Faith... the cornerstone of our Christian life. It is the means by which we enter into salvation.
That is only the beginning. From that day forward, our faith, or the lack thereof, shapes our lives and decides what will happen to us when we come under pressure from the life which we live.
Some Christians never lose their foundation of faith no matter how hard the storms rage, while others are knocked down by the smallest wisp of air.
To understand this we need to study the source of our faith.
Inherited faith: Christian home, church raised, the beliefs of those in your early years.
Although this is a great faith foundation, each person has to take responsibility for their own beliefs.
Textbook faith: The Bible is the true guide for establishing our beliefs. But it is not the only source of influence. We also have other books, teachers, preachers, family and friends that feed our convictions. Our beliefs may be sound, but our head faith is just accepting the beliefs until we reach the trials of life.
Proven faith: When we trust the Lord through the trials of life, the fires, the rivers, the winds and the storms we will have faith that can stand. It is not based on what others have taught or told us, or what we accepted as truth, but on our own experience of God's faithfulness.
1 Peter 1:3-9
" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
That is only the beginning. From that day forward, our faith, or the lack thereof, shapes our lives and decides what will happen to us when we come under pressure from the life which we live.
Some Christians never lose their foundation of faith no matter how hard the storms rage, while others are knocked down by the smallest wisp of air.
To understand this we need to study the source of our faith.
Inherited faith: Christian home, church raised, the beliefs of those in your early years.
Although this is a great faith foundation, each person has to take responsibility for their own beliefs.
Textbook faith: The Bible is the true guide for establishing our beliefs. But it is not the only source of influence. We also have other books, teachers, preachers, family and friends that feed our convictions. Our beliefs may be sound, but our head faith is just accepting the beliefs until we reach the trials of life.
Proven faith: When we trust the Lord through the trials of life, the fires, the rivers, the winds and the storms we will have faith that can stand. It is not based on what others have taught or told us, or what we accepted as truth, but on our own experience of God's faithfulness.
1 Peter 1:3-9
" Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
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