What Faith is:Dimensions of Faith Part 1
Five dimensions of faith
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
My beloved readers, you may perhaps wonder why I dwell on faith in most of my writings? It is because it is by faith that we are pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6) and that the Just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:38).
Once again, I am inspired along this line and I feel compelled to give you some doctrines about the dimensions of faith that God gives to man, and it is not by your spirituality or working, but God gift it to you by His grace and mercy.
There are five dimensions of faith namely;
* Saving Faith or Salvation Faith;
* Christian Faith or General Faith;
* The Hebrew 11: Good report faith, Faith spoken of the Elders of old time;
* Gift of Faith;
* Jesus Faith or Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Firstly, `Saving faith: This is the faith that brings salvation of God to every unsaved man. This is - Of faith in Christ's death, as ground of justification before God.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
You have not done anything on the basis of merit to be saved of God, not of works!
When the gospel of Christ Jesus is preached to you: of His life, death, message and 'you believe truly in your heart that God raised him from the death and you confess him as the LORD of your life, you shall be SAVED. (Romans 10:9)
'And this is the word of faith, which we preach to people [Romans 10:8b]
When you believe the report of this gospel and confess Jesus Christ as LORD, then are you SAVED and the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption of God is impacted to you {1 Corinthians 1:30}
Titus 2:11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Every born again christian has this kind of faith (Salvation faith), I have faith for salvation because I am a born again, if you are reading this and you are a born again Christian: you have saving faith, the thief on the cross next to Jesus Christ had saving faith (see Luke 23:34-43), the harlot Rahab had saving faith, because she believed the gospel of Joshua by the spy and she was not destroyed with her people.
That is faith in what God wrought in Jesus Christ, and we put on the nature of Jesus Christ by this.
Prophet Isaiah saw this and prophesied it around 400 years before Jesus Christ was born:
Isaiah 53:5
But he(Jesus Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, he(Jesus Christ) was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his(Jesus) stripes we are healed.
Of this salvation faith is the commission of the twelve Apostles based upon:
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Notably, Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome saying;
.......... according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith' (Romans 12:3b)
Paul was writing to Christians, church people, not the world... Every born again Christian start off in the Christian life at the same level, no one start off any better than the other, we all begin at the same level of faith, and that measure of faith is dealt to each and every christian is the 'Saving Faith'
Secondly, `Christian Faith' which means the doctrines received and believed, christian doctrine, the gospel, all that Christianity stands for.
I am not writing of faith of a denomination or your church beliefs and practices nor creed or doctrines of men, it is that christian faith that was once delivered unto the saints and we are asked to contend for it (Jude 1:3)
Unfortunately, today as a result of denomination, there has been a division of this faith: various church has her doctrines, beliefs, and practices which differs from others. Denomination is never the will of God for the church, and this is why Apostle Paul wrote to the church saying;
'Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrines which you learned, and avoid them (Romans 16:17)
Moreso, this Christian faith is what you live by and it comes to you when you hear the word of God (Hebrews 10:38; Romans 10:17), you can also increase it by continuously hearing, reading and feeding upon the word of God: the bible; 'But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4"
It is your duty as a christian to go to a church where the word of God is preached, the pure word of God and also study and meditate on the word of God (the Bible) as a part of your christian devotion.
Now the Christian faith that you live by says;
Flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18)
It also says that if you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
You see that, so you conduct your life without fornication...
God has set a day to judge all man based on the one faith, christian faith, that was once delivered to us; not the denomination faith or your church faith hence the need and why you are asked to contend for it. God will not judge you by your church or pastor.
2 Timothy 3:16.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The entire bible is the Christian faith and you should have a knowledge of it.
However, Apostle James was inspired to write to us saying;
James 2:17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Therefore, whichever faith that you have, you must give works to it. You must act upon it.. Your works, how you conduct your daily lives should be an expression of what faith is. Take note of this.
Your conduct and actions should be based on all that is instructed in the Bible, and without our works, the faith we have is dead/ inoperative.
As a christian you dont live by denomination doctrines nor creed, you live by the faith that was once delivered unto the saints of God, as it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11)
Thirdly, the Hebrew 11 dimension of faith, is the conviction, an assurance, the confidence that you have in God based on what He has said to you; what He says to you.
It is a firm persuasion, a belief in the truth of the whole nature and revelation of God.
And this kind of faith is how people of ancient times obtain a good report of God. This is how the people we now read in the bible won for themselves a good report and recommendation of God. They had a confidence and conviction on what God said to them and went ahead believing it, saying it and acting upon it. Their works was based upon what God has said to them.
Hebrews 11:8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should thereafter receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
You see when God says to Abram that He is giving him a place that he should receive as an inheritance, yet God did not tell him the location of the land, He just said 'Go out' Abram had confidence in what God said and obeyed: went out, and Abram did not even know where he was going. He just had that confidence, a conviction, an assurance in what God said to him. That is Hebrew 11: good report dimension of faith.
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
God said to Noah that He was going to destroy the earth, Noah believed God's report and went ahead building an ark when there was no sign of a great flood in the sky, Noah built the ark for a hundred years. Of course the people laughed at Noah and his family thinking him to be a fanatic, but he brought the flood on the ungodly. You see that Noah had a conviction and assurance based upon God words to him. That is also a Hebrew 11: good report faith.
Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
When Joseph is laying to die, he called his people of Israel and told them God would visit them and take them out of Egypt, and he was so sure and confident that God will visit them that he gave instruction concerning his bones for when the time comes for God to take them out of Israel.
Joseph told them to carry his bones along with them... Joseph even when he was going to die had this conviction about what God had said to him. That is Hebrew 11: a good report faith.
The Hebrew 11: good report faith, emanates from a conviction, assurance and confidence of acting upon divine revelation of God to man.
Stay blessed and be inspired...
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
My beloved readers, you may perhaps wonder why I dwell on faith in most of my writings? It is because it is by faith that we are pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6) and that the Just shall live by faith (Hebrews 10:38).
Once again, I am inspired along this line and I feel compelled to give you some doctrines about the dimensions of faith that God gives to man, and it is not by your spirituality or working, but God gift it to you by His grace and mercy.
There are five dimensions of faith namely;
* Saving Faith or Salvation Faith;
* Christian Faith or General Faith;
* The Hebrew 11: Good report faith, Faith spoken of the Elders of old time;
* Gift of Faith;
* Jesus Faith or Faith of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Firstly, `Saving faith: This is the faith that brings salvation of God to every unsaved man. This is - Of faith in Christ's death, as ground of justification before God.
Ephesians 2:8
For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast.
You have not done anything on the basis of merit to be saved of God, not of works!
When the gospel of Christ Jesus is preached to you: of His life, death, message and 'you believe truly in your heart that God raised him from the death and you confess him as the LORD of your life, you shall be SAVED. (Romans 10:9)
'And this is the word of faith, which we preach to people [Romans 10:8b]
When you believe the report of this gospel and confess Jesus Christ as LORD, then are you SAVED and the wisdom, righteousness, sanctification and redemption of God is impacted to you {1 Corinthians 1:30}
Titus 2:11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Every born again christian has this kind of faith (Salvation faith), I have faith for salvation because I am a born again, if you are reading this and you are a born again Christian: you have saving faith, the thief on the cross next to Jesus Christ had saving faith (see Luke 23:34-43), the harlot Rahab had saving faith, because she believed the gospel of Joshua by the spy and she was not destroyed with her people.
That is faith in what God wrought in Jesus Christ, and we put on the nature of Jesus Christ by this.
Prophet Isaiah saw this and prophesied it around 400 years before Jesus Christ was born:
Isaiah 53:5
But he(Jesus Christ) was wounded for our transgressions, he(Jesus Christ) was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his(Jesus) stripes we are healed.
Of this salvation faith is the commission of the twelve Apostles based upon:
Mark 16:15
And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Notably, Apostle Paul wrote to the church at Rome saying;
.......... according as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith' (Romans 12:3b)
Paul was writing to Christians, church people, not the world... Every born again Christian start off in the Christian life at the same level, no one start off any better than the other, we all begin at the same level of faith, and that measure of faith is dealt to each and every christian is the 'Saving Faith'
Secondly, `Christian Faith' which means the doctrines received and believed, christian doctrine, the gospel, all that Christianity stands for.
I am not writing of faith of a denomination or your church beliefs and practices nor creed or doctrines of men, it is that christian faith that was once delivered unto the saints and we are asked to contend for it (Jude 1:3)
Unfortunately, today as a result of denomination, there has been a division of this faith: various church has her doctrines, beliefs, and practices which differs from others. Denomination is never the will of God for the church, and this is why Apostle Paul wrote to the church saying;
'Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrines which you learned, and avoid them (Romans 16:17)
Moreso, this Christian faith is what you live by and it comes to you when you hear the word of God (Hebrews 10:38; Romans 10:17), you can also increase it by continuously hearing, reading and feeding upon the word of God: the bible; 'But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. - Matthew 4:4"
It is your duty as a christian to go to a church where the word of God is preached, the pure word of God and also study and meditate on the word of God (the Bible) as a part of your christian devotion.
Now the Christian faith that you live by says;
Flee fornication (1 Corinthians 6:18)
It also says that if you eat or drink, or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
You see that, so you conduct your life without fornication...
God has set a day to judge all man based on the one faith, christian faith, that was once delivered to us; not the denomination faith or your church faith hence the need and why you are asked to contend for it. God will not judge you by your church or pastor.
2 Timothy 3:16.
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The entire bible is the Christian faith and you should have a knowledge of it.
However, Apostle James was inspired to write to us saying;
James 2:17. Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
Therefore, whichever faith that you have, you must give works to it. You must act upon it.. Your works, how you conduct your daily lives should be an expression of what faith is. Take note of this.
Your conduct and actions should be based on all that is instructed in the Bible, and without our works, the faith we have is dead/ inoperative.
As a christian you dont live by denomination doctrines nor creed, you live by the faith that was once delivered unto the saints of God, as it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith (Galatians 3:11)
Thirdly, the Hebrew 11 dimension of faith, is the conviction, an assurance, the confidence that you have in God based on what He has said to you; what He says to you.
It is a firm persuasion, a belief in the truth of the whole nature and revelation of God.
And this kind of faith is how people of ancient times obtain a good report of God. This is how the people we now read in the bible won for themselves a good report and recommendation of God. They had a confidence and conviction on what God said to them and went ahead believing it, saying it and acting upon it. Their works was based upon what God has said to them.
Hebrews 11:8. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should thereafter receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
You see when God says to Abram that He is giving him a place that he should receive as an inheritance, yet God did not tell him the location of the land, He just said 'Go out' Abram had confidence in what God said and obeyed: went out, and Abram did not even know where he was going. He just had that confidence, a conviction, an assurance in what God said to him. That is Hebrew 11: good report dimension of faith.
Hebrews 11:7
By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
God said to Noah that He was going to destroy the earth, Noah believed God's report and went ahead building an ark when there was no sign of a great flood in the sky, Noah built the ark for a hundred years. Of course the people laughed at Noah and his family thinking him to be a fanatic, but he brought the flood on the ungodly. You see that Noah had a conviction and assurance based upon God words to him. That is also a Hebrew 11: good report faith.
Hebrews 11:22
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
When Joseph is laying to die, he called his people of Israel and told them God would visit them and take them out of Egypt, and he was so sure and confident that God will visit them that he gave instruction concerning his bones for when the time comes for God to take them out of Israel.
Joseph told them to carry his bones along with them... Joseph even when he was going to die had this conviction about what God had said to him. That is Hebrew 11: a good report faith.
The Hebrew 11: good report faith, emanates from a conviction, assurance and confidence of acting upon divine revelation of God to man.
Stay blessed and be inspired...
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