Posts Tagged ‘faith’
The “Name” of Jesus
by David Smitherman via Plain Talk, July 1983 Jesus has a “name” that is above every other name (Ephesians 1:21; Philippians 2:9) but that “name” is not just an arrangement of letters to spell that word: J-E-S-U-S is not this name. It is much more than a title or designation. In Scripture, “name” is often equivalent…
Read MoreFaith and Works (Scott)
by Carey Scott Many people reject the idea that these two words should be found in the same context. The reason is that while we need faith to receive God’s blessings and approval, we also realize that God’s grace is what saves us instead of works. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 2 that we…
Read MoreThe Courage to Start
“Nothing will ever be attempted, if all possible objections must first be overcome.” Lord Philip Dormer Stanhope Chesterfield “Now the LORD had said to Abram: “Get out of your country, From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will…
Read MorePerfect Love Casts Out Fear
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/PerfectLoveCastsOutFear.mp3 by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: I John 4:17-21 I. Fear is an instinctive emotion A. It arises from a need to preserve ourselves, to keep us protected. 1. Fears of job loss, serious illness, difficult problems may each cause us to fear. 2. We don’t fear when we don’t perceive a danger II. Fear of the Unknown A. It…
Read MoreIf you’re praying for something and believe you have received it, what if it’s not what God wants?
Question: I’m curious to know about some Bible verses I’ve heard. Well, I heard a Bible verse that said something like: “Therefore, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe you have received it, and it will be yours” The thing I don’t understand is, is that people say God wants what is best for you.…
Read MoreDid Peter always believe that Jesus was the Christ?
Question: Did Peter always believe that Jesus was the Christ? Answer: Peter first met Jesus because his brother told him that they had found the Messiah (John 1:41-42). We are not told if Peter was immediately convinced or not, but we do know that Peter became a staunch follower of Jesus. It was Peter who…
Read MoreThe Harmony of the Scriptures
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Proverbs 30:2-9 I. The denominational world has long debated the relationship of faith, works, and grace in man’s salvation. A. Some argue that salvation is by faith alone while others argue the necessity of works. Some turn their attention to grace and argue that grace alone saves men. B. The problem has…
Read MoreQuestions about James 2
Question: Alright, I read the two links you had for me, and they cleared a lot up. I read the second chapter and by what I can understand, the first part talks about following the law completely, and not just following one and leaving the other, because even if you follow all but one, you are…
Read MoreDid the woman at the well change her life?
Question: Did the woman at the well make a change in her life, and if so what kind of change did she make? Answer: After the incidence at the well, we are told, “From that city many of the Samaritans believed in him because of the word of the woman, who testified, “He told me…
Read MoreWhere Is Your Faith?
by J. F. Dancer Have you ever asked yourself this question? We all assume that our faith is in God, but it may not be so! Paul said that when he came to Corinth he was careful to preach God’s word in a plain and simple manner so the faith of the Corinthians would stand…
Read MoreDid Hophni and Phinehas believe in God?
Question: Did Hophni and Phinehas believe in God? Answer: Hophni and Phinehas were two sons of Eli, the high priest of God (I Samuel 1:3). They served as priests at the tabernacle. But despite their position, they were wicked. “Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and…
Read MoreWhere does the Bible say that some believed, but would not follow?
Question: I have been trying to find, without luck, the verse that talks about people believing but still not following God. I think it was the Pharisees in Acts. I just remember reading a passage and I was wondering if you knew of it. I am using word searches but no luck yet. Answer: I…
Read MoreWhy won’t God heal amputees?
Question: Why won’t God heal amputees? After all, Jesus said, “If you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:14). Why doesn’t Jesus appear to us? Answer: The questions remind me of an event in the Gospels that we just studied last night. “Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him…
Read MoreHow can I be assured God will forgive me?
Question: I am so tormented with the fear of the sin against the Holy Spirit. When I read the Scripture, it says “blaspheme” which is to “speak.” How can one change that to “reject?” How can I be assured that God will forgive me of any and every sin? I am a Christian in the…
Read MoreInterpretation Versus Belief
by Phillip Owens via The Elgin Hills Examiner, Vol. 1, No. 5, May, 2006. “Interpreters” explain or give the meaning of words from one language to another language. No one would knowingly say of a competent interpreter, “Well, that’s just his interpretation,” meaning that his translation is only an opinion, has no solid basis to…
Read MoreWhose idea what it to send spies into Canaan?
Question: One of our members came to me following our class last evening disagreeing with the answer I gave to the question, “Whose idea was it to send spies into the land of Canaan?” She believes it was the people’s idea not God’s. I have studied it more and come up with the following. If you…
Read MoreWhat saved Joshua and Caleb?
Question: While teaching then the book of Numbers last evening all went pretty well until we arrived at chapter 14. The question was asked: “Apparently, what saved Joshua and Caleb?” I said that it was Moses because he was their mediator and interceded for the people. Several in the class disagreed and said it was…
Read MoreLetting Go of Sin
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: II Peter 3:1-14 I. “Will God forgive me?” A. It is a question that I have been getting over and over again. B. People of all ages from teens to adults caught up in sin and now that they realize the error of their past and turn from it, they wonder if…
Read MoreIs it too simple to say we are to believe and we will be saved by God’s grace?
Question: I’m concerned that purgatory does not exist in the Bible. I believe that imaginary doctrine can be changed, as has the belief of Limbo, with innocent newborn babies, who have died prior to baptism, no longer going to Limbo. I always thought that God has told us to believe in Him and we will…
Read MoreThe Valley of the Shadow of Death
by Earl Kimbrough Via Guardian of Truth XXXII: 17, pp. 534-535, September 1, 1988 The beautiful twenty-third Psalm is a song of faith. It abounds with an assurance of God’s guidance and protection. There is mention of the danger of enemies, both past and present, but it is muted by David’s trust in the perpetual presence…
Read MoreHow does one know if he has faith in God?
Question: I have this question: how does one know if he has faith in God or not? For example, I find it hard to talk to people who fought with me, but not all people. Some I talk to without fear that they might yell at me and they forgive me. With a few, I…
Read MoreHow can I grow my faith in God?
Question: How can I grow my faith in God? I feel I’m a bad person because I know that Jesus died for us, but I still sin. I know that God forgave me, but when I look back I think that I have been really bad and I feel very sorry for it. What is…
Read MorePartial Faith Is Satan’s Victory
by Carey Scott “A major survey by the Pew Research Center’s Forum on Religion & Public Life finds that most Americans have a non-dogmatic approach to faith. A majority of those who are affiliated with a religion, for instance, do not believe their religion is the only way to salvation. And almost the same number…
Read MoreThe Obedience of Faith
by Steve Dewhirst via Gospel Power, Vol. 12, No. 17, April 24, 2005. How odd, that one of the Bible’s most fundamental teachings should have become so puzzling to folks. God is not the author of confusion, but man is. And during the centuries since Jesus walked the earth, the very nature of the faith…
Read MoreA Lesson from Noah
by Art Driedger III Many today scoff at the story of Noah’s ark, doubting that there was ever a flood that covered the whole earth. Well, I must admit that it is an amazing story because the flood was catastrophic. Of course, for practical purposes, the only evidence for the flood is found in the…
Read MoreDoes One Have a Right to His Own Belief?
by Eugene W. Clevenger via The Preceptor, Vol. 1, No. 6, April 1952. A question that we often hear asked is, Does every person have a right to his own belief? I cannot answer that question honestly and completely with a simple “Yes” or “No”, because to me the answer is both “Yes” and “No.” Looking…
Read MoreHow Did Jericho Fall?
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: Joshua 6:6-20 I. The record of the fall of Jericho is familiar to many people. A. It was an impressive victory for the people of Israel who had recently entered the land. B. Despite the fact that the city was heavily fortified – Joshua 6:1 C. It was completely destroyed – Joshua 6:21…
Read MoreNotes on Belief
Mark 16:15-16 John 3:15-16 John 5:24 John 6:29 John 8:24 John 12:42 John 12:46-48 John 20:30-31 Acts 16:31 Acts 18:8 Romans 1:17 Romans 16:26 Galatians 5:6 Hebrews 11:1 Hebrews 11:6 James 2:19 James 2:24 You can have faith without salvation John 8:28-37 – Among those who believed were people who wanted Jesus dead John 12:42-50…
Read MoreNotes on Faith
Definitions Vines Primarily firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing. Websters Unquestioning belief Importance We cannot please God without faith. Hebrews 11:6; Luke 17:5 Faith is connected to salvation. Mark 16:16; Ephesians 2:8-9 Christians live by faith. Romans 1:16-17; II Corinthians. 5:7; I Timothy 6:12 Paul said some would depart from the faith. I Timothy…
Read MoreAt What Point Does Faith Save?
by Richie Thetford Many denominations will have us believe that we are saved by faith before we do the action in accordance with God’s command. No doubt you have seen those on television attending a huge denominational service who are invited to come forward at the conclusion of the service and simply say that they believe…
Read MoreHow can I make my parents’ faith my own?
Question: How can I test my faith to change my inherited faith from my parents to a faith of my own? Answer: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? — unless indeed you are disqualified” (II Corinthians 13:5). The…
Read MoreWhat Must I Do to be Saved? (Walker)
by Wayne S. Walker Of all the questions asked … Where did I come from? Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? The most important question ever asked was: “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30) In the sixteenth chapter of the book of Acts, the apostle Paul…
Read MoreSince teaching is a work, then it doesn’t save. Right?
Question: Telling others about Christ is a work. “For by grace we are saved through faith, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast ” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Answer: There was a branch of the Baptist denomination that fully accepted the idea that being saved was entirely a work of God…
Read MoreHow does obedience relate to saving faith?
Question: How does obedience relate to saving faith? Answer: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and…
Read MoreTrials of Life (Sermon)
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton I. God knows the hearts of men A. I Samuel 16:7 “The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” B. Luke 16:15 “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your…
Read MoreWhy Believe in the God of the Bible?
Billy B. Norris via Gospel Guide, Nov. 1995 One may be a believer in the One God; an atheist, a disbeliever in any god; or a heathen, a believer in many gods. Let’s examine each of these positions: Heathenism In its plural number of gods, heathenism is confusing and divisive. As a young man, Solomon…
Read MoreWhy didn’t the Jews believe Jesus?
Question: Why didn’t the Jews believe Jesus? Answer: It is a curious thing, is it not, that the Son of God came to live among men (John 1:14), and yet he is rejected by the very people who had been expecting his arrival for thousands of years. “He was in the world, and the world…
Read MoreCan a person be a believer and not be saved?
Question: What biblical reference is there that uses the word “believer” and says that person isn’t saved? Answer: The term “believer” is frequently used to refer to those had entered the kingdom of the Lord. For example, “And believers were increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women” (Acts 5:14). (See also Acts…
Read MoreSuperficial Faith
by Dan Chambers Last Sunday, as most of you probably know, I was in Marietta, Georgia doing a seminar on “Worship” at the Piedmont Road congregation. That morning, before we left the hotel and headed to the building, I went to the hotel lobby to eat breakfast. I was stunned and heartbroken by what I…
Read MoreDo you believe that baptism could be linked to grace?
Question: Do you believe that baptism could be linked to grace? Answer: In the Bible, grace is the concept of a freely given gift; a gift that the recipient has not earned nor has necessarily deserved to receive. God’s gift to mankind was the life of His own Son. “For God so loved the world…
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