I was raised by Christian parents and attended both a Christian church and school as a child, but did not understand Christianity until after I became an atheist and investigated the true meaning of Christianity as an adult. It is Christ living in us – “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:27).
It is Christ living in us that enables us to comprehend God’s deep love for us and be filled with all the fullness of God –
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
Christianity is not dull, it is not lifeless; it is exciting and full of life! Christianity comes to each of us through the power of Christ’s resurrection from the dead –
“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” Romans 1:3-4
“That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.” Philippians 3:10
We continue with the second part of our special series from more than 40 years ago about Dynamic Christianity. We invite you to read and share with others in any way God leads you.
[These notes are from a Bible study taught more than 40 years ago. The notes are in outline form.]
Questions and Answers
- Question: How is a man saved?
- Answer: By grace through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9 & Romans 5:1
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
- Question: What is faith?
- Answer: Substance and evidence – Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
- Question: How is our faith increased?
- Answer: Through study of the Word. Romans 10:17
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
- Question: How is a Christian to live this present life?
- Answer: By faith. Romans 1:17
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”
Living By Faith
God wants us to live by faith, but most Christians live by sight. We need to put off the “sight life” and put on the “faith life.”
The last words of Romans 1:17 in a literal translation from Greek reads – “The just out of faith shall live.” Faith is the source out of which we are saved, sanctified and ultimately glorified. We can’t be saved by works, set apart by works, or glorified by works. Everything is the work of God. Faith is the gift of God to the lost sinner and the fruit of God to the saved believer.
To have faith in someone is to “trust them, have confidence in them.” The Word of God does not leave us to question what it means to trust the Lord.
“Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.” Psalm 37:3
“Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” Psalm 37:5
“It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalm 118:8
“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5
“Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength” Isaiah 26:4
“Who is among you that feareth the Lord, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon his God.” Isaiah 50:10
“Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the Lord, mercy shall compass him about.” Psalm 32:10
“They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.” Psalm 125:1
“The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3
One of the best definitions of of trust is: “assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone.”
When you live by faith, you are saying to the world –
- I believe in the character of God
- I believe in the ability of God
- I believe in the strength of God
- I believe in the Word of God
- I believe in a God worth loving and serving
When you do not live by faith, you are saying to the world –
- I do not believe in the character of God
- I do not believe in the ability of God
- I do not believe in the strength of God
- I do not believe in the Word of God
- I do not believe in a God worth loving and serving
Quotes overheard from Christians –
- “I believe in God, but …”
- “I know I should live by faith, but …”
- “I know what God’s Word says, but …”
- “I’m trusting God, but …”
- “I have faith in God, but …”
- “I know God’s called me to the ministry, but …”
- “I want to please God, but …”
Faith has been described as visualizing what God intends to do in a given situation and acting in harmony with it. God sees from the “supernatural” and man sees from the “natural.” Thus, why God tells us to live our lives according to “faith” in His Word rather than by what we “see” with our eyes.
Where do you see from? Will you be like Moses, who, through faith, “saw Him who is invisible”? Or will you be like the disobedient of Israel who Jesus spoke of when He said, “The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”
Invitation
How many of you would say that you have not bee living by faith up to this time, but that by an act of your will in obedience to the Word of God, you will “live by faith”?
[Thank you for reading these teaching notes from more than 40 years ago. My prayer is they will be a blessing to you, your family and your ministry.]
