Foundations, Part 2 - Faith Towards God

Hebrews 6:1-3 "Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgement. And this we will do if God permits."

Now that we've already looked at what it means to "repent from dead works", let's move on to the foundation of "faith toward God." The reality is, these are two parts to the same teaching. Turning from a dead work and putting your faith in God is actually the same action.

Now, we can't go back and cover all the teachings on faith in this one post. But it's important for you to have this basic understanding: Everything you do now MUST be done in faith.

Saved through Faith

Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."

In the same way that you're washed by water that flows through a shower-head: you have been saved by grace through faith. When you believed in Jesus' death and resurrection, that faith connected you to Him and allowed grace to flow into your life. This grace that came through faith saved you.

How did that work? What brought about that salvation?

1 - The Word came in your ears as you heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ...hearing this message is the way that God gave you faith. (The Bible says that "faith comes by hearing".)

2 - That Word went down into your heart and you chose to believe it. You believed what you were told about Jesus' sacrificial death, His resurrection, and His offer of forgiveness.

3 - Then this newfound faith came out of your mouth as you confessed Him to be your Lord.

This process can be seen in Romans 10:8-10

"But what does it [the Word] say? 'The Word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart.' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

This is how you were saved! You heard. You believed. You spoke.

When that confession was made - "Jesus is my Lord!" - you connected to God, and grace brought you salvation.

Continuing In Faith

Colossians 2:6 "As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him..."

This is a huge statement!

How did you receive Christ? ("By grace through faith")

Now how are you supposed to walk with Him? The same way!

How many believers get saved by grace through faith...and then try to live out the rest of their lives on their own efforts? They think that somehow they'll earn points with God as they "do their best" to obey the Bible's commands. But thank God this is not how we live anymore! 

"The just shall live by faith..." (Habakkuk 2:4, Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38)

Now that you've been brought into the Kingdom of God, you've got to learn how things are done in this kingdom. And the only way you can serve God effectively is by faith.

How do you live by faith?

You simply believe what the Bible says! You trust that God's commands carry in them the power to obey. Think about the paralytic that Jesus told to get up...how could he do that? Because he had faith in the command. It's the same way Lazarus came out of the grave. It's the same way Peter walked on water. And it's also the same way the woman caught in adultery went her way and "sinned no more".

All of this was done by grace through faith. Grace and faith turn what was once a burdensome command into a promise of power to obey. 

"Love one another." - OK God, I believe Your command carries the power to obey. So I believe I WILL love my fellow believers!

"Don't let this Book depart from your eyes." - OK, I believe that I will continue reading God's Word! In fact, I receive the hunger to read it more and more!

"Don't commit adultery." - OK, I believe and receive the power to obey God in this. I WILL not commit adultery...not with my hands, not with my eyes, and not in my heart!

"Give and it will be given to you." - Yes sir! I love to give...and I receive the provision that comes from God's riches and glory so that I can give on every occasion.

The same way faith works for salvation is the way it now works in service to God.

It comes in the ears, goes down into the heart, and then comes out of your mouth. And...now that faith will work through your hands and feet!

Doing It All By Faith

You simply cannot obey God without faith...don't even try it! 

If you're currently trying to obey God in your own strength...you need to repent right now. Romans 14:23 warns us about this when it says, ...whatever is not from faith is sin."

If your actions are coming from something other than trust in God and what He says in His Word - those actions will not produce anything good. This is why Hebrews 11:6 says, "without faith it is impossible to please Him..."

God is pleased with your faith...and it will be rewarded!

1 Corinthians 3:12-13 "Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood hay, straw, each one's work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one's work, of what sort it is."

2 Corinthians 5:10 "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive [rewards for] the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad."

Your faith is like gold (1 Peter 1:7) and your own efforts are like wood, hay and stubble. When the fire hits, only one of those things will be remaining. This tells me that only things done in faith will bring a reward...everything else will be burnt up before the throne of Christ.

How sad would it be for someone to spend their whole life working in the church, doing "good things" for other people, and maybe even ministering from a pulpit...only to have all that work burned up before the judgment seat of Christ? Could this happen? Sadly, yes it can. How?

Because whenever "good things" are done from the motivation of recognition - or from fear of consequences - they're not being done in faith and they will bring no rewards.

You must learn now to do everything by faith...because only something done in faith will bring a reward!