Justin Matthew Reid

Bible Teachings - Faith Study

Why do we need to have faith in God?

Heb 11:6

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.

Deut 32:20

And he said, I will hide my face from them, I will see what their end shall be: for they are a very froward generation, children in whom is no faith.

We cannot have a relationship with God without having faith! We cannot please God without faith!

Jesus Christ is the key to faith in God.

Mark 11:22

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

1 Peter 1:21

Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.

Heb 12:2

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.

Romans 3:25

Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God.

1 Cor 15:17

And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

When we put our faith in the atonement of Jesus Christ and his resurrection, we put our faith in God the Father who sent him. We cannot have faith apart from Jesus Christ!

Anyone can have faith in God:

Romans 12:13

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

Romans 16:26

But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith.

Faith in God through Jesus Christ has many benefits!

We are saved through faith:

Eph 2:8

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

1 Peter 1:9

Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

We are justified through 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.

Romans 5:1

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal 3:8

And the scripture, forseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

Faith makes us righteous:

Phil 3:9

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.

Romans 4:5

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Faith brings us benefits: physically, spiritually and materially.

James 5:15

And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he hath committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Luke 17:19

And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

Matthew 9:29

Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Luke 7:50

And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Acts 3:16

And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.

Acts 26:18

To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

Faith is an improvement over the works of the law:

Gal 3:23

But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:25

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

Romans 3:3

For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

Romans 4:20

He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.

Mark 4:40

And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?

Matthew 14:31

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?

Matthew 16:8

Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?

James 1:6

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

Godly people can and do live by faith alone. Circumstances do not change the Truth of God's promises to us. Things that are seen do not change God's Truth. The Word of God is above all else!

Heb 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 Cor 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

1 Cor 2:5

That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Our faith will be tested. That is a certainty. Faith is not a passive thing. We must be continually active in the faith. If we neglect our faith, we will not be ready when the testings and trials come!

Romans 10:17

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Acts 14:22

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

2 Tim 4:7

I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.

1 Peter 1:7

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Heb 10:23

Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised).

2 Peter 1:5

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge.

1 John 5:4

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Jude 1:3

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

2 Cor 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

Our faith in God will grow as we put forth the effort to learn more Truth.

Luke 17:5

And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.

2 Cor 10:15

Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men's labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to your rule abundantly.

Heb 6:1

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.

1 Th 3:10

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

When we have God's kind of faith, we also have many other attributes as a direct result.

Faith and Love:

Eph 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love

1 Th 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Eph 6:23

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith...

Gal 5:6

For in Jesus Christ neither the circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

Faith and Patience:

James 1:3

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

2 Th 1:4

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.

Rev 14:12

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.

Faith is pure:

Acts 15:9

And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.

1 Tim 3:9

Holding the mystery of faith in a pure conscience.

When we have God's kind of faith, spiritual works will follow.

James 2:20

But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:22

Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

Rev 2:19

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

James 2:18

Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.

Faith is what unites the body of believers! There is only one kind of faith as far as God is concerned. Man is the author of denominations, divisions and schisms. God wants all His sons and daughters on the same page. We will be on the same page if we allow ourselves to be led by the Holy Spirit into all Truth.

Phil 1:27

Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

Eph 4:13

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

Gal 3:26

For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Cor 4:13

We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.

Romans 1:12

That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

Eph 4:5

One Lord, one faith, one baptism...

Finally, let us remember that God can only use those who have His kind of faith. If God can use a man like Paul, who formerly persecuted and murdered Christians, he can use anyone!

Gal 1:23

But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

1 Tim 2:7

Where unto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not;) a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity.

March 15th, 2005