In the School of Faith
Bible Study
From a study of Dr. Charles F. Stanley
Date: 7/8/14
Introduction:
Welcome to another Bible Study: It has been inspirational to study God's Word. The many different studies have encouraged me to stay focus on God and His will for my life. The Ministry of Jesus was awesome! While studying the Ministry of Jesus I was moved in my spirit on the subject of FAITH. My TV pastor (Dr. Charles F. Stanley) has been teaching on faith. It's great! This study is about faith, and I will add some of his material.
As we see, time is passing quickly, and it's speeding up. Our faith must grow stronger in God, because in God we must still trust regardless of how this world is going. There is a devotional book called "In God we still trust" by Dr. Richard G. Lee. I really enjoy this devotion! The book is to help us keep our mind and faith in God. Our faith is so important for us in these days. This study is all about faith, and the fullness of faith. We walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and not by sight. We are people of faith (Habakkuk 2:4) says, ". . . but the just shall live by his faith." This is that faith we will study.
Of the innumerable gifts with which God has blessed us, the greatest is often overlooked. It is something Jesus said a great deal about and something that we use every day. This great gift is faith, and to attain it, we must understand what it truly means to trust God.
Faith is one of the greatest assets God has given us, and the Father has provided it for everyone who is rightly related to Him through Jesus Christ.
Those who believe salvation can be lost often ask an insightful question about the relationship between salvation and faith. The question goes something like this: If our salvation is gained through believing in Christ, doesn't it make sense that salvation can be lost if we quit believing?
To answer this question, we must see what saves us. Paul tells us that we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8–9). The instrument of salvation is grace. God came up with a plan and carried it out through Christ. We didn't take part in it; we didn't deserve any part of it. It was grace from start to finish. We are saved by grace through faith. "Through faith" is important, but often misunderstood. "Through" is translated from the Greek word dia, which carries the idea of "means" or "agency." Faith was the agent whereby God was able to apply His grace to the life of the sinner.
Faith is simply the way we say yes to God's free gift of eternal life. Faith and salvation are not one and the same any more than a gift and the hand that receives it are the same. Salvation stands independently of faith. Consequently, God does not require a constant attitude of faith in order to be saved—only an act of faith in Christ.
You and I are not saved because we have enduring faith. Faith is not a power we tap into or a button we push to prod God into action. Rather, faith is confidence that God will do what He has promised. We are saved because we've expressed trust that the Lord Jesus has really saved us.
Notice how Paul ends Ephesians 2:8–9: "It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." "Salvation," Paul says, "is a gift." I don't know about you, but I have learned a gift that can be taken back is no gift. True gifts have no strings attached.
You can say, "What if I give it back?" You can give it back only if the giver accepts the return. In the case of salvation God has a strict no return policy. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Why would He take back what He came to give?
And faith? Faith is our way of accepting God's gift. Faith serves as our spiritual hands by which the gift is received at a particular moment in time. Again, saving faith is not necessarily a sustained attitude of gratefulness for God's gift. It is a singular moment in time when we take what God has offered. Eternal life is received by grace through faith. It is a once-and-for-all transaction that can never be undone. Because of the nature of God's grace, once you become a Christian, you are always a Christian through faith.
Definition of Faith
A simple definition of faith is given in verse 1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." While faith is putting our trust in something we cannot see, it does not mean that there is no evidence for that faith. We believe there is a God, not because we can see Him, but because we have plenty of evidence that He exists. We have nature which tells us there is a Creator (Romans 1:19-23; Hebrews 11:2). We have God's Word, the Bible, which proclaims that God exists. There are plenty of evidences through history and science which proclaim the accuracy of the Bible. While we cannot see God, we can have faith in Him because of the proof that He has given to us through history, science, nature and His Word. Beyond the simple definition of faith in verse 1 there is a practical application of faith in verse 6. It says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We must have faith to please God. When we try to work out our salvation or our daily Christian walk in our flesh that is not pleasing to God! Everything we do should be done in faith.
The outline for this study:
Each week there will be questions, personal reflections, a prayer, and a quiz.
Introduction:
Subject: Three Types of Faith
Week #1) Intellectual Faith
Week # 2) God's Faith
Week # 3) Saving Faith
Subject: The Grades of Faith
Week # 4) No Faith/Little Faith/Waving Faith
Week # 5) Great Faith
Week # 6) Failing Faith/Suffering a Faith Failure
Week # 7) Advancing In Faith
Subject: The Stages of our Faith
Week # 8) The Stages of our Faith
Conclusion
Prayer:
Father God, bless every word of this study to accomplish what we need to learn about our faith in You. As we study about faith, bless our faith to grow stronger for Your glory, so we can share with others as we grow spiritually. We ask for You to remove all hindrance Lord, we trust You to fill us with powerful mountain moving faith. Fill us with steadfastness. Lord, show us how we have doubted You in this study, and to help us stand firm in Your Word through faith in You, my Lord. We give You glory and honor in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.
Bible Study
From a study of Dr. Charles F. Stanley
Date: 7/8/14
Introduction:
Welcome to another Bible Study: It has been inspirational to study God's Word. The many different studies have encouraged me to stay focus on God and His will for my life. The Ministry of Jesus was awesome! While studying the Ministry of Jesus I was moved in my spirit on the subject of FAITH. My TV pastor (Dr. Charles F. Stanley) has been teaching on faith. It's great! This study is about faith, and I will add some of his material.
As we see, time is passing quickly, and it's speeding up. Our faith must grow stronger in God, because in God we must still trust regardless of how this world is going. There is a devotional book called "In God we still trust" by Dr. Richard G. Lee. I really enjoy this devotion! The book is to help us keep our mind and faith in God. Our faith is so important for us in these days. This study is all about faith, and the fullness of faith. We walk by faith (2 Corinthians 5:7) and not by sight. We are people of faith (Habakkuk 2:4) says, ". . . but the just shall live by his faith." This is that faith we will study.
Of the innumerable gifts with which God has blessed us, the greatest is often overlooked. It is something Jesus said a great deal about and something that we use every day. This great gift is faith, and to attain it, we must understand what it truly means to trust God.
Faith is one of the greatest assets God has given us, and the Father has provided it for everyone who is rightly related to Him through Jesus Christ.
Those who believe salvation can be lost often ask an insightful question about the relationship between salvation and faith. The question goes something like this: If our salvation is gained through believing in Christ, doesn't it make sense that salvation can be lost if we quit believing?
To answer this question, we must see what saves us. Paul tells us that we are saved by grace (Eph. 2:8–9). The instrument of salvation is grace. God came up with a plan and carried it out through Christ. We didn't take part in it; we didn't deserve any part of it. It was grace from start to finish. We are saved by grace through faith. "Through faith" is important, but often misunderstood. "Through" is translated from the Greek word dia, which carries the idea of "means" or "agency." Faith was the agent whereby God was able to apply His grace to the life of the sinner.
Faith is simply the way we say yes to God's free gift of eternal life. Faith and salvation are not one and the same any more than a gift and the hand that receives it are the same. Salvation stands independently of faith. Consequently, God does not require a constant attitude of faith in order to be saved—only an act of faith in Christ.
You and I are not saved because we have enduring faith. Faith is not a power we tap into or a button we push to prod God into action. Rather, faith is confidence that God will do what He has promised. We are saved because we've expressed trust that the Lord Jesus has really saved us.
Notice how Paul ends Ephesians 2:8–9: "It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." "Salvation," Paul says, "is a gift." I don't know about you, but I have learned a gift that can be taken back is no gift. True gifts have no strings attached.
You can say, "What if I give it back?" You can give it back only if the giver accepts the return. In the case of salvation God has a strict no return policy. Christ came to seek and to save the lost. Why would He take back what He came to give?
And faith? Faith is our way of accepting God's gift. Faith serves as our spiritual hands by which the gift is received at a particular moment in time. Again, saving faith is not necessarily a sustained attitude of gratefulness for God's gift. It is a singular moment in time when we take what God has offered. Eternal life is received by grace through faith. It is a once-and-for-all transaction that can never be undone. Because of the nature of God's grace, once you become a Christian, you are always a Christian through faith.
Definition of Faith
A simple definition of faith is given in verse 1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." While faith is putting our trust in something we cannot see, it does not mean that there is no evidence for that faith. We believe there is a God, not because we can see Him, but because we have plenty of evidence that He exists. We have nature which tells us there is a Creator (Romans 1:19-23; Hebrews 11:2). We have God's Word, the Bible, which proclaims that God exists. There are plenty of evidences through history and science which proclaim the accuracy of the Bible. While we cannot see God, we can have faith in Him because of the proof that He has given to us through history, science, nature and His Word. Beyond the simple definition of faith in verse 1 there is a practical application of faith in verse 6. It says, "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." We must have faith to please God. When we try to work out our salvation or our daily Christian walk in our flesh that is not pleasing to God! Everything we do should be done in faith.
The outline for this study:
Each week there will be questions, personal reflections, a prayer, and a quiz.
Introduction:
Subject: Three Types of Faith
Week #1) Intellectual Faith
Week # 2) God's Faith
Week # 3) Saving Faith
Subject: The Grades of Faith
Week # 4) No Faith/Little Faith/Waving Faith
Week # 5) Great Faith
Week # 6) Failing Faith/Suffering a Faith Failure
Week # 7) Advancing In Faith
Subject: The Stages of our Faith
Week # 8) The Stages of our Faith
Conclusion
Prayer:
Father God, bless every word of this study to accomplish what we need to learn about our faith in You. As we study about faith, bless our faith to grow stronger for Your glory, so we can share with others as we grow spiritually. We ask for You to remove all hindrance Lord, we trust You to fill us with powerful mountain moving faith. Fill us with steadfastness. Lord, show us how we have doubted You in this study, and to help us stand firm in Your Word through faith in You, my Lord. We give You glory and honor in Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.
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