The Faith of God

CLASFON, NIGERIAN LAW SCHOOL, ENUGU CAMPUS

BIBLE STUDY OUTLINE                                                                                                 31ST JANUARY, 2017

                                                  THE FAITH OF GOD

A BRIEF INTRODUCTION

Faith is a gift of God. By gift; it means faith is given without conditions. There is only one way to faith; through Christ. The faith of God is in the believer. (Ephesians 2:8)

HOW DID THE BELIEVER RECEIVE FAITH?

The believer received faith by

 confessing the Lord Jesus and believing with the heart that God has raised Him from the dead. (Romans 10:9-10). This he did after hearing the word of faith which is the Gospel (Romans 10:8-17). Also known as the word of truth (Ephesians 1:13). Once a man accepts the Gospel, he receives faith and has faith. Therefore, the believer does not have faith problems; he does not have to ask God for faith; he has faith.

WHAT ARE THE FACTS OF THE GOSPEL?

The facts of the Gospel which we preach are easily found in the book of 1 Corinthians 15:1-4. The facts are as follows; Christ died, was buried and rose again according the Scriptures.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FAITH IN THE PRE-RESURRECTION AND POST RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

FAITH IN PRE-RESURRECTION PERIOD

In comparing faith in the two dispensations, reference shall be made to the four gospels in comparison with the epistles. In the four Gospels, Jesus had not died, risen, or ascended and this was why he said in Mark 11: 24 “if you have the faith of God” in the original rendering of the passage. This means they did not. Thus, we see at various times when Jesus healed the sick, He weighed or measured 'their' faith.

Many who received healing in that dispensation received based on the level of faith they could muster.

Examples

• The story of the Centurion's servant (Matthew 8:5-10, Luke 7:2-10)
• The story of the woman with the issue of blood (Matthew 9:20-22, Mark 5:25-34, Luke 8:43-48)

FAITH IN THE POST-RESURRECTION PERIOD

We are in the period where Jesus is the author and finisher of faith (Hebrews 12:1-2). We have the faith of Jesus Christ right now and the life we live is a life of faith (Hebrews 11:1, Galatians 2:20).

In this period, we all have the same faith. No believer has more faith than another. We all have the faith of God.

• 2 Peter 1:1 "obtained like precious faith"
• Titus 1:4 "common faith"
• 2 Corinthians 4:13 "we having the same Spirit of faith"
• Romans 12:3 "God has dealt with us the measure of faith"
• Romans 1:12 "mutual faith"
• Philippians 3:9 "faith of Christ”

HOW TO USE THE FAITH OF GOD

The believer exercises faith by:

• Believing with the heart
• Speaking with the mouth (Mark 11:22-23)

The spirit of faith believes and speaks (2 Corinthians 4:13, Psalm 116:10). The believer lives by faith (Galatians 2:20, Romans 1:17, Habakkuk 2:4).