Faith

  • Proving Our Faith

    Isaiah 58

    Our good works do not get us into the kingdom of God, but they do evidence the authenticity of our faith. We cannot rely in any way whatsoever on these works if we want to see God, but if we ...Read More

  • Worthless Egypt

    Isaiah 30:1–7

    For Judah, trusting in Egypt was foolhardy as well as sinful. Egypt could provide no real help, for it was a shadow of its former self. Poetically, Isaiah describes Egypt as the normally terrifying sea monster Rahab who has been ...Read More

  • Depending on the Lord

    Isaiah 66:1–2

    Christian growth comes as we learn more and more what it means to depend absolutely on God. Our Lord, since He is a jealous God, will not put up with His people not depending fully on Him. Thus, He will ...Read More

  • Praying in Faith

    James 1:5–8

    Many people today believe that Jesus promises them a high-paying job, a big house, health, and other physical blessings. They presume upon God’s grace, naming and claiming such things as their own. Yet while we may certainly ask for ...Read More

  • Faith and the Law

    Hebrews 11:6

    We have a duty to do what is good, which means that we have a duty to do the right things for the right reasons. Although we should do right even when we are not motivated by faith and God ...Read More

  • God’s Gift of Faith

    Ephesians 2:8

    If we believe that we are capable of working up faith in our souls, we cannot boast in Christ alone. But if we understand that we have faith only because of the work of the Holy Spirit, then we can ...Read More

  • The Lordship of Christ

    Romans 10:9

    None of the Apostles ever conceived of separating Jesus’ work as Savior from His lordship over the lives of His people. To believe one can be saved without serving Jesus as Lord is to give both ourselves and others a ...Read More

  • Faith and Repentance

    Luke 18:9–14

    Repentance is serious business, but it is required only when actual sin has been committed. Knowing the difference between true sin and what others falsely assume to be sin demands the faithful study of Scripture. So, we should read God ...Read More

  • Three Aspects of Faith

    Romans 10:14–17

    Saving faith is not a cold, empty rationalism that simply gives intellectual assent to facts. At the same time, it is not a blind entrusting of ourselves into the hands of someone else. Instead, it is a warm, intellectually vital ...Read More

  • Christ Our Righteousness

    1 Corinthians 1:30–31

    Jesus is the only human being who has ever had perfect faith in God. The faith the Lord demands from us is real faith, not perfect faith, and faith can be real even if it is imperfect. Still, we are ...Read More

  • For Abraham’s Sake and Ours

    Romans 4:22–25

    As sinners, we regularly overlook the faults and transgressions of others. We know that no sinner is perfect, and so we are often willing to give people a pass when they do the very same misdeeds of which we ourselves ...Read More

  • Not by Works of the Law

    Galatians 2:15–16

    We see people doing good things every day — loving their children, caring for elderly parents, giving money to cancer research, and so on. Nevertheless, even the best deeds of sinners are insufficient in God’s sight. Even if unregenerate people ...Read More

  • Righteousness and Life

    John 3:36

    When we believe in Jesus alone, we are immediately granted the gift of eternal life. There is nothing else we need to do in order to receive this life, and if we think that we must do good works in ...Read More

  • Goodness and Faith

    Psalm 37:3

    We will continue to sin until we are in the direct presence of God, so there will always be occasions when we disbelieve the Lord and transgress His law. Our need for perfection has been met in Christ, and He ...Read More

  • Augustine on Faith and Reason Part II

    Romans 1:18–32

    Faith and reason work in a reciprocal manner. Believing in God, we see new vistas of truth. As we reason through these vistas, our belief in God is further confirmed. We believe in order to understand because, like Paul and ...Read More