Stone 9
FAITH and HOPE
Opening Scripture:
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Genesis 15:5-6
5 Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.”
6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Romans 1:17
For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Faith
Faith is belief with strong conviction; firm belief in something for which there may be no tangible proof; complete trust in or devotion to. Faith is the opposite of doubt. Faith is possibly the single-most important element of the Christian life. Hebrews 11:6 declares, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him”
1) Faith defined
Hebrews 11:1
2) Faith comes and is displayed
Romans 10:17 and Galatians 5:6
3) Jesus
Hebrews 12:2, Galatians 2:16 and Galatians 3:26
4) Belief in action
Galatians 3:11, John 20:29, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Romans 1:17 and Luke 17:5-6
Justified
To be justified is to be made right with God. Our sin and its punishment are taken away, and God declares us to be righteous through Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus alone that we are in right relationship with God.
1) Saving faith (how)
Galatians 2:16, Galatians 3:11, Acts 16:30-31 and Romans 10:9-10
2) Justification and its result
Romans 5:1-2
3) God and His law
Romans 3:21-28
4) Justified living
Philippians 3:8-9, Ephesians 2:8, John 1:12 and John 3:16
Faithfulness
Faith is more than a one-time mental acknowledgment of who Jesus is and what He has done for us. God desires those who have been truly saved to continue to live by faith. God desires your faith to lead to faithfulness. Faithfulness is a life displayed by total obedience to God.
1) Action
James 2:17-20
2) You are called
Romans 1:5 and 1 John 5:1-5
3) Examples of faithfulness
Hebrews 11:4-40
Foundation
There are two truths about God that serve as foundations for our faith. To be men and women of faith we must hold on tightly to these two truths about God. 1) God is powerful, meaning He is able and has all ability. 2) God is faithful, meaning He will and He is willing to do.
1) God is powerful
Romans 4:18-21
2) God is faithful
Genesis 15:4-6 and Hebrews 11:11
3) Foundation in us
Matthew 17:20, Ephesians 6:16 and Mark 11:22-23
Hope
Faith and hope are closely related in the Bible. But biblical hope is much more than simply longing for something that might happen. Hope is a confident and assurance rooted in faith that God will do what He has promised to do.
1) Hope in God
Hebrews 11:6
2) Faith and hope connected
Hebrews 1:1
3) Hope
Hebrews 6:19 and 1 John 3:2-3
STUDY NOTES
1) How does faith express itself?
Galatians 5:6
2) What is the result of our justification?
Romans 5:1
3) Is just saying we believe in God enough?
James 2:19
4) Why couldn’t the disciples cast out a demon?
Matthew 17:20
