How can I strengthen my faith?
Question:
My faith is really low, and I feel empty. I pray as often as I can but I haven't been going to church for quite some time, but I'm going to start going this coming Sunday. My questions are:
- How do I strengthen my faith and form a strong relationship with God?
- I have been watching and hearing from friends about their "evidence" as to why Jesus is not God. I have been a Christian all of my life, but my faith now is low, especially since I turned 19. All of my friends are wondering away from the faith. Please show me explicit evidence from the Bible that states that Jesus is God.
- I was wondering, since Christianity is like a branch of Judaism why aren't we just Jews that believe in Christ (or are we)? i.e. Why don't we go to church on a Saturday instead of a Sunday since I cannot find a place that says to change the day of the Sabbath?
- I know it's supposed to be my own personal responsibility but can you please give me any tips (if there are any) on how to read the Bible efficiently and how to keep a consistent schedule?
I hope you see my questions and find the answers. I know you are busy and would like to thank you for even making a website that allows people all around to see other questions you have answered and give people the opportunity to ask questions.
May God bless you.
Answer:
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17).
If you wish to get physically stronger, you can't accomplish it by starving yourself. Your body needs food to maintain itself and strengthen itself. The same is true spiritually. You have put yourself on a starvation diet and then wonder why your faith is getting weaker.
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15).
Attendance at a faithful church that teaches the Scriptures accurately is essential for your spiritual growth. Yes, you can study on your own, but you will tend to stagnate because the only ideas you will hear are your own. "As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend" (Proverbs 27:17). Attending church services and Bible studies exposes you to ideas you had not thought of before, causing you to dig into the word of God and to grow.
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. ... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:1-3, 14).
See Jesus Is God for more on this topic. The only way you can conclude that Jesus is not God is to deny that the Bible is God's word.
Christianity is not a branch of Judaism. It is the replacement of Judaism. "Therefore, my brethren, you also have become dead to the law through the body of Christ, that you may be married to another -- to Him who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God" (Romans 7:4).
"He takes away the first that He may establish the second" (Hebrews 10:9).
See Why We Don't Follow the Old Testament for more on this topic. In regards to the Sabbath, see: Sabbath Keeping and Answering the Sabbath Observance.
Regarding personal study, see: How can we do better at studying the Scriptures?
Response:
Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my questions. I shall look through the links and feed my faith. Thank you once again and may God bless you.
