Short Paper on Faith
By COGwriter
One day “the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith” (Luke 17:5, NKJV except where indicated elsewhere). Instead of actually telling them how, Jesus suggested that they had little. But in other parts of the Bible, He and others gave more details about how faith could be increased. This short paper will discuss several aspects of faith.
The Bible Definition of Faith
“Now faith is the foundation of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony. By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible…But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ” (Hebrews 11:1-3,6, modified NKJV).
Note: The preceding was modified as the KJV and NKJV translate the Greek word hypostasis as substance but it literally means under (hypo) stability (stasis) or foundation–so I choose the word foundation. Hence, faith is the underlying stability that God’s people are to have.
The Just Shall Live By Faith
The Bible, in three places teaches the just shall live by faith.
The first time is Habakkuk 2:4, “Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith”. The contrast between the proud and the just indicates that the faithful are not among the proud, but among the upright.
In Romans 1:17-19, Paul wrote, ” For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them”. Regarding righteousness of God, Psalm 119:172 states, “My tongue shall speak of Your word, For all Your commandments are righteousness”.
Paul also wrote, “the just shall live by faith.” Yet the law is not of faith, but “the man who does them shall live by them” ” (Galatians 3:11-12). This last verse shows that while the law is not faith, the faithful will keep it. Hebrews says this about some of the just that where faithful, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16).
So the faithful, while living God’s way of life on Earth, are focused on the hope of their future reward with God. They “seek first the kingdom” (Matthew 6:33). But also on Earth they keep the commandments, “Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus (Revelation 14:12).
But it is not always easy to be part of the faithful, “And others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented– of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us” (Hebrews 11:35-40).
Faith Comes By Hearing the Word of God from Those God Has Sent to Preach
Paul wrote, “Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?” (Galatians 3:2). Paul also wrote, “But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way…”The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach)…For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed” (Romans 10:6,8,13-18).
He then said that part of Israel’s problem was disobedience (vs.21). So Paul makes it clear that for people to have faith, they need to listen to the preachers God has sent. These preachers must be true to the word of God (vs.17).
This is confirmed in the Book of Acts, “Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men” (Acts 17:10-12). Searching the scriptures daily is, thus, also helpful in increasing faith. However, some feel that is all they need to do.
Assembling Together
Paul was inspired to write, “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12-13). Many, sadly, have erroneously concluded that this means that they should simply read the Bible on their own and not bother to assemble with others. They seem to have overlooked the fact that Paul, one of the preachers God had sent, reminded them to continue to obey what he taught, and that that was essential for them to be able to work out their own salvation.
“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:13), Furthermore, Paul also wrote, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
Although in this Laodicean time, some erroneously seem to feel that they do not need the exhortation of others, they still have the obligation to exhort others. Otherwise they are being disobedient (the Bible suggest that the Philadelphians are better at ‘holding fast’, Revelation 3:11, to this and other matters).
“Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ; To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints” (Romans 1:5-7). Since obedience helps us received faith, it is clear that disobedience hurts and even destroys faith.
Prayer and Fasting
“Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23). Yet the disciples themselves had failed to have enough belief/faith to cast the particular demon in question out. This apparently perplexed the disciples, “And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast him out?” So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting” (Mark 9:28-29). Since all things are possible for those that believe, and the disciples were not able to cast out the particular demon that Mark 9 discusses, Jesus explained that prayer and fasting were what was lacking.
Have Faith In God and Forgive
The Bible records, “Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.” So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will come to pass, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses” (Mark 11:20-26). Notice that Jesus said to have faith in God, to believe, to pray, and to forgive. Thus, believing, praying, and forgiving seem to be important to faith.
Show Faith By Doing
Paul wrote, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). In practical terms, this means that we live God’s way of life even when we have trials and temptations, when things seems almost hopeless, or when others try to deceive us. Paul also wrote, “Do we then make void the law through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law” (Romans 3:31). Furthermore, James wrote, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe–and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?” (James 2:17-22). Thus faith goes beyond just believing. Living faith includes action that God approves.
Concluding Comments
Increasing faith takes a lifetime. Sometimes it seems quite difficult. There are so many aspects of it, that they cannot be covered in a short paper. But from the Bible we see that those called of God had faith and lived by faith. That faith is the substance of things hoped for. That faith came be hearing the word of God from the preachers that God sent. That the faithful searched the scriptures to be sure that the preachers were of God. That the faithful were obedient, that they did not forsake the assembling of themselves together, that they exhorted one another, that they prayed, and that they fasted.
The faithful demonstrated their faith by keeping the commandments and otherwise doing what God wanted them to do, even while living in an ungodly world.
By believing God and doing all these things, faith can be increased.
Link to article in Mandarin:
https://www.ccog.asia/a-short-paper-on-faith/
Thiel B. Short Paper on Faith. www.cogwriter.com 2004/2005/2006/2012