Worship Service 2/28/2021 click here
2/28/2021
The Action of Faith
Hebrews 11:1-2 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
The Claim To Faith Must Be Evident In The Action Of Faith
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?
Hebrews 11:1-6 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
-By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. 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.
Dead Faith is Blind and Cannot See The Obvious
James 2:15-17 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Luke 10:29-37 …who is my neighbor? Jesus answering said, “…a certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment and wounded him and departed, leaving him half dead. By chance there came down a certain priest that way: when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,
…he went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence and gave them to the host and said unto him, Take care of him and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto him that fell among the thieves? He said, “He that shewed mercy on him.” Jesus said unto him, “Go and do thou likewise.”
Dead Faith Trusts In Its Own Construct
James 2:18-19 Someone might say, “You have faith, but I have deeds.“ Show me your faith without doing anything and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe there is One God. Good! But the demons believe that, too and they tremble with fear.
John 5:39-40 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
Action Arising From Faith Proves Faith
James 2:20-22 You foolish person! Must you be shown that faith that does nothing is worth nothing? Abraham, our ancestor, was made right with God by what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. So you see that Abraham’s faith and the things he did worked together. His faith was made perfect by what he did.
True Faith Is Accepted By God
James 2:23-24 This shows the full meaning of the Scripture that says: “Abraham believed God, and God accepted Abraham’s faith, and that faith made him right with God. And Abraham was called God’s friend. So- you see that people are made right with God by what they do, not by faith only.
Dead Faith Has No Life (Άnima) In It
James 2:25-26 Another example is Rahab, a prostitute, who was made right with God by something she did. She welcomed the spies into her home and helped them escape by a different road. Just as a person’s body that does not have a spirit is dead, so faith that does nothing is dead!
Hebrews 11:7-37 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not yet seen, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his family, by the which he condemned that world and became heir of the righteousness by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he would afterwards receive as an inheritance, obeyed and he went out not knowing where to.
By faith he journeyed in the land of promise, like a foreigner, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath sure foundations, Whose Builder and Maker is God.
-Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged Him faithful Who had promised. Therefore, sprang out from one man, who was as good as dead, as many descendants as the stars of the sky and as the sand on the seashore in multitude.
-All these died in faith, having not received the promises, but saw them far off and were persuaded by them and believed them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek an eternal home. Truly, if they had been mindful of the home from where they came, they could have returned.
-But they desired a better home, that is, a heavenly one: Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city. By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, he that had received the promises, offered up his only begotten son…
-Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: He believed that God was able to raise him up from the dead; from whence he did receive him back figuratively. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
-By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel and gave commandment concerning his bones. By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw he was a proper child and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.
-By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
-By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him Who is invisible. Through faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them. By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.
-By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after they were compassed about for seven days. By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace and what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and of Barak and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also and Samuel and of the prophets.
-Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises and stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.
-Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: others endured cruel mocking and scourging, yes even bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;
Our Coming To The True Faith Finalizes The Faith Of Our Forefathers
Hebrews11:38-40 Of whom the world was not worthy, they wandered in deserts and in mountains and in dens and caves of the earth. These all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise, God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.