CHRISTIAN FAITH – The importance of faith in Jesus Christ.

God’s promises are precious and true down through all generations. Each generation has its challenges, but oh how he loves and cares for his children.

The two words “Believe” and “Faith” in the Holy Bible come from one Greek word in New Testament writings. When this Greek word is used as a noun, it is translated in our English translations as the word “faith”. When this same Greek word is used as a verb, it is translated “believe” in our English translations.

Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.

Hebrews 11: 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

God honors the belief of those who trust in Him.

1 Cor. 15:1 Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand.

2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance : that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

Paul emphasizes that of first importance in sharing the gospel was that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, and that he was raised to life again on the third day. No matter what Christian denomination we are a member of, Protestant or Catholic, the lowest common denominator is our faith in the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

John Chapter 6 is a very comforting chapter for the believer in Jesus Christ. It covers several important events. Jesus feeds the 5000. Jesus walks on the water. Jesus is the bread of life. Finally, in verse 28, Jesus comes to another event.

Jesus is asked a very important question!

28 Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?"

29 Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent."

Our belief and trust in Jesus is extremely important to our Christian life. This faith is rewarded and we are given power by the Holy Spirit to live and follow Christ.

35 Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe.

37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

2 Peter 3: 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Roman 10: 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

John 1: 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only, who is at the Father's side, has made him known.

Romans 3: 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.

Romans 3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify.

22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference,

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

25 God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood.

Luke 18:15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.

16 But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.

17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

In Isaiah 55, God talks about how His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours. We do not have His intellect and knowledge. But we do have His promises in scripture that gives us encouragement in our lives. We can never know everything about him. He promises in verse 17, we simply trust in Jesus with a simple childlike faith.

President Teddy Roosevelt had written in the margin of his Bible - Micah 6:8.

8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.