Beech Tree News Network

 Faith is defined as: “firm persuasion; A conviction based upon hearing” (Vine’s, p. 411). Mr. Vine’s definition is based on what the apostle Paul said in Romans 10:17. Paul wrote, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Now that we know how to obtain faith, let us study the Bible and learn what we can do with faith once we have it.

            First, we can walk by faith. Paul wrote in II Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith and not by sight.”  How great it would be if we put this into practice! Friends, we are only going to walk by faith when we decide we are going to please God, and not ourselves. “We ought to obey God rather than men” is what the apostles said in Acts 5:29. This was a statement of faith as they affirmed they would obey the Lord even when commanded by men to disobey. In addition to this, the men and women in Hebrews 11 are examples of people who walked by faith and not by sight! Let us do the same and walk as those people did.

             II Peter 1:5-7 teach us that there are some things that we need to add to our faith. Of course, these things are not “poured” into a person. Every Christian must be working and continually adding to his faith. If a person is not doing this, he/she will be as the Hebrew Christians in Hebrews 5:12. There we read, “For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.” A person may have been a Christian for years, but if he has not been adding to his faith, he is not ready for the “meat” of God’s word (Heb. 5:13). Let us not be guilty of this. Rather, let us add to our faith.

             Rather than grow and add to their faith, there are some who will overthrow their faith! Sadly, this is something that is not new. The faith of some was overthrown in the first Century, just as it is overthrown today. The Bible says, “But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some” (II Tim. 2:16-18). We must be ever on our guard to make sure our faith is not overthrown by false doctrine. The only way we can combat this is by using the sword of the spirit (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12). Let us make sure our faith is not overthrown!

             Lastly, there are some who will shipwreck their faith. This happened to people Paul knew. Notice what is said in I Timothy 1:19-20, “Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”  Let us not shipwreck our faith, but walk in faith, and add to our faith as an obedient servant of Christ. In this way, we will equip ourselves for an eternity in Heaven with God!

 -- You are invited to visit with the Caneyville church of Christ. Times of services: Sun.: 10:00 am, 10:45 am, 5:00 pm; Wed.: 7:00 pm. Website: http://caneyvillechurchofchrist.com Tune in to our radio program 101.5 FM at 5:30 am, Mon-Fri. Questions? Call: (270) 589-4167