THE CHRISTIAN GRACES – FAITH

Text: 1 John 5:1-4.

Introduction:
  I. Having been discussing those qualities to be supplied 
     in our faith as given in 2 Peter 1:5-11.
 II. One thing remains that needs our attention, and that’s 
     the “faith” to which we are to add these qualities.
III. This is the subject for discussion in this lesson.

Body:
  I. The Bible uses word “faith” in three senses:
     A. Mental agreement.
        1. Person agrees to certain facts; there is an 
           acceptance of those facts as being true; but he 
           never acts in relation to those facts.
        2. John 12:42-43.
     B. Comprehensive.
        1. Includes all that a person does in demonstrating 
           his faith.
        2. Illustration: Offer a child a dollar; space ship 
           illustration.
        3. Won’t person appear foolish in judgment if he 
           has refused to act.
        4. This faith is defined in Galatians 5:6.
        5. Hebrews 11 abounds in illustrations.
     C. The message believed – “The Faith.”
        1. Equivalent to “the gospel.”
        2. Jude 3; Acts 6:7.

 II. With these in mind, it is rather easy to determine 
     which of these is the faith of 2 Peter 1:5-11.
     A. Not “the faith” – “The faith” has been revealed to 
        all mankind.  The faith under consideration here 
        is one’s own personal faith.
     B. It is certainly not a mere mental agreement, for 
        such a faith is worthless.  James 2:24, 26.
     C. Faith in this passage must be, then, this 
        comprehensive faith, which includes obedience to 
        the Lord.
        1. Defined more fully in Acts 2:36-38, 41, 44.  
           Also, Acts 16:31-34.  This faith must not obey 
           just some of the Lord’s commands, must be 
           prepared to obey all the Father’s instructions 
           to the son.
        2. The admonitions of 2 Peter 1:5-11 are given to 
           Christians.  Only Christians have this faith.
        3. One then first obeys the gospel, exercising 
           complete faith and trust in the Lord.  Then he 
           is in the Lord.  Then he is in position to begin 
           adding to his faith these qualities.

III. Faith is obviously the very foundation upon which all 
     other serviced to the Lord is built.
     A. Everything begins with faith which acts in 
        obedience and submission to God’s word.
     B. Without this faith there can be no building of 
        these other qualities.
        1. Virtue?  Moral excellence?  Why would one be 
           overly concerned with moral purity if he doesn’t 
           believe, then eat, drink, and be merry…
        2. Knowledge?  Diligence in learning the contents 
           of a book I don’t even believe in?
        3. Temperance?  Self-control?  We have said this is 
           probably the hardest.  Involves struggle.  Why 
           do it?  Can see why a person of faith might, but 
           a person who doesn’t believe struggle for self-
           control?
        4. Patience?  Perseverance?  The very thing that 
           keeps us going is our faith.  1 Corinthians 
           15:58.
        5. Godliness?  But to have a consciousness of God 
           all through the day, one must have a strong 
           faith in God.
        6. Brotherly kindness?  Love of brethren?  There 
           are some we might love without faith, but 
           diligence to love even those who are not very 
           lovable?
        7. Love – not loving those who deserve our love, 
           but loving even strangers and enemies and wicked 
           people – even sacrificing in their behalf.
     C. Surely we can see why the statement of 1 John 5:4.

Conclusion:
If you believe but have not obeyed…
If you have this faith, be grateful – one of the saddest situations 
you can ever see is a person who has lost his faith.
But don’t stop – supply in your faith these qualities.