By Gerald Gates
“Therefore, leaving the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement.” Hebrews 6:1-2 (NKJV). Today let us look at “Faith toward God”.
“… faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 (NKJV). Faith in God is based on what He has revealed in His word.
Remember that Jesus instructed that whoever hears His words and puts them into practice is like the man who built his house on the rock, and his house stood firm through storm and flood (Matthew 7:24-25). God helps us through life when we put our faith in Him through His Son, Christ Jesus. He helps us as we live in obedience to His word.
The apostle Paul preached the gospel “testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21 (NKJV). Faith in God is attained through the gospel of Christ.
We are reminded of God’s plan for our salvation through His Son, Christ Jesus in Peter’s epistle. “And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because “All flesh is as grass, And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls away, but the word of the LORD endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1:17-21 (NKJV). We can always put our faith in God by His word.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1 (NKJV). Obedience to God by faith shows one’s assurance of what is hoped for: the things that God has prepared for those that diligently seek Him. Read Hebrews 11 of many who exercised their faith in God.
Exercising our faith in God is how we are able to please Him.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV).
Consider this short article by Doy Moyer:
“Real Faith”
Biblical faith is not mere belief. It is trust, but it is more than that. It is conviction, loyalty, faithfulness, allegiance, and commitment. To say that we ought to trust God and have faith is not to say that we sit back and do nothing. That is a bad spin on faith and trust, but it’s not uncommon. To say that we trust God is to say that we have devoted ourselves as disciples to be loyal and faithful to God no matter what happens.
When understood this way, there is never a false dichotomy between faith and works, for our loyalty to King Jesus encompasses both to the best of our abilities and the point of death (Revelation 2:10). We are saved by grace. We recognize that grace, biblically understood, teaches us to be zealous for good works (Titus 2:11-14). We know we cannot earn our salvation, but we also know that we cannot forsake the works of God and remain loyal to Him. In becoming Christians, we pledged our loyalty — our allegiance — to the King of kings and Lord of lords, so we must not think that turning back is an option (Luke 9:61-62), for “we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul” (Hebrews 10:39).