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...Simple as that. Because if you can walk by faith, you’re going to live by faith, you’re going to act by faith. And if you’re going to believe in God, you’re going to be tried and tested, because this is a matter of salvation. In “manifold temptations.” So they will come. There were times when the apostle Paul felt total despair. But God was able to lift him up and give him faith and joy beyond it, because he saw beyond that. Because he had the kind of faith that we’re talking about here. That faith was made perfect.

1 Peter 1:7, “…That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth,...” Now a lot of us would really get excited if we had, right sitting before us here a huge, gigantic rock of solid gold. But do you get excited when you go through a trial and you have faith, and you see that God is seeing you through it, and God is there to help you, and God is there to be with you? What does it matter what the trial is? Maybe it’s sickness. Maybe it’s weakness. Maybe it’s other people. Maybe it’s persecution. Maybe it’s husband and wife problem. Maybe it’s parents and children problems. Maybe it’s neighbor problems. Maybe it - whatever the problem may be. Maybe it’s where you work. Maybe it’s for food that you need, or clothes, or all this sort of thing. Maybe it is that you can hardly endure to believe God and have faith in this world, that is absolutely so alien to God, that it’s incredible. And it’s hard for you to see that little flicker of God in your life. Well that’s when you really need to turn to God. Because your faith, being tried, is more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried in the fire. Why? “...[That it may] might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love;...” So there again, we have faith, and we have love, and we have hope. We have trials and we have difficulties. Let’s see a little bit more how this goes on and teaches us. “...In Whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (vs. 8). Now how can you do that? How can you, in trial and difficulty and tribulation, joy in God when you’re going through so much misery?

Well, let’s go to Hebrews 11 and we’ll get the answer. Here’s the kind of faith that you need for salvation. And this is the kind of faith that God wants you to have, that you grow in it. It’s His gift that comes to you through trying, through experience, through difficulties, through having to battle your own stupid, carnal, evil, human nature. And having to live in this rotten, wretched, miserable world. And, you know, many people say, “Oh, we live in such terrible times at the end here.” Listen - there is no time in human history that Satan hasn’t been around. There’s no time in human history where it really was “the good old days.” Human existence is the same. Did Jesus live in “the good old days”? Well, if He did, why was He crucified?

Ok, let’s go on. Hebrews 11. This is the important thing. Do you have faith, in spite of all the circumstances around you? And in your faith, what are you seeking? Are you seeking something? Some person? Some event? Some sign? Or are you seeking the person of God Himself? That’s the important thing. Faith must grow to where you are seeking the very person of God. Because to believe in Jesus means much more than we’ve understood.

Now here in Hebrews 11 we will see what this means. But the chapters were divided by men. So let’s back up two verses into Hebrews 10:38. “Now the just...” The “just” means the ones who have been justified by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. “...Shall live by faith:...” Now we’re going to see this again a little later in the book of Romans. “...But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.” But Paul goes on to write, “But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition;...” Now notice, if you draw back, and you read all of chapter 10 and all of chapter 11 and what people went through, how their faith was exercised and tried, and they didn’t pull back. So Paul says, “But we’re not of them that pulled back into perdition.” And if you pull back and cast your faith aside, where are you headed? You’re headed into the lake of fire, and you’re no different than the son of perdition, made for destruction. “...But of them that believe to the saving of the soul” (Heb. 10:38-39).

Now chapter 11:1. “Now faith is the substance...” It is the substance. Not just confidence. Confidence and conviction are true; but it is the substance. Now this table here is substance. It is made of something physical. Faith is the spiritual substance. You can’t see it, you can’t feel it, you can’t touch it. But it is there and you can exercise it. It is the substance by God’s Spirit. Of what? “...Of things hoped for [that you believe God], the evidence of things not seen.” And that’s what we have to have. We don’t see the end yet. But we have the evidence that we will be there, because of the faith that God has given, which is the gift of God. And that must grow, like we’re to grow in grace and knowledge; like we’re to grow through trials and temptations and difficulties. It is the substance. It is the evidence.

“For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God,...” (vs. 2-3). And now we’re able to see and comprehend so much more of the vast universe. I read an article the other day where they discovered, through the Hubble telescope, they discovered a bank of galaxies that they say is six trillion light years across. Now my little pea brain cannot comprehend that. And if that be so - because I asked the question, how do they know? And yet they can take a picture of it. That this vast universe, and the things we see around us were made of those things that are not seen. And we can have a little more proof of this. Whenever there is a solar flare, that is, where - you’ve seen pictures of this - where on the sun there’s a great huge explosion that sort of loops out around from the surface of the sun. And this radiates dust in small minute particles into the earth. And those particles are so small that they penetrate all the way through the earth. And they actually have instruments sensitive enough to measure those. Doesn’t that give us, even the physical evidence that the things which are made are made from the things which don’t appear? You can’t see it. “Which do not appear.”

Now let’s come to verse 6. Here’s the key and important verse. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him:...” There’s no way you’re going to please God without faith. Doesn’t matter what you do; it doesn’t matter what you build. Doesn’t matter how many people you feed, how many homeless you take care of; it does not matter how many, whatever you want to consider. If you don’t have faith you’re not going to please God. I just want to say something concerning the commandments of God. If you have faith, you will keep the commandments of God. But if you don’t have faith, then you’ll end up with a whole bunch of do’s and don’ts and regulations like the Jews have. They’ve worn the law to a frazzle, because they don’t have faith. And they don’t please God. So the kind of faith that pleases God comes from God, but you have a part in that, as we will see.

“...For he that cometh to God must believe...” And the word there for “must” there is “required.” Absolutely necessary. “...Must believe that He [God] is,...” That you believe that God exists. And there is nothing greater, and there is nothing truer, and there is nothing else worthy of worship in this world but God Who exists. And this is the kind of faith that we do need to grow in to salvation. Therefore, it doesn’t matter what men can do to you. It doesn’t matter what’s going on in the world, because you believe that God is. And that God is love, and that God is mercy, and that God is kindness. And that in spite of your circumstances, regardless of what it is, that God is greater than those circumstances. And if you’re going through a trial, or suffering, or temptation, or difficulty, know that God will deliver you from it. He has promised that He will. And even if you die in that, you’ve endured unto death believing. So, you’ve got it made. You will be in the resurrection. But you’ve got to have this kind of faith. You must believe that God is. Now if you believe that God is, then you can - there won’t be any room for doubt. Because that’s how you take these doubts and examine them, in the light of God’s word. And it is God, then, that you are seeking. And it is God, then, that you are after. You’re not after some thing, or some person, or prestige, or a name, or a title, or whatever. You are truly seeking God in your faith. Now that’s the kind of faith that is required for salvation.

“...Must believe that He [God] is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (vs. 6). You’ve got to have this diligent seeking after God. And that’s the kind of reaction that you’re going to have with faith. So therefore, then, you can believe under any circumstances that God’s way is right. The day is going to come, as it already has in the past, when people are going to be lined up and they are going to be asked to renounce God and take the mark of the beast, or lose your head. Now I’ll guarantee you one thing: if you don’t believe that God is, that God loves you, in spite of any circumstances, in spite of the fact they’re cutting off your head, or chopping off your hands, or whatever it may be, that God loves you and that your faith resides in God because He is. Now that’s the kind of faith that’s required for salvation.

Now let’s go to the book of Psalms. Let’s go to Psalm 42. And here’s the kind of attitude that we need to have. “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, O God.” That you are seeking God. It says there in Hebrews 11:6, “He who is coming to God must believe that He is, and is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (paraphrased). So here is a real diligence, seeking after God. Wanting God. And that’s why David was a man after God’s own heart. Because David was seeking God. Not something that God could give him. Not something that God could do for him, but God Himself. “My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God?” (Psa. 42:1-2). Tremendous. Fantastic.

Let’s go to Psalm 63:1. And this is the kind of faith that we need to grow to. Now if you find yourself, “Boy, I don’t have that kind of faith.” Well let me tell you - just take your Bible, you study it on your knees, you use it as a vehicle for prayer. You go through the book of Psalms; you ask God to help you in growing in faith. Because that faith must come from God. Ask God to bring you through whatever trial or temptation or difficulty that you are in. He will do it. Psalm 63:1, “O God, Thou art my God; early will I seek Thee: my soul thirsteth for Thee, my flesh longeth for Thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is; to see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee” (Psa. 63:1-3). Tremendous attitude that David had. Absolutely fantastic.

And what, then, is this going to do in our lives? And how is this going to be accomplished? Let’s go to Romans 1 and let’s see how this is to be done. And it’s something that in the Greek conveys a very profound meaning. And how then, can we exercise this faith? How then can we grow in this faith? Romans 1, and let’s pick it up here in verse 17. “For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Faith is then a way of life.

Now let’s go back and look at this phrase, “from faith to faith.” And this becomes very profound, I think, and very important. The little word “to” in the Greek comes from the word eis. Which in most cases means, “into.” So to live, it’s revealed from faith to faith, it is from the faith of God into you, and that faith back to God. So your belief, like it says, that you believe in God, and believe in Christ. That means into. It is a moving, profound, and deep spiritual thing. That it’s not just something that you have. But it is a moving, active, between you and God, kind of faith. Your faith to God, and God’s faith to you is His gift, and back to God. And it’s just like two-way circuitry, as we would liken unto electricity. And that is living faith. That’s how you can live by faith. And that is absolutely important, and there’s just nothing more profound than that: from faith into...(pause).

Now let’s see how this faith is from faith into faith. It’s an interacting, spiritual thing between you and Jesus Christ and God the Father. That’s why, brethren, never let any man interfere with your faith between you and God. Let’s go to Revelation 14. Let’s see something that is very profound. Revelation 14:10. And let’s finish answering the question, what kind of faith - and we can in this sense say, whose faith? Just yours? No, it has to come from God. Let’s see. Revelation 14:12. If I said verse 10, I’m sorry, it’s verse 12. “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Now what does it mean, “the faith of Jesus”? Does that mean you’re following the tenants that Jesus has given? Or does it mean something else? “The faith of Jesus.” Well, it actually means Jesus’ own faith.

Let’s go back to the book of Mark. Let’s go to chapter 11:12, and see what Jesus told us here. In Mark 11:12 He’s talking again about faith. The same thing that we covered, right where we started out about the cursing of the fig tree. They came by, saw it all withered, verse 22, “And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.” Now what does that mean, “Have faith in God”? Well, in the Greek it’s a little more. It means, “have the faith of God.” Or, “have God’s faith.” That’s why it is from faith into faith. It comes from God, as a gift of the Holy Spirit, which then, gives you faith, which is His gift, and it goes back to God, and back to you, and continues in this spiritual flow; which then, is the very faith of God, or, God’s own faith. That’s what kind of faith that is required for salvation. Not something that you can whip up. Not something that you have or possess alone. But something that has to come from God.

And what is this going to let you do? How are you going to, then, view your life? Let’s go to Galatians 2 and let’s see how this is going to affect our lives. And here again, it is the faith of Christ. Or, Christ’s very own faith. That’s how you live. Galatians 2:20, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me:...” Now if Christ is living in you, and Christ is living in me, whose faith do we have? We have God’s own faith in us. “...Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God,...” Or, by the Son of God’s very own faith. That’s how we live. That’s how we continue to live in the flesh. Regardless of the circumstances. Regardless of where we may be. Regardless of what may be happening all around us. You see, that’s why it becomes so very, very important.

Now let’s go to Romans 8, and we will see what this faith will do for us, and what this will activate in our lives, and then we’ll take it one step further. What is the last thing that we need to bond this all together in a whole converted package, if we could put it that way? Verse 30 - no, verse 31. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” Now let’s stop here and think about this statement, “If God be for us.” Let me ask you a question: did God call you? Yes. Did God give you His Holy Spirit upon repentance and baptism? Yes. Does God want you in His kingdom? Yes. How much does He want you in His kingdom? So much that He sent His own Son to be crucified and die and resurrected, so you could partake of God’s eternal spiritual life, and be born into the kingdom of God. “If God be for us.” Now I want you to understand this. Whenever there’s a difficulty that comes along, God is for you, in spite of the seeming difficulties and trials and circumstances that you may find yourself in. If God be for you, which He is, what can be against you? Can Satan be against you? No, He won’t succeed. Can circumstances be against you? No. It doesn’t even matter if you die in them, as long as you are in faith with God.

“He that spared not His Own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (vs. 32). Listen - the little difficulties we’re going through here now are nothing. They’re pipsqueak. They are nothing. “All things” means the whole universe. God is going to give us the kingdom of God. We have an inheritance that is absolutely incredible!

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justfieth. Who is he that condemneth [ridicules; criticizes]? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, Who is even at the right hand of God, Who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of [God] Christ?” (vs. 33-35). And this is what we must grow into. Not only have faith, not only have hope, but grow in that love of Christ. And there again, we can say, “Christ in us.” Christ’s love for God the Father. And Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments; and if you love Me you will keep My sayings” (John 14:15, 23, paraphrased).

“Who shall separate us from the love of [God] Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” This doesn’t sound like a very cheery, rosy, Christian life, does it? A little difficult, isn’t it? So what are your circumstances? I think most of us have had tribulation and distress and persecution. But none of us have been scrounging on the ground looking for a little crumb of bread, or nakedness, or peril, or sword. “As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long;...” And really, when you get down to the bottom line, what difference does it make if you are killed? Why should you fear what men can do to you? It is God who is going to resurrect you. It’s says, “...we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (vs. 35-39).

And that’s the kind of faith we need to have, rooted in that love. Let’s go to 1 Corinthians 13, the love chapter. And let’s see that not only do we have to have that kind of faith for salvation, but we’ve got to have the love of God, which then perfects this faith. It doesn’t matter about your abilities. It doesn’t matter about how great a person is, or what they can do, or any accomplishments that they have, or whatever. Because there isn’t one thing that you have or can do that God didn’t give you the means or the ability to do it one way or the other, even though you had your part in it.

1 Corinthians 13:1, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity [love], I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal [gong].” So all that knowledge is not worth anything unless it is the way of God. Now let’s continue on in verse 2. “And though I have the gift of prophecy,...” Be able to preach fantastic sermons; know the future, “...and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith [of yourself], so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity [love], I am nothing” (1 Cor. 13:1-2).

So there is the final qualifier that is there for the kind of faith we need. It doesn’t matter if you can remove mountains. If you don’t have love, then your faith is nothing. So the kind of faith that is required for salvation is the kind of faith that has the love of God behind it, that inspires you, that moves you; that you have that faith into faith, from God, and that love of God to you, shed abroad by the Holy Spirit, and in you going back to God. And that you truly, absolutely love God with all your heart, and with all your mind, and with all your soul, and all your being, and all of your strength. And if you have that with your faith, there is nothing that can be against you at all, whatsoever, period.

Now let’s finish off by going to Philippians 3, and let’s see how this faith is going to act in our lives, and the thing we need to look to and focus in on. And here the apostle Paul expressed it so clearly, and so vividly, and so right for us. Let’s pick it up in Philippians 3:7. “But what things were gain to me,...” It doesn’t matter what there is in this world. Whatever it is, what things were gain to him, he says, “...those I counted loss for Christ.” And he says, “Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord:...” Which means, His faith, His hope, His love, His Spirit, His life in you, in me, to God, back to us. “...And do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in Him,...” See, there it is. Seeking God Himself. “...Not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law [or through law], but that which is through the faith of [Jesus] Christ,...” (Phil. 3:7-9). Jesus’ very own faith in you. That’s the kind of faith that’s necessary for salvation. Then you can go through whatever difficulties or trials or tribulation, or whatever it may be. Because you know God loves you, God is for you, God has called you, God will see you through everything, and nothing can be against you whatsoever.

“And be found in Him [and that is, the righteousness which is of God by faith]… that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection,...” You’re looking forward to that resurrection and the very power of it. “...And the fellowship of His sufferings,...” (vs. 9-10). Paul said, “I wanted the fellowship of His suffering.” Because Paul persecuted the church and killed church members. So therefore he said he wanted that fellowship of the suffering of Christ. “...Being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after,...” And this is what this living faith will do. The faith for salvation is that we follow after. We always keep going God’s way, regardless. “...If that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (vs. 10-14).

And that’s the kind of faith that we need for salvation. And this is what the Bible teaches us. So let’s, through God’s Spirit, grow in that faith, and perfect it in the very love of God, that we can truly be in the kingdom of God and the sons of God.

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