Digging For Truth

by Ted Robertson   ( January 2012 )

What  is  Faith ?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not ween. Hebrews 11: 1

How Do We Get Faith ?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10: 17

Bible story of a Roman Centurion's servant healed by great faith.   Luke 7: 1 - 10

Christ Admonished the disciples because of their lack of faith

And when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread.
Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
Do ye not yet understand, neither remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
neither the seven loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up?
How is it that ye do not understand that I spake it not to you concerning bread, that ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?
Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.  Matthew 16:5-12

Christ is the author and finisher of our Faith

Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

So if Christ is the one who knows great faith when He sees it and also admonishes for lack of faith and is the author and finisher of our faith, then it would make sense to look to Him for the answers to our questions on faith.

Christ's  Teachings  on  Faith

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.
And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.  Luke 17:5-6

Faith allows for the casting out of demons;  Also,  a mustard seed of faith can move a mountain

And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certain man, kneeling down to him, and saying, Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is lunatic, and sore vexed:  for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him.
Then Jesus answered and said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me.
And Jesus rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him:  and the child was cured from that very hour.
Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief:  for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove:  and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.  Matthew 17:14-21

Jesus says blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe

But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Did'ymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side; and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.  John 20: 24-28

The  Apostles'  Teachings  on  faith

The Spirit Received through Faith

He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?  Galatians 3:5

Being full of Faith goes hand in hand with being full of the Holy Spirit

And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Gre'cians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration.
Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.
Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business.
But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.
And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Proch'orus, and Nica'nor, and Timon, and Par'menas, and Nicolas a proselyte of An'ti-och; whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.  Acts 6:1-6

And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people.  Acts 6:8

The Just shall live by Faith

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.  Habakkuk 2:4

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.  Romans 1:17

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. http://www.bartleby.com/108/35/2.html - 4   Galatians 3:11

For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.  Galatians 5:5

Now the just shall live by faith.  Hebrews 10:38  

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8

The interworking of Faith, Hope, and Love

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also; knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
and patience, experience; and experience, hope:
and hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.    Romans 5: 1-5

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.  1 Corinthians 13:13

The Roman Church had such faith that it caused them to have a worldwide reputation

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.  Romans 1:8

Great Faith grows and endures all tribulations

We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;
so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer.  2 Thessalonians 1:3-5

There is comfort in the community of faith

For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established;
that is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.  Romans 1:11-12

On  Prayer  and  Faith

Faith overcomes the world

Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments:  and his commandments are not grievous.
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world:  and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?  1 John 5:1-5

The power of Christ is to be the comfort, the hope, the crown of rejoicing, of every one that follows Jesus in his conflict, in his struggles in life. He who truly follows the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world, can shout as he advances, “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4).  What kind of faith is it that overcomes the world? It is that faith which makes Christ your own personal Saviour — that faith which, recognizing your helplessness, your utter inability to save yourself, takes hold of the helper who is mighty to save, as your only hope. It is faith that will not be discouraged, that hears the voice of Christ saying, “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world, and my divine strength is yours.” ... “Lo, I am with you alway.”  Ellen G. White,  Our Father Cares.  p. 126

Additional quotations from Ellen White about  Faith

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