Focus: The Necessity Of Faith

Text: Heb.11:6

"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."

It is surprising to me that I keep coming back every now and then to the subject of faith, but I believe it is the Spirit nudging me to do so, because of the fundamental necessity of faith in the Christian's life. Even our text makes it abundantly clear of the basic role of faith in our lives. The essence of faith is such that nothing we say or do is of any value to God if not informed or forged by faith. Faith brings us into personal relationship and affinity with God.

Faith implies the elimination of human pride and the enthronement of God's grace. In the Old Testament Tabernacle/Temple, the throne of God is known as the "mercy seat," and in the New Testament, it is described as the "throne of grace." We gain access to this throne by faith, not by pride or works of self-righteousness. Paul tells us, "By whom also we have ACCESS BY FAITH into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom.5:2). Faith eliminates pride, and it is the key that unlocks to us the inexhaustible storehouse of grace.

*The capability of Christ

A leper comes and says, "If thou wilt, thou CANST make me clean" (Mk.1:40). He believes Jesus Christ has the ability to heal him, but he is not quite sure that he wants to do so. He is sure of His power to deliver, but not so sure of His willingness and determination to help him out. A father says to Christ, "If thou CANST do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us" (Mk.9:22). The leper is doubtful of Christ's willingness to deliver; this concerned father is doubtful of Christ's capability to deliver.

*The cruciality of faith

Jesus replies, "If thou CANST believe, all things are possible to him that believeth" (Mk.9:23). By Jesus' words we can see that people really have problem believing. Jesus Christ says, "If you can believe…" That means that we need to exert our whole power into believing God, knowing that God is capable of being believed. A. W. Tozer said, "True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie."

Faith is crucial in relating to God and in receiving favors from Him. Faith initiates a believer into a world of limitless possibilities - God's own world.

The Lord Jesus Christ makes it clear that our faith holds the key that unlocks the world of possibilities. He says in essence, 'I can do anything; and I am ever willing to help, but do you believe that I can do it? Do you trust that I can change the story of your life?' In yet another scenario, Jesus Christ asked two blind men, "Believe ye that I am able to do this?" Their response was, "Yea, Lord" (Mt.9:28). In all these Scriptures we see the capability of Christ and the cruciality of faith. Faith holds the key that unlocks Christ's capabilities, compassion and assistance. By faith we connect to collect. We connect to God and at the same time collect from Him. 

By faith we see God's Face, embrace God's Answer, experience God's Immanence, encounter God's Truth, and obtain from God's Hand - that's FAITH.

Christ is infinitely capable and your faith is fundamentally crucial. Take the business of believing God seriously. The throne of God is solely accessible by faith and by the Spirit of God. Paul declares, "For through him we both have ACCESS by one Spirit unto the Father… In whom we have boldness and ACCESS with confidence by the faith of him" (Eph.2:18; 3:12). Faith is crucial and Christ is capable. Paul also says, "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom.14:23). Going by this Scripture, faith is the opposite of sin. Whatever we do outside of faith is a sin. Hence the necessity of faith. Faith brings God into our human space and exposes us to the miraculous power of God. Martin Luther said that "faith is a living, daring confidence in God's grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times."

by Bishop Moses E. Peter