Step 4 Faith. The 7 Steps to the Cure of Souls Faith Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)

Step 4Step 4

FaithFaith

The 7 Steps to the Cure of SoulsThe 7 Steps to the Cure of Souls

FaithFaith

• ““Now faith is the assurance of things Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).


Justified by FaithJustified by Faith• It is faith, not the doctrines of men It is faith, not the doctrines of men

that bring us to God through Jesus. that bring us to God through Jesus. • ““A man is not justified by the works A man is not justified by the works

of the Law but through faith in Christ of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by works of by faith in Christ, and not by works of the Law; since by the works of the the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified” Law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16). (Galatians 2:16).


Faith and TrustFaith and Trust

• Faith is closely tied to trust and truth. Faith is closely tied to trust and truth. • However if you put your faith in another However if you put your faith in another

person, it is almost certain that eventually person, it is almost certain that eventually you will surely be severely injured.you will surely be severely injured.

• Humans and things are fallible and fallen.Humans and things are fallible and fallen.• God is perfect; He will not let you down; God is perfect; He will not let you down;

still some refuse to trust Him. It is easier still some refuse to trust Him. It is easier to trust what can be seen.to trust what can be seen.


Where Is Your Faith?Where Is Your Faith?• Some people put their faith in things of the Some people put their faith in things of the

world. world. • Achievement is often measured by:Achievement is often measured by:

– MoneyMoney– PrestigePrestige– College degreesCollege degrees– Physical appearancePhysical appearance– FameFame– Popularity Popularity

• When these cannot sustain or fulfill When these cannot sustain or fulfill people, their world falls apart. people, their world falls apart.


How Do You Measure?How Do You Measure?

• Who do you think of when you think Who do you think of when you think of someone who is “successful”?of someone who is “successful”?

• When you think of this person as When you think of this person as “being successful,” are you “being successful,” are you measuring this achievement by the measuring this achievement by the world’s standard? world’s standard?


Your FaithYour Faith

• Your faith in God should be your focus.Your faith in God should be your focus.• Do not put your faith in successes of Do not put your faith in successes of

the world. the world. • Trying to live life without a relationship Trying to live life without a relationship

with the Creator is the ultimate with the Creator is the ultimate deception. deception.

• ““For what does it profit a man to gain For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” the whole world, and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36).(Mark 8:36).


Restored RelationshipRestored Relationship

• Because of sin, we cannot have Because of sin, we cannot have fellowship or a relationship with God. fellowship or a relationship with God.

• Through the sacrifice of His Son, Through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus, God provided a way of Jesus, God provided a way of reconciliation with Him. reconciliation with Him.

• To accept this gift of sacrifice and To accept this gift of sacrifice and receive the relationship, we must act receive the relationship, we must act on faith, and we must be born again.on faith, and we must be born again.


Born AgainBorn Again• There are many words we use when we There are many words we use when we

talk about being “born again.”talk about being “born again.”– Being savedBeing saved– RedeemedRedeemed– Claiming salvationClaiming salvation– Being justifiedBeing justified– Being reconciled to GodBeing reconciled to God

• All of these words indicate what happens All of these words indicate what happens between a person and God when the gap between a person and God when the gap caused by sin is filled.caused by sin is filled.


Who Can Be Born Again?Who Can Be Born Again?

• God “desires all men to be saved and God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the to come to the knowledge of the truth” (I Timothy 2:4).truth” (I Timothy 2:4).

• This is for everyone. This is for everyone.

• ““Everyone who calls upon the name Everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts of the Lord shall be saved” (Acts 2:21). 2:21).


Whoever BelievesWhoever Believes

• ““For God so loved the world that He For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). 3:16).


God Loves UsGod Loves Us

• Scripture tells us that “God Scripture tells us that “God demonstrates His love toward us, in demonstrates His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). died for us” (Romans 5:8).


How to Be Born AgainHow to Be Born Again

• ““If you believe in your heart and If you believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that Jesus confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, you will be saved” Christ is Lord, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9-10). (Romans 10:9-10).

• It is foolish to try to live life without It is foolish to try to live life without putting faith in God.putting faith in God.

• ““He who trusts in his own heart is a He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered” (Proverbs 28:26). delivered” (Proverbs 28:26).


Put Your Faith in God Put Your Faith in God

• ““Your faith should not rest on the Your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (I Corinthians 2:5). God” (I Corinthians 2:5).

• Simply believing in God is not Simply believing in God is not enough. “You believe that there is enough. “You believe that there is one God. Good. Even the demons one God. Good. Even the demons believe that, and shudder” (James believe that, and shudder” (James 2:19). 2:19).


We Are New CreaturesWe Are New Creatures

• When we are born again and put our When we are born again and put our faith in God, we become new faith in God, we become new creatures in Christ.creatures in Christ.

• ““I have been crucified with Christ; and I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me” delivered Himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).(Galatians 2:20).


Reject SinReject Sin

• After becoming born again, we will still be After becoming born again, we will still be tempted with sin, but God will help us tempted with sin, but God will help us reject sin.reject sin.

• ““No temptation has overtaken you but No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to escape also, that you may be able to endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13). endure it” (I Corinthians 10:13).


Hate SinHate Sin

• As new Creatures in Christ, we As new Creatures in Christ, we should reject and hate sin. “Any one should reject and hate sin. “Any one who does not practice righteousness who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother. For this is the not love his brother. For this is the message which you have heard from message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love the beginning, that we should love one another” (I John 3:10-11). one another” (I John 3:10-11).


Examples of Great FaithExamples of Great Faith

• In Hebrews 11, there are many listed In Hebrews 11, there are many listed whose lives give us examples of great whose lives give us examples of great faith. The Scripture says it was through faith. The Scripture says it was through their faith that they gained supernatural their faith that they gained supernatural power. power.

• Scripture says that “If you have the faith Scripture says that “If you have the faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it shall move; and nothing shall be it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20).impossible to you” (Matthew 17:20).


Put Your Faith in GodPut Your Faith in God

• If you are trying to fill your life with If you are trying to fill your life with things that are not God, your life will things that are not God, your life will feel like it has no purpose. You will feel like it has no purpose. You will still be searching for the meaning to still be searching for the meaning to life. life.

• What do you put your faith in?What do you put your faith in?

• Do you need to change your focus?Do you need to change your focus?

• Have you ever put your faith in God?Have you ever put your faith in God?


Complete Step 4Complete Step 4

• The answer to a fulfilled life is God.The answer to a fulfilled life is God.

• Accept God; believe in your heart Accept God; believe in your heart and confess with your mouth that and confess with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord.Jesus Christ is Lord.

• Cultivate a relationship with God and Cultivate a relationship with God and He will take care of the rest. He will take care of the rest.

• He will heal your soul. He will heal your soul.


Next StepNext Step

• The next step to the Cure of Souls is The next step to the Cure of Souls is Love.Love.

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Step 4 Faith. The 7 Steps to the Cure of Souls Faith Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1)