Faithfulness

Lesson 4

The word for faith in the Greek is "pistis". It means, "firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing (the Word of God), is used in the N.T. always of faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual."*

Faith Comes By Hearing

Notice within the meaning of the word "faith" is the phrase "based upon hearing the Word of God". This is a very important phrase. An important scripture that proves this and one to keep in mind always is Romans 10:17: "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Therefore faithfulness means adhering closely to what one hears/reads in the Word of God.  

To get a better understanding of faithfulness, let’s examine the faith" chapter of the N.T. Hebrews 11.

Abel

A More Excellent Sacrifice

First, we will consider Abel in Hebrews 11:4. By faith, Abel, offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts, and through it he being dead still speaks.

I John 3:12 says that Cain murdered Abel "because his works were evil and his brother’s were righteous." Please read the account of the story of Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:2-12.

This narrative will require a little exercise in understanding "goodness" which we studied in the previous lesson. This is one of those stories that just doesn’t seem fair. You don’t want to admit it, but you think God is too harsh.

Faith Comes By Hearing

A better understanding of the relationship God had with Cain and Abel comes when you consider again the verse that is very important to remember, Romans 10:17, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God."

Remember, even the meaning of "faith" is based upon hearing the Word of God. This means that Abel heard something and acted upon what he heard "by faith". Cain heard the same thing and did not have faith; God calls his works, evil. He chose not to obey. God hates disobedience. There is an important lesson here for us to learn.

Vain Worship

Did Cain believe that God existed? Obviously. Why else would he be  "offering of the fruit of the ground to the Lord"?  This is the first recorded instance of "vain worship": setting aside the commandments of God to do our own will or the will of some other person.

1. And in _____ they worship Me, Teaching as __________ the commandments of men.' "(Matt.15:9).

Yes, Cain believed in God. This proves that faith is more than just believing in God.

2. "Thus also faith by _____, if it does not have works, is dead, But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works" Show me your faith without your ______, and I will show you my _______ by my works. You believe that there is ____ God. You do well. Even the ________ believe-and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that _____ without ________ is _______?" (James 2:17-20)

Abel had faith. He showed it by his works. He did exactly as God said. He did not substitute or add or subtract anything. He simply did what God said to do by faith.

3. What do we learn about faith in Hebrew 11:1?

4. What 2 principles about faith do we learn in Hebrews 11:6?

Noah

To get a better understanding of the man, Noah, read Genesis 6-9. Noah is listed with the faithful in Hebrews.

5. By faith Noah, being _______ warned of things not yet _____, moved with _____ fear, prepared an ark for the ______ of his household, by which he __________ the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to __________. (Heb. 11:7)

Does It Really Matter?

Considering the lesson we learned about Cain and how God called his works evil when all Cain did was substitute his vegetables for an animal sacrifice, do you think God would have been pleased if Noah had made the ark out of pine instead of gopher wood?

6. How about if Noah had put in many windows instead of one as God commanded? What application can we make to our own faith from this?

7. Research Question: (Give chapter and verse) . Who was called by the name "Faithful".

A Land That I Will Show You

The command, "Get out of your country to a land I will show you" is not remarkable by itself. In fact if it were spoken by some land developer in a TV commercial, we might regard it with skepticism and scorn.

I remember when I was a child, a man approached my Uncle and Aunt with a "too good to be true" land deal in Florida. They bought it and it turned out to be a scam. Therefore to hear the statement, "Get out of your country to a land I will show you", out of the context of scripture might always bring to my mind, the experience of my Uncle and Aunt.

God’s Authority Changes The Significance Of Words

That sentence changes completely when it is spoken by God. Words, even this statement, become Holy when spoken by God. It is God’s authority that changes these words completely. These very words spoken to Abraham, were received and acted upon because of faith and trust in that authority.

Holy Words Of God

Today, people view the Holy words of God as being no more remarkable than words spoken by an unethical realtor. There is no respect for the authority by which God’s words were spoken. All the words of the New Testament become Holy words because they are from God.

\Because God Said So

"Because God said so" directs every thought and action of a true Christian.

8. And whatever you do in ______ or _____, do all in the _______ of the Lord Jesus, giving _______ to God the Father __________ Him. (Col.3:17)

Disregarding the words of an unethical realtor causes very different consequences than disregarding the Words of God. In fact, disregarding the dishonest realtor will cause us to escape financial loss. Disregarding the Words of God will cause eternal damnation of the soul. While the world regards the words of both with equal value, a faithful Christian with godly fear understands the difference.

9. How do we get faith? (Rom.10:17)

10. To what kind of men did the Apostle Paul tell Timothy to commit the doctrine he had received? (II Tim.2:2)

11. What admonition was given to the church in Smyrna? (Rev.2:10)

12. According to James 2:17, what is faith without works?

13. James said, "I will show you my faith by my _______." (James 2:18)

14. James 2:22 says, "Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?" To what was that question in reference?

15. You see then that a man is ___________ by works, and not by __________ only. (James 2:24)

16. The ___________ and tremble. ( James 2:19)

17. Be _______ of the word, and not ________ only. (James 1:22)

18. But he who looks into the ________ _____________ of _______________ and continues in it, and is not a ______________ hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. (James 1:25)

19. For as the body without the spirit is ________, so _______ without works is __________. (James 2:26)

20. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the __________ of your _________ produces ___________. (James 1:2,3)

Six Faithful Men

21. Research Question: In Hebrews 11:32, you will find a list of 6 men who were faithful to God. Tell who they were and something each one did that proved their faithfulness.

Eighteen Acts Of Courage And Faithfulness

22. Hebrew 11:33-38 lists some things God’s faithful in the Old Testament did that showed their great faith. I counted 18 acts of courage and faithfulness. Please list them:

Concerning our faith, I hope that when we reach the end of our journey here on earth we will all be able to say as did the beloved Apostle Paul, "I have fought the fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing." (II Tim. 4:7-8)

*Vines’s Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words