FAITH - THE FOUNDATION OF IT ALL

FAITH, THE VERY FOUNDATION

Without faith it is impossible to please God. Faith is the very foundation for our salvation. No one can be saved without faith in Christ, that He is the Son of God. This is why Jesus said to Peter, "On this rock, I will build my church" Faith is not the only requirement for salvation, as the scriptures make so very clear, but without it, there is no hope. There must be a beginning place that results in action. This is faith.

1. Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
A. Is "faith" something that we gain through pleading for it as at the "mourner’s bench"?
B. How does this scripture say that we gain "faith"?
C. What must we hear to gain faith?
D. So what is its source ultimately?

2. John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me."
A. What is our faith to be based in?
B. How does this scripture say that we gain "faith"?
C. Who then, is the "me" in reference to?
D. Our faith is in Christ the Son of God.

3. John 11:25 "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me shall never die.
Believest thou this?
A. Whose "resurrection" is Jesus speaking of here? (See verse 25)
B. How shall the Christian "never die?"
C. In what sense is this true. (Remember, death is a separation.)
D. Martha’s confession of faith in verse 27 is the same confession of faith all Christians are asked to make before their baptism. How is it worded?
E. Ask yourself: Do you believe this?

4. John 5:24 "He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life,"
A. What must we hear?
B. Is hearing alone enough?
C. What must we believe?
D. In what sense does one pass from "death to life"?

5. John 3:15 "That whosoever believeth in him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
A. Is there any limit to how many can believe?
B. In what must they believe?
C. What is the result of obedient belief?

6. Matthew 16:16 How did Peter state this faith? "And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art he Christ, the Son of the living God."
7. John 11:27 "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world."
A. Is this confession word for word the same in every place?
B. What is the same in every place?
C. What did Martha mean when she added, "which should come unto the world."?

8. Mark 16:16 What are Christ's promises to those who believe and obey? - "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved."
A. What caution does he add in the latter part of the verse? "But he that believeth not shall be damned."
B. Why does he not mention baptism in the second half?
C. If failure to believe will bring condemnation, what about baptism without belief?
D. "Believe" and "baptism" are linked by "and", therefore they are of equal importance.

9. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
A. Is God’s love limited?
B. Does His promise have limitations?
C. What does He promise to those who believe?

10. John 3:18 "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
A. Why does God not condemn the one who does not believe? (He is condemned already.)
B. Then who has condemned him? (Himself)

11. John 12:46 "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."
A. Why does this verse say our Lord came to the world?
B. Another verse says, "men loved darkness rather than light." Why?
C. Who, then condemns them?
D. Read verse 47 and tell why Jesus came to the world. Did he come to judge and condemn people?
E. Why did he say he came?

12. John 20:31 "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."
A. Why does John say he wrote this gospel?
B. Is there any other name that can save us?

13. Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God?
A.....................................................................................