Faith as a fruit of the Spirit is not a feeling or belief, but a transformative worldview based on four core convictions.
Key Points
- Faith is not positive thinking, confidence in yourself or believing without reason.
- Saving faith consists of four core convictions which you must believe to be saved.
- Faith is a life-long journey to stand firm in the gospel.
- Word: Strong’s G4102.
- Passages: Ephesians 6:10-17; 1Thessalonians 5:1-11; Philippians 1:23-26; 1Thessalonians 3:1-3.
Summary
Faith is not:
- Faith is not self-belief or positive thinking.
- Faith is more than initial belief at the moment of conversion.
Saving Faith has 4 Core Convictions:
- We are sinners.
- We cannot save ourselves.
- God is not required to save us.
- God will save us because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Faith is a lifelong Journey:
- Faith is a journey, an ongoing commitment which changes our daily choices and lifestyle.
Scriptures:
- Ephesians 6 (Armor of God) emphasizes standing firm in spiritual battles over our souls.
- 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 & Philippians 1:23-26 encourage believers to live alertly and soberly while awaiting Christ’s return.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 – Paul sees his job as to encourage them in the faith.
Practical Implications: God’s concern for us in this life is that we become people with a strong, mature faith, not that we have it easy or achieve worldly success.
Please listen to the podcast for more detail and explanation.
Next: Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
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Podcast Series Page: Fruit of the Spirit
Photo by Bill Williams on Unsplash
Season 24, episode 09