 00:09:47.64\00:09:51.10 But if we sow to the Spirit, we will reap everlasting life. 00:09:51.13\00:09:57.31 God promises to provide us with everything 00:09:57.34\00:10:01.46 that we need for godliness 00:10:01.49\00:10:03.50 but He leaves the choice to us to determine 00:10:03.53\00:10:06.72 if we will partake of His provision. 00:10:06.75\00:10:11.61 The spiritual conflict within our born again hearts 00:10:11.64\00:10:16.12 can be subdued by God's promised power of sanctifying grace. 00:10:16.15\00:10:21.51 We need to lay hold of His deliverance 00:10:21.54\00:10:24.84 by putting our faith into action. 00:10:24.87\00:10:28.19 Paul's summary of faith in action 00:10:28.22\00:10:30.37 was to put on and put off. 00:10:30.40\00:10:34.09 Let's read his message on this combined 00:10:34.12\00:10:36.74 from Romans 13, 14, Ephesians 4:22-24, 00:10:36.77\00:10:43.12 and Colossians 3:14. 00:10:43.15\00:10:45.38 Paul says, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:10:45.41\00:10:49.45 and make no provision for the flesh, 00:10:49.48\00:10:52.33 to fulfill its lusts. 00:10:52.36\00:10:54.48 Put off, concerning your former conduct, 00:10:54.51\00:10:57.23 the old man. 00:10:57.26\00:10:58.91 Be renewed in the spirit of your mind. 00:10:58.94\00:11:02.03 Put on the new man 00:11:02.06\00:11:03.89 which was created according to God, 00:11:03.92\00:11:06.71 in true righteousness and holiness. 00:11:06.74\00:11:09.81 Christ is all and in all. Put on love, 00:11:09.84\00:11:14.50 which is the bond of perfection." 00:11:14.53\00:11:17.80 Now let's unpack those verses. 00:11:17.83\00:11:21.43 By faith we must persevere 00:11:21.46\00:11:24.79 in the process of sanctification 00:11:24.82\00:11:27.37 knowing that it is a progressive work 00:11:27.40\00:11:30.29 that God accomplishes in us. But we must make an effort 00:11:30.32\00:11:35.46 to put on the characteristics of Lord, 00:11:35.49\00:11:39.54 our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:11:39.57\00:11:41.57 This is a spirit empowered effort that transforms us 00:11:41.60\00:11:46.11 one step at a time. In our day-to-day experience, 00:11:46.14\00:11:50.63 this would include prayer and Bible study 00:11:50.66\00:11:54.67 to renew our mind so that we may grow in grace 00:11:54.70\00:11:58.86 and in the knowledge of our Lord, 00:11:58.89\00:12:01.19 daily we must put on Christ. 00:12:01.22\00:12:04.15 And the only way to put off our former conduct 00:12:04.18\00:12:08.58 is to make no provision for unholy fleshly desires. 00:12:08.61\00:12:13.11 What do I mean? 00:12:13.14\00:12:14.55 Any alcoholic that is in recovery knows 00:12:14.58\00:12:16.96 that he can't stock his shelves with alcohol 00:12:16.99\00:12:20.57 or spend time at the bars with old drinking buddies. 00:12:20.60\00:12:23.89 Now maybe alcohol is not your temptation, 00:12:23.92\00:12:27.09 maybe its gossip and backbiting 00:12:27.12\00:12:29.52 especially when you're on the phone with your best friend. 00:12:29.55\00:12:32.65 Make a mutual pact with your friend not to gossip. 00:12:32.68\00:12:36.48 And if that doesn't work, 00:12:36.51\00:12:37.88 quit talking on the phone with the one 00:12:37.91\00:12:40.49 whose attitude snares you. 00:12:40.52\00:12:43.28 Make no provision for the flesh. 00:12:43.31\00:12:48.40 We must make a daily effort 00:12:48.43\00:12:52.20 to live a life of obedience and purity 00:12:52.23\00:12:55.30 so that we don't fall back into our former way of life. 00:12:55.33\00:12:59.39 We put on love by asking God to fill us with His love 00:12:59.42\00:13:05.94 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:05.97\00:13:08.45 And we must recognize by faith 00:13:08.48\00:13:12.03 that we can be strong in the Lord 00:13:12.06\00:13:14.67 as Ephesians 6:10-12 tells us, 00:13:14.70\00:13:18.77 "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 00:13:18.80\00:13:22.76 Put on the whole armor of God, 00:13:22.79\00:13:25.17 that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 00:13:25.20\00:13:29.90 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, 00:13:29.93\00:13:32.53 but against principalities, against powers, 00:13:32.56\00:13:36.04 against the rulers of the darkness of this age, 00:13:36.07\00:13:39.61 against spiritual hosts of wickedness 00:13:39.64\00:13:43.35 in the heavenly places." 00:13:43.38\00:13:45.86 Let me share a promise 00:13:45.89\00:13:47.26 with you that you need to hold on 00:13:47.29\00:13:49.02 to found in Deuteronomy 33:27, it's one of my favorites. 00:13:49.05\00:13:54.14 And it says, "The eternal God is your refuge, 00:13:54.17\00:13:57.42 and underneath are the everlasting arms. 00:13:57.45\00:14:00.06 He will thrust out the enemy from before you, 00:14:00.09\00:14:03.34 and he will say, destroy." 00:14:03.37\00:14:06.32 We're not the first generation to wage war 00:14:06.35\00:14:09.76 in this spiritual battle. 00:14:09.79\00:14:11.44 Every descendent of Adam has been through it. 00:14:11.47\00:14:15.91 Those who recognize that the battle belongs to the Lord 00:14:15.94\00:14:19.64 have stood fast in active faith 00:14:19.67\00:14:22.56 and have seen the enemy vanquished by God's power. 00:14:22.59\00:14:27.69 Spiritual victory is ours by grace. 00:14:27.72\00:14:31.23 Oh, thanks be to God who gives us 00:14:31.26\00:14:34.06 the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:14:34.09\00:14:37.91 Now let's turn our attention to defining faith. 00:14:37.94\00:14:42.73 It's important that we develop our understanding 00:14:42.76\00:14:45.62 because faith is the faucet. It is the instrument 00:14:45.65\00:14:49.46 by which we tap into God's grace pipeline. 00:14:49.49\00:14:52.85 Our faith regulates the release of blessings 00:14:52.88\00:14:56.18 from His great reservoir of grace. 00:14:56.21\00:14:59.64 Through Christ, we have access by faith 00:14:59.67\00:15:03.12 into the marvelous grace of God 00:15:03.15\00:15:05.63 as Paul affirms in Romans 5:1, 2. 00:15:05.66\00:15:10.67 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, 00:15:10.70\00:15:14.28 we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 00:15:14.31\00:15:18.46 through whom also we have access by faith 00:15:18.49\00:15:23.90 into this grace in which we stand." 00:15:23.93\00:15:28.31 Faith is another systematic and practical truth 00:15:28.34\00:15:31.79 that is often under defined and therefore under appreciated. 00:15:31.82\00:15:36.03 And because of this lack of understanding, 00:15:36.06\00:15:38.55 well-meaning Bible scholars frequently misapply this truth. 00:15:38.58\00:15:42.74 Faith is critical to our Christian walk 00:15:42.77\00:15:45.83 and worthy of our study. 00:15:45.86\00:15:47.53 So let's examine the depth of its meaning. 00:15:47.56\00:15:51.94 How is the word faith defined in Bible dictionaries? 00:15:51.97\00:15:55.71 It's another one of those elastic words 00:15:55.74\00:15:58.79 and it stretches over a special scope of meaning. 00:15:58.82\00:16:02.44 Faith means to be firmly persuaded, 00:16:02.47\00:16:04.97 to be convicted, and convinced of God's truth. 00:16:05.00\00:16:09.66 To walk in reliance on God's promises 00:16:09.69\00:16:12.22 and His works of salvation and to continue in assurance 00:16:12.25\00:16:16.68 of our beliefs obeying the word of God. 00:16:16.71\00:16:20.09 Now from my study on the topic, 00:16:20.12\00:16:22.17 here's the definition that I have to write. 00:16:22.20\00:16:25.62 "Faith is placing our total trust in God 00:16:25.65\00:16:29.01 and what is known to God but unseen by us, 00:16:29.04\00:16:33.70 believing in to be living in God 00:16:33.73\00:16:37.38 and His word with absolute assurance, 00:16:37.41\00:16:40.61 no doubt and eager expectation 00:16:40.64\00:16:44.02 that His unseen promises are ours 00:16:44.05\00:16:46.18 and will come to us relying on His love and His power 00:16:46.21\00:16:50.39 to keep us in the meantime 00:16:50.42\00:16:52.26 as we walk in obedience to His will." 00:16:52.29\00:16:56.15 Okay. Now can you repeat that to me, please? 00:16:56.18\00:16:59.53 I do admit that was a little bit long winded 00:16:59.56\00:17:02.19 but faith is difficult to reduce to a short definition. 00:17:02.22\00:17:06.65 Greek scholar and expositor Marvin Vincent 00:17:06.68\00:17:09.99 who lived in the 1800s did a little better 00:17:10.02\00:17:13.02 in providing a succinct definition. 00:17:13.05\00:17:15.97 He says, "Faith apprehends as a real fact 00:17:16.00\00:17:20.18 what is not revealed to the senses. 00:17:20.21\00:17:22.48 It rests on the fact, acts upon it, 00:17:22.51\00:17:25.48 and is upheld by it 00:17:25.51\00:17:27.03 in the face of all that seems to contradict it. 00:17:27.06\00:17:31.93 Faith is a real seam." 00:17:31.96\00:17:35.31 Well, I like this poetic description 00:17:35.34\00:17:38.37 but it still leaves me 00:17:38.40\00:17:40.13 with an incomplete understanding. 00:17:40.16\00:17:43.25 The importance of faith is evidenced 00:17:43.28\00:17:46.28 by the emphasis the New Testament 00:17:46.31\00:17:48.10 writers placed on this topic using the word nearly 250 times. 00:17:48.13\00:17:54.77 Only the writer of Hebrews 00:17:54.80\00:17:56.89 attempts to reduce the concept of faith to a definition. 00:17:56.92\00:18:02.46 And in the translation of Hebrews 11:1, 00:18:02.49\00:18:06.06 various Bible scholars have looked at this definition 00:18:06.09\00:18:09.58 and they have selected a variety of words. 00:18:09.61\00:18:12.70 So for ease of reading, 00:18:12.73\00:18:14.83 I've combined a number of these scholars' 00:18:14.86\00:18:16.91 word choices for you and let's look at what they say. 00:18:16.94\00:18:21.23 "Now faith is the substance and assurance, being sure of. 00:18:21.26\00:18:27.17 It is the foundation and trust 00:18:27.20\00:18:29.33 and title deed of things hoped for, things expected, 00:18:29.36\00:18:35.24 the evidence and conviction, being convinced of, 00:18:35.27\00:18:39.10 and proof of the reality of things not seen, 00:18:39.13\00:18:43.93 the things we do not see 00:18:43.96\00:18:46.06 and cannot see with our eyes." 00:18:46.09\00:18:50.50 Wow. 00:18:50.53\00:18:51.90 If faith is how we access the gifts of God 00:18:51.93\00:18:55.24 and it's the instrument we use to tap into God's grace, 00:18:55.27\00:18:58.95 we need to understand it. 00:18:58.98\00:19:01.63 Righteousness, justification, 00:19:01.66\00:19:03.91 and sanctification are available to all 00:19:03.94\00:19:07.24 who will reach out and seize them by faith. 00:19:07.27\00:19:09.88 Then as we are joined to and abide in Christ, 00:19:09.91\00:19:13.75 we gain God's approval 00:19:13.78\00:19:15.76 and He fulfils all of His promises 00:19:15.79\00:19:18.37 which are waiting to be released to us 00:19:18.40\00:19:21.22 when we tap into His grace pipeline by faith. 00:19:21.25\00:19:24.73 Now I want to make a distinction here 00:19:24.76\00:19:27.04 and I pray that I can articulate this in such a way 00:19:27.07\00:19:30.47 that it can be understood. 00:19:30.50\00:19:32.92 The reward of faith is God's approval. 00:19:32.95\00:19:36.43 His gifts of grace are not a reward for faith. 00:19:36.46\00:19:40.95 They are released by faith. 00:19:40.98\00:19:43.89 Faith is the assurance, the act of confidently 00:19:43.92\00:19:49.26 believing within our hearts 00:19:49.29\00:19:51.52 and the act of purposely reaching out 00:19:51.55\00:19:54.96 to lay hold of God's promises 00:19:54.99\00:19:57.61 which we rightfully possess in Christ. 00:19:57.64\00:20:01.43 Some Bible teachers imply 00:20:01.46\00:20:03.54 that if we can only work up on a faith 00:20:03.57\00:20:07.14 that God must reward us with His promises. 00:20:07.17\00:20:11.29 What these are doing is placing their trust in faith 00:20:11.32\00:20:15.98 making faith the object of their faith. 00:20:16.01\00:20:19.39 That's misleading and dangerous. 00:20:19.42\00:20:21.98 We must make God the object of our faith 00:20:22.01\00:20:25.49 understanding that He is ready, willing, 00:20:25.52\00:20:27.69 and able to release His promises 00:20:27.72\00:20:30.74 when we act by faith. 00:20:30.77\00:20:32.71 If we look at the earth as a universal theater 00:20:32.74\00:20:36.85 and our lives as being lived out on stage, 00:20:36.88\00:20:39.99 God's promises are waiting in the wings 00:20:40.02\00:20:43.80 ready to be ushered in by our faith. 00:20:43.83\00:20:47.12 Now Hebrews 11:6 demonstrates how important this faith is. 00:20:47.15\00:20:53.08 So let's read this together. 00:20:53.11\00:20:55.54 In Hebrews 11:6 it says, 00:20:55.57\00:20:57.95 "But without faith it is impossible to please God, 00:20:57.98\00:21:03.87 for he who comes to God must believe that He is, 00:21:03.90\00:21:08.21 and that He is a rewarder of those 00:21:08.24\00:21:10.64 who diligently seek Him." 00:21:10.67\00:21:13.97 Faith is the essential ingredient for spiritual life 00:21:14.00\00:21:19.45 and we are obliged to respond in faith 00:21:19.48\00:21:23.80 if we are to please God at all. 00:21:23.83\00:21:26.46 It is the necessary action to meet His requirements. 00:21:26.49\00:21:30.97 Faith honors God and God honors faith. 00:21:31.00\00:21:34.72 He is in the habit of rewarding 00:21:34.75\00:21:37.31 by His acceptance and His approval 00:21:37.34\00:21:40.26 anyone who pursues Him earnestly by faith, 00:21:40.29\00:21:43.79 even those who do not possess the full truth. 00:21:43.82\00:21:47.80 You know, we are only accountable 00:21:47.83\00:21:50.69 for what we know or for what we could have known 00:21:50.72\00:21:53.71 had we made a reasonable effort. 00:21:53.74\00:21:56.19 An apathetic attitude toward the study of 00:21:56.22\00:21:58.86 and the resources available to us 00:21:58.89\00:22:01.47 will not excuse us from being held accountable 00:22:01.50\00:22:04.24 for the knowledge we easily could've gained and understood. 00:22:04.27\00:22:08.95 Anyone who suppresses the truth 00:22:08.98\00:22:11.20 in unrighteousness is without excuse. 00:22:11.23\00:22:15.26 So our search to know God 00:22:15.29\00:22:18.16 and to know His truths requires diligence. 00:22:18.19\00:22:22.42 We must ask and keep on asking, 00:22:22.45\00:22:25.60 seek and keep on seeking, knock and keep on knocking. 00:22:25.63\00:22:29.64 And as we continue to seek Him with all of our hearts, 00:22:29.67\00:22:33.69 we gain intimate knowledge of Him. 00:22:33.72\00:22:36.40 And He reveals His plan for our lives 00:22:36.43\00:22:39.57 which, let me tell you, 00:22:39.60\00:22:41.02 is a whole lot better than the one that we're living. 00:22:41.05\00:22:44.32 Why is it impossible to please God without faith? 00:22:44.35\00:22:48.27 If we do not accept His testimony and act upon it, 00:22:48.30\00:22:52.73 we're regarding Him as a liar. 00:22:52.76\00:22:55.24 Here's proof found in 1 John 5:10-12. 00:22:55.27\00:22:59.68 John writes, "He who believes in the Son of God 00:22:59.71\00:23:02.54 has the witness in himself. 00:23:02.57\00:23:04.70 He who does not believe God has made Him a liar, 00:23:04.73\00:23:09.59 because he has not believe the testimony 00:23:09.62\00:23:12.24 that God has given of His Son. 00:23:12.27\00:23:15.43 And this is the testimony that God has given us eternal life, 00:23:15.46\00:23:20.71 and this life is in His Son. 00:23:20.74\00:23:23.42 He who has the Son has life. 00:23:23.45\00:23:26.69 He who does not have the Son of God does not have life." 00:23:26.72\00:23:32.61 Do you realize that anyone 00:23:32.64\00:23:34.44 who hears the truth and rejects Jesus Christ 00:23:34.47\00:23:38.32 rejects God's testimony about his son 00:23:38.35\00:23:40.99 as if His words were untrue? 00:23:41.02\00:23:44.07 According to the Apostle John that person is doomed 00:23:44.10\00:23:48.54 to a judgment of condemnation 00:23:48.57\00:23:51.06 for God's wrath abides on the unbeliever 00:23:51.09\00:23:54.94 and he will die in his sins. 00:23:54.97\00:23:58.43 But even belief in God by itself is not sufficient for salvation. 00:23:58.46\00:24:04.10 In James 2:19, the Apostle says, 00:24:04.13\00:24:07.57 "You believe that there is one God, you do well. 00:24:07.60\00:24:11.25 Even the demons believe and tremble." 00:24:11.28\00:24:14.68 The devil and his fallen angels know of God's existence 00:24:14.71\00:24:19.43 and they shudder at the thought of their judgment to come. 00:24:19.46\00:24:23.25 James continues in verse 20 where he says, 00:24:23.28\00:24:27.06 "Faith without works is dead." 00:24:27.09\00:24:30.57 Mere mental assent, 00:24:30.60\00:24:32.69 just simply believing in our mind is not a saving faith. 00:24:32.72\00:24:38.08 A saving faith includes trust and obedience. 00:24:38.11\00:24:43.19 So how do we develop faith? 00:24:43.22\00:24:45.72 Paul tells us in Romans 10:17 00:24:45.75\00:24:49.37 "Faith comes by hearing, 00:24:49.40\00:24:52.11 and hearing by the word of God." 00:24:52.14\00:24:57.10 Hearing is the way that the seed of God's word 00:24:57.13\00:25:00.88 is broadcast into the soil of our hearts 00:25:00.91\00:25:04.32 and the Holy Spirit is the one who teaches us 00:25:04.35\00:25:07.90 and gives us understanding. 00:25:07.93\00:25:09.90 Divine faith is achieved by grace 00:25:09.93\00:25:13.90 and by definition it is belief put into action. 00:25:13.93\00:25:18.64 The Lord of love requires us to have active faith 00:25:18.67\00:25:23.57 that draws us into a right relationship with Him. 00:25:23.60\00:25:28.99 You know, if we were to take the thought 00:25:29.02\00:25:31.69 from 1 John 5:10-12, if we were to take 00:25:31.72\00:25:35.84 that just a little bit further about anyone 00:25:35.87\00:25:39.70 who disregards God's testimony is regarding Him as a liar. 00:25:39.73\00:25:46.32 Think about this for a minute. 00:25:46.35\00:25:48.02 If we refuse to believe His inspired scriptures 00:25:48.05\00:25:53.59 regarding His promises 00:25:53.62\00:25:55.93 and our needful compliance to them 00:25:55.96\00:25:58.79 and to His revealed will, 00:25:58.82\00:26:01.55 then we are in essence calling God a liar. 00:26:01.58\00:26:05.18 You know, some of His promises 00:26:05.21\00:26:07.16 sound just far too marvelous to accept 00:26:07.19\00:26:11.01 regarding who we become 00:26:11.04\00:26:13.56 now that we're new creations in Christ. 00:26:13.59\00:26:16.07 But remember God knows the end 00:26:16.10\00:26:19.32 from the beginning and He declares it. 00:26:19.35\00:26:22.30 So we have to accept by faith. 00:26:22.33\00:26:25.20 We are heirs of God. We are co-heirs with Christ. 00:26:25.23\00:26:31.66 And the Bible tells us that when we are in Christ, 00:26:31.69\00:26:35.46 all of God's promises are ours. 00:26:35.49\00:26:38.52 Christ won the inheritance for us. 00:26:38.55\00:26:42.37 Now we're gonna make this application of truth 00:26:42.40\00:26:46.18 more practical in our next program. 00:26:46.21\00:26:49.40 We have barely scratched the surface of this topic. 00:26:49.43\00:26:53.71 But I hope that you will join us on the next program 00:26:53.74\00:26:57.50 where we're going to take a stroll 00:26:57.53\00:27:00.01 down faith's hall of fame 00:27:00.04\00:27:02.68 as we continue to develop our understanding 00:27:02.71\00:27:05.97 of this crucial ingredient of Christian living. 00:27:06.00\00:27:10.26 You know, when we see, 00:27:10.29\00:27:12.56 sometimes it is the life of people 00:27:12.59\00:27:15.89 who better define faith than mere words. 00:27:15.92\00:27:20.33 Our language is so limited 00:27:20.36\00:27:23.07 and faith is such a huge concept 00:27:23.10\00:27:26.39 that it's faith in action that helps us to understand 00:27:26.42\00:27:31.95 what the real meaning of the word is. 00:27:31.98\00:27:35.80 So please join us next time 00:27:35.83\00:27:38.02 and we'll look at some of these people from the Bible 00:27:38.05\00:27:41.11 whose characters whose life have shown 00:27:41.14\00:27:46.53 to the world for generations 00:27:46.56\00:27:49.79 that faith in action is a saving faith. 00:27:49.82\00:27:54.53 Until then, grow in grace 00:27:54.56\00:27:56.46 and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 00:27:56.49\00:27:59.74