Christian Faith

Faith of the sons of the Kingdom

Regarding faith, the Bible says the following.

Heb 11:1
1 Faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for, the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.

So, faith is based on the obvious argument of an invisible reality.
The human eye cannot see God.
Nevertheless, as Paul explains, we have evidence of God's invisible existence.

Ro 1:20
１ For his invisible [qualities] are clearly seen from the world's creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable;

In the case of God's spirit children, they can see God.
But they cannot see or know God's thoughts unless He tells them.

Therefore, what Paul said in Romans 1:20 applies directly to the angels also.
Angels, too, can know and see the thoughts of God, so to speak, through the revealed works and words of God.

Therefore, through hundreds of millions of years of friendship with God, those spirit children of God have come to know the truthfulness of God and His loving purpose for His children.

So an angel, who doubted God's truthfulness and became Satan (opposer) himself, has no excuse for his lack of faith.

God's thoughts are known by what He has told us, that is, by His Word.
We can see that it is all true and loving.

There is no falsehood in God.
Therefore, we believe God's promises (His Word).
This is the faith that all God's children in heaven and on earth are expected to cultivate.

Abraham expressed that kind of faith.
He believed God's promise concerning his son Isaac.

Ro 4:18-22
18 Although beyond hope, yet based on hope he had faith, that he might become the father of many nations in accord with what had been said: "So your seed will be." 19 And, although he did not grow weak in faith, he considered his own body, now already deadened, as he was about one hundred years old, also the deadness of the womb of Sarah. 20 But because of the promise of God he did not waver in a lack of faith, but became powerful by his faith, giving God glory 21 and being fully convinced that what he had promised he was also able to do. 22 Hence "it was counted to him as righteousness."

Heb 11:17-19
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, as good as offered up Isaac, and the man that had gladly received the promises attempted to offer up [his] only-begotten [son], 18 although it had been said to him: "What will be called 'your seed' will be through Isaac." 19 But he reckoned that God was able to raise him up even from the dead; and from there he did receive him also in an illustrative way.

Abraham put his faith in God's truthfulness (the power and willingness to keep His promises) based on God's promises.

We, too, are expected to cultivate that kind of faith as Abraham's seed.
Therefore, for the believer who has accepted Christ, God's promises, or words, have a very special meaning.

By it, that is, by the power of God's Word, we reason and act.

1Th 2:13
13 Indeed, that is why we also thank God incessantly, because when YOU received God's word, which YOU heard from us, YOU accepted it, not as the word of men, but, just as it truthfully is, as the word of God, which is also at work in YOU believers.

Ro 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the good news; it is, in fact, God's power for salvation to everyone having faith, to the Jew first and also to the Greek;

1Co 1:22-24
22 For both the Jews ask for signs and the Greeks look for wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ impaled, to the Jews a cause for stumbling but to the nations foolishness; 24 however, to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.

Therefore, our faith is not based on signs or worldly wisdom.
Our faith is based on the stories about Christ recorded in the Bible by a loving God.
And faith in Christ never leads to disappointment.

1Pe 2:6
6 For it is contained in Scripture: "Look! I am laying in Zion a stone, chosen, a foundation cornerstone, precious; and no one exercising faith in it will by any means come to disappointment."

If your faith is not in Christ, but in a religious organization like the Watchtower Society, then you will hear Jesus' next words.

Mt 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?' 23 And yet then I will confess to them: I never knew YOU! Get away from me, YOU workers of lawlessness.

The Christian's faith depends on the story about Christ, the promised seed.
That promise is recorded in the Bible.

It is also passed on throughout the world as good tidings.

There is no one in the world who does not know Jesus Christ.
Everyone celebrates Christmas without knowing what it means.

In every way, the good news of Christ is being preached.
Some who have been exposed to the story of Christ may purchase and read the Bible.
For some, it will be the first step in their faith in God.

Thus, the Christian's faith is based on the Word of God, the Bible, and especially on good news about Christ.
Today, the opportunity to become a member of the kingdom heirs of the promised seed is being offered, not by miraculous gifts as was the case when Christian congregations were born in the first century AD, but by the work of the Spirit from the inspired Book completed in the first century.

Being chosen as sons of the Kingdom depends more on understanding the unseen reality of God's promise about seed than on any particular emotional experience.

No special sign is required.

Those who are born again by the Spirit are not special people.
It is not a special experience or anything like that.
It is the result of faith in the Word of God.

If you are expecting some special experience, you may want to examine the quality of your faith.

Thomas could not believe in the resurrection of Jesus.
He said he would not believe unless he saw the resurrected Jesus.
Jesus appeared to Thomas and helped him to believe according to the quality of his faith.
At that time, Jesus made a very important point.

Joh 20:29
29 Jesus said to him: "Because you have seen me have you believed? Happy are those who do not see and yet believe."

Faith is the evident demonstration of invisible realities.
There is no need to expect special experiences or feelings all the time.

1Pe 1:8-9
8 Though YOU never saw him, YOU love him. Though YOU are not looking upon him at present, yet YOU exercise faith in him and are greatly rejoicing with an unspeakable and glorified joy, 9 as YOU receive the end of YOUR faith, the salvation of YOUR souls.

summary

• Faith is the evident demonstration of realities though not beheld.
• Christian faith is based on the Bible.
• People will have faith in the good news about Christ, and become heirs of the Kingdom of the promised seed.
• It is the result of faith in God's promises, not due to miraculous manifestation.
• There is no room for human-made religious organizations in one's faith in God's promises.