TEACHING NOTES ‌ Introduction There are several words in the Bible that are so familiar to us that we think we know what these words mean. Words like faith, sin, and salvation seem like words we all know and understand. Then there’s words like holiness, justification, and sanctification that are less familiar to us. This series will focus on understanding the Bible’s definitions for these words. Today, we’ll focus on faith and see if our definition fits what the Bible actually says. ‌ Illustration: Vocabulary Test ‌ Today, we’re going to talk about faith—a very important word. ‌ How many have had a vocabulary test? ‌ Imagine sitting down with the test and deciding that you didn’t like the book’s definition for a word. So, you decide to change the definition to something else that made more sense to you. Would you pass or fail that test? ‌ That’s essentially what has happened with the word “faith.” ‌ Over time (1,500 yrs after the NT), the definition was changed. Around the time of the Protestant Reformation, Martin Luther began translating the Bible into German. In his translation of Romans 3:28 “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law” Luther added the word “alone” so it would read “one is justified by faith alone.” For Luther, faith was about belief and he created a false dichotomy between faith (belief) and works (actions). When Luther read James, which seemed to contradict his own ideas, he concluded that the book of James should be removed from the New Testament. ‌ Martin Luther’s definition of faith was limited to what you believe. And since the Reformation, the Protestant tradition adopted that definition. The result of changing the definition of faith is the modern idea that all we need for salvation is to believe the Gospel story. Say you believe = Salvation. ‌ Today, we’re going to get God’s definition of faith from His Word. ‌ We’ll start in Hebrews 11 and end up in James 2. ‌ Hebrews 11:1–3 ESV 1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. ‌ Faith = Grk. pistis - belief, trust, allegiance, faithfulness. Both inside and outside of the Bible pistis refers to allegiance and faithfulness. ‌ Modern readers often limit “faith” to a moment of belief. Jesus and the apostles taught that faith is more than merely believing a set of facts. Faith is a continual allegiance with obedience. This is why the apostle Paul called the Gospel “the obedience of faith” (Rom. 1:5; 16:26). Read it this way, “Now faithfulness is...” or “Allegiance to Jesus is...” ‌ Major Problem: The most popular method to “get people saved” is to tell them to pray a special prayer (not found in the Bible) and say you believe the Gospel. If you pray the prayer of “faith” then your ticket is punched to go to heaven. In that view, believing a story is all you have to do. Here’s one problem with that, “Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19). Clearly, simply believing isn’t all there is to following Jesus. ‌ If heaven is the point of the Gospel, then your life here doesn’t matter. ‌ Assurance of things hoped for = In Greek hypostasis means substance, confidence, or reality. Our allegiance or faithfulness to Jesus makes our hope a reality. What we hope for is not wishful thinking or a fairytale, but true reality. Saying a prayer one time won’t do that for you. ‌ Obedience makes our faith real. ‌ Conviction of things not seen = In Greek elechos means evidence, proof, or conviction. Our allegiance or faithfulness to Jesus is our evidence that our unseen God is real and active in our lives. Saying a prayer one time proves nothing. ‌ For by it (faith) people of old were commended = The Greek word for “commendation” here is martyreo, which is the word for testimony or witness. The people of old (Old Testament saints) left us a testimony or witness to what faith is. ‌ Hebrews 11 defines faith with examples of obedience: ‌- Abel offered a sacrifice (Heb. 11:4). ‌- Enoch pleased God (Heb. 11:5). ‌- Noah built an ark (Heb. 11:7). ‌- Abraham obeyed (Heb. 11:8, 17). ‌- Sarah trusted God (Heb. 11:11). - ‌Isaac blessed his sons (Heb. 11:20). ‌- Jacob blessed the sons of Joseph (Heb. 11:21). ‌- Joseph served God (Heb. 11:22). ‌- Moses obeyed (Heb. 11:23-28). ‌- The Israelites obeyed (Heb. 11:29). ‌- Those who disobeyed were cut off. ‌ Faith and obedience cannot be separated. ‌ Hebrews 11:6 ESV 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. ‌ Translation: Without faithfulness it is impossible to please God. ‌ Here’s what is meant by “faith”: ‌- Draw near to God (present, active tense) ‌- Believe (present, active, infinitive—noun & verb) ‌- Seek Him diligently (present, active tense) ‌ James gives us even more insight... ‌ James 2:14–17 ESV 14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ‌ Can that faith save him? = In other words, can the American version of faith save people? James is implying that the answer is “nope.” ‌ Faith by itself is dead = Faith that is merely belief without faithfulness is dead. Dead faith cannot save anyone. Works do not save either, but works are the evidence of faith. Obedience proves that you believe. ‌ James 2:18–19 ESV 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! ‌ I will show you my faith by my works = Obedience proves true faith. ‌ Even the demons believe and shudder = The demons believe more than we do. They know exactly who God is and what He can do—and they shudder. The problem with “faith by itself” is that you say that you believe, but you have no fear of God’s power. This means that people who say they believe but have no interest in being like Jesus are worse than the demons. ‌ James 2:20–22 ESV 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; ‌ Abraham justified by works = James is not saying that Abraham was good enough to make him right with God, but that Abraham’s actions proved his faithfulness to God. ‌ Faith was active along with his works = Faith and obedience work together and cannot be separated. True faith is followed by faithfulness. ‌ James 2:23–24 ESV 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. ‌ Abraham believed God = Or “Abraham was faithful [pisteuo] to God, and it was considered righteousness for him.” Abraham was counted as righteous not because he said that he believed, but because he was faithful to God by doing what God asked of him. ‌ Obedience is the evidence of real faith. ‌ A person is justified by works and not by faith alone = This is the line that Martin Luther hated, because it challenged his own opinion of salvation. Luther’s view was salvation by faith alone. James clearly states that we are not justified by faith alone, but by faith that is followed by obedience. ‌ John 3:36 ESV 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. ‌ Whoever is faithful in the Son has eternal life, whoever does not obey the Son does not have eternal life. ‌ Believing in Jesus is about obeying Jesus. ‌ Conclusion ‌Followers of Jesus (true Christians) believe and obey. God calls people, both in the Old and New Testaments, to be faithful. Jesus is not just our Savior, Jesus is also our Lord. Our allegiance is to Jesus alone, and our desire is to serve our King of Kings faithfully.