rjones
Member
- Joined
- Jul 28, 2007
- Messages
- 314
As we are learning day by day to trust God and please Him, there are a number of aspects of our being which are involved in this process of expressing faith.
The mind is informed
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Ro.10:17).
(see also Acts 4:4; 8:12; 24:14; John 12:38)
We must hear and understand the message, before we can respond in faith to it. However, an informed mind alone does not guarantee an expression of real faith.
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. The demons also believe - and tremble" (Ja. 2:19).
The emotions are stirred
In repentance, one experiences the emotion of "godly sorrow" (2 Cor.7:10). This is understandable, since repentance has to do with sin which has estranged us from God and wrought such havoc in our lives. But in faith we experience "joy" and "gladness" of our salvation. This is proper, since through faith we enter into all the rich blessings of God's salvation, not the least of which includes a new relationship with God.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptised" (Acts 2:41).
(see also 8:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:8)
However, an informed mind and stirred emotions alone still do not guarantee an expression of real faith.
"But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word (the informed mind) and immediately receives it with joy (stirred emotions); yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while..." (Mt.3: 20-21).
The will is committed
"By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name" (Ro.1:5).
"For I will not dare to speak to any of those things which Christ has accomplished by me, through word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient" (Ro.15:18).
"...the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began . . . has been made known to all nations...for obedience to the faith" (Ro.16:25-26).
Faith consists of these three major aspects - and if one is missing, real faith is not expressed. So we need to understand what God has promised (the mind informed) and be stirred about it (the emotions stirred), and then act upon it (the will committed). Faith links us with God, and is the conviction that the things which he has promised are true, in spite of the fact that we do not yet see them (He.11:1).
The mind is informed
"Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ" (Ro.10:17).
(see also Acts 4:4; 8:12; 24:14; John 12:38)
We must hear and understand the message, before we can respond in faith to it. However, an informed mind alone does not guarantee an expression of real faith.
"You believe that there is one God. You do well. The demons also believe - and tremble" (Ja. 2:19).
The emotions are stirred
In repentance, one experiences the emotion of "godly sorrow" (2 Cor.7:10). This is understandable, since repentance has to do with sin which has estranged us from God and wrought such havoc in our lives. But in faith we experience "joy" and "gladness" of our salvation. This is proper, since through faith we enter into all the rich blessings of God's salvation, not the least of which includes a new relationship with God.
"Then they that gladly received his word were baptised" (Acts 2:41).
(see also 8:8; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:8)
However, an informed mind and stirred emotions alone still do not guarantee an expression of real faith.
"But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word (the informed mind) and immediately receives it with joy (stirred emotions); yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while..." (Mt.3: 20-21).
The will is committed
"By whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name" (Ro.1:5).
"For I will not dare to speak to any of those things which Christ has accomplished by me, through word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient" (Ro.15:18).
"...the revelation of the mystery which was kept secret since the world began . . . has been made known to all nations...for obedience to the faith" (Ro.16:25-26).
Faith consists of these three major aspects - and if one is missing, real faith is not expressed. So we need to understand what God has promised (the mind informed) and be stirred about it (the emotions stirred), and then act upon it (the will committed). Faith links us with God, and is the conviction that the things which he has promised are true, in spite of the fact that we do not yet see them (He.11:1).
