The Reasons Why

Faith Is Important

God Demands Faith

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. (Hebrews 11:6)

“Must”

• The word “must”

• Greek word is “dei” which is more emphatic than the English word “must”

• …it was associated with anything that was seen to be a fixed necessity or an irresistible purpose. It described an unchangeable fact, an invincible authority. It represented whatever was absolutely unshakeable in force or will.

• From Dr. Ken Chant’s book, Faith Dynamics, p. 79

God Demands Faith

And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. (Rom. 14:23)

Lack of faith is the thing that caused the fall of man.And the LORD God took the man,

and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Gen. 2:15-17)

Lack of faith is the thing that caused the fall of man.And the serpent said unto the

woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. (Gen. 3:4-5)

Lack of faith is the thing that caused the fall of man.And when the woman saw that the

tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. (vv. 6-7)

Lack of faith is the thing that caused the fall of man.

And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. (1 Tim. 2:14)

“Deception”

• Deception destroys faith

• Deception leads to transgression

• Lack of faith is a transgression (a sin).

• Hence, faith is important from God’s perspective

One Cannot be Saved apart from Faith.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

One Cannot be Saved apart from Faith.For God so loved the world, that he gave

his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

“What Condemns a person to Hell?”• It is not because God predestines anyone to go

there

• It is not because God wants anyone to go there

• It is not even so much because they are sinners since we have all sinned and come short of God’s glory (Rom. 6:23).

• It is due to their refusal to believe.

One Cannot be Saved apart from Faith.That if thou shalt confess with

thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. (Rom. 10:9-10)

The Christian Life Cannot Be Lived Apart from Faith.For we walk by faith, not by

sight (2 Cor. 5:7)

For we live by faith in what He has promised, not in what we see happening at present (The Truth New Testament)

The Christian Life Cannot Be Lived Apart from Faith.For therein is the righteousness

of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

“Who are the JUST?”

• Someone who has been “justified” by the blood of Jesus

• This simply means being placed in a right relationship with God

• Being just is not earned by works but is simply received by faith.

• Adam and Eve lost their relationship with God through unbelief. We must keep our right relationship through faith.

Our Prayers cannot be Answered apart from FaithJesus answered and said unto them,

Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. (Matt. 21:21-22)

Our Prayers cannot be Answered apart from FaithIf any of you lack wisdom, let him

ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. (James 1:5-7)

Our Enemy Cannot Be Overcome Apart from FaithBe sober, be vigilant; because your

adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. (1 Pet. 5:8-9)

Our Enemy Cannot Be Overcome Apart from Faith

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. (Eph. 6:16)

“Above All?”

• “above all” means that your faith is the most important part of your spiritual armor

• The Truth New Testament says, “….Your faith is a shield that you have to take hold of and that enables you to overcome anything the devil throws at you.”

• The enemy defeated Adam and Eve, not by force or power, but by attacking their FAITH.

• Satan’s primary attack is upon our faith in God. We defeat the enemy by maintaining our faith.

Our Enemy Cannot Be Overcome Apart from Faith

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. (1 Tim. 6:12)

All things in the Christian life are possible through faith.

Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. (Mark 9:23)

All things in the Christian life are possible through faith.And Jesus said unto them,

Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. (Matt. 17:20)

“Nothing is impossible to You”• “Faith makes you almost as omnipotent as God

by virtue of its borrowed divinity” (Charles Spurgeon)

• I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13)

• Stop looking at your situation as hopeless and never being subject to change. God thrives in changing seemingly impossible situations. He receives more glory.

• Stop saying “I can’t.” Yes you can.

• Eph 1:3; 2 Pet. 1:3; 1 Cor. 3:21-22