FAITH

Q1. What is faith?

A. “1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” (Heb. 11:1) (NIV)

(a)Trust in the things we wait for.

Faith is more than believing. A person believes as he relies on trust. Like a son to his father. Thru the son’s faith, whatever his father's promise is, he is secure and undoubtedly awaits his return, because he has faith.

Belief is man to man while faith is for man to God. God is worthy of faith because He is Almighty. Be patient in waiting, this increases your faith in the Lord, in all the things that he has spoken and promised, because “For no word from God will ever fail.” (Luke 1:37) (NIV)

(b)Proof of things not seen.

To those who believe in the invisible God, they have evidence of life. He proved his life by obeying God's words. For the unseen good things of God are shown by faith, by doing or obeying the commandments of God. Therefore, the works of faith are the proof that there is an invisible God, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, whose power is with man.

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Q2. Is faith related to human salvation?

A. Yes, by faith man will gain salvation.

“8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephe. 2:8-9) (NIV)

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Q3. Without faith, would God be pleased with a person?

A. God will not be pleased.

“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” (Heb. 11:6) (NIV)

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Q4. Does the Scripture testify that God is not pleased with unbelievers?

A. The first nation was destroyed (it was not pleasing to God) because of unbelief.

“20 Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but tremble. 21 For if God did not spare the natural branches, he will not spare you either.” (Rom. 11:20-21) (NIV)

Notice that, the verse speaks of a branch referring Israel (Romans 11: 1) And the wild olive grafted is the Gentile. (Romans 11:13, 24)

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Q5. Who made and perfected our faith? Did we do it by ourselves?

A. The Lord Jesus made and perfected our faith.

“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Heb. 12:2) (NIV)

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Q6. Before faith came what guided the first people of God?

A. Under the law of God given to Moses.

“Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed.” (Gal. 3:23) (NIV)

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Q7.  What then was the role of the Law before it was under Jesus Christ?

A.  Guardian, until it is delivered to Christ.

“So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” (Gal. 3:24) (NIV)

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Q8. Does the law of Moses still exist under the covenant of the Lord Jesus?

A. It does no longer exist, but faith does.

“Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian.” (Gal. 3:25) (NIV)

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Q9. Does this mean that there is no law of faith?

A. There is a law of faith.

“27 Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded. Because of what law? The law that requires works? No, because of the law that requires faith. 28 For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.” (Rom. 3:27-28) (NIV)

Notice that this is apart from the works of the law which Moses gave; superseded by the law of faith.

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Q10. What, then, is under the law of faith?

A. Works done with love.

“For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Gal. 5:6) (NIV)

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Q11. What kind of faith should be in the heart of God's servants?

A. Along with faith is hope and love.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor. 13:13) (NIV)

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Q12. How does faith enter the human heart?

A. By listening to the words of Christ.

“Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.” (Rom. 10:17) (NIV)

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Q13. Is there just one kind of faith?

A. There are different kinds of faith. (a)Faith like Abraham, (b)Faith made by Lord Jesus Christ, and (c)Faith like the devil.

(a)Faith like Abraham

1)Abraham’s faith is by obeying God’s word.

“1 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2 “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”  4 So Abram went, as the Lord had told him;…” (Gen. 12:1-4) (NIV)

2)Faith with sacrifice.

“1 Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 2 Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” (Gen. 22:1-2) (NIV)

“9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of the Lord called out to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. 12 “Do not lay a hand on the boy,” he said. “Do not do anything to him. Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.” (Gen. 22:9-12) (NIV)

(b) Faith made by the Lord Jesus

“2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Heb. 12:2-3) (NIV)

1) Obedience until death.

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philip. 2:8) (NIV)

2)In the days of his flesh: he was heard because of divine fear.

“7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered” (Heb. 5:7-8) (NIV)

(c)Faith like the devil.

“19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. 20 You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?” (James 2:19-20) (NIV)

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Q14. When can they say that faith is dead?

A. If it is faith without actions.

“In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17) (NIV)

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Q15. Can faith without actions be save?

A. It cannot save.

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?” (James 2:14)

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Q16. After accepting and believing the gospel (good news of salvation), what is the next thing to do to be saved?

A. It is necessary to be baptized in water, as is the foregoing example of Christ.

(a)The Lord Jesus did not allow himself not to be baptized in the water by John the Baptist.

“14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.” (Mat. 3:14-16) (NIV)

(b) The command of Christ is to baptize the believers, so they can be saved.

“15 He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:15-16) (NIV)

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Q17. By faith, what did Noah do when instructed about things yet unseen?

A. Prepared an ark for salvation. Hence acted according to the command.

“By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family…” (Heb. 11:7) (NIV)

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Q18. By faith, what did Moses do to achieve everlasting happiness?

A. He sacrificed being a prince in Egypt for the sake of God's people.

“24 By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. 25 He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.” (Heb. 11:24-26) (NIV)

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Q19. By faith, what must we do to be with Christ?

A. (a) Suffer for Christ

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him,” (Philip. 1:29) (NIV)

(b)We became God’s children

“16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”(Rom. 8:16-17) (NIV)

(c) The sufferings will not compare to the glory to be revealed

“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Rom. 8:18) (NIV)

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Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version™, NIV™ Copyright ©️ 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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