37 min
Fruit of the Spirit: Faith Wednesday in the Word
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- Christianity
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.
Next: Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
Previous: Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
Series: Fruit of the Spirit
Faith as a fruit of the Spirit
In this series, we are searching for an understanding of the ideas on the list of the fruit of the Spirit. Today, we'll be talking about faith. We are exploring Scripture to see what Scripture says about these concepts and, therefore, what Paul was thinking when he wrote the list.
I have been arguing that the items on this list are not feelings. Rather, they result from a profound shift in worldview. As the Spirit of God teaches us truth, our perspective changes and that new perspective changes how we act, respond, and treat each other.
We find this list in Paul’s the letter to the Galatians. Let me briefly remind you of the context. Paul spends most of the letter refuting the teaching of the Judaizers and arguing that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
In Galatians 5, he argues that freedom from the law does not mean that we are free to pursue sin. He argues that keeping the law produces a fake moral transformation. We are only changing our external behavior, not who we are inside.
However, once we have faith in Christ, God gives us His spirit. His spirit teaches us truth and changes us from the inside out, which produces the qualities on this list.
Faith or Faithfulness
Today we're looking at faith. Both the English Standard Version of the Bible and the New American Standard Bible translate this word as ‘faithfulness.’ The Greek word is the normal word for ‘faith.’ While it can be translated faithfulness, the vast majority of times Paul uses this word, he's talking about faith. Especially when he's talking about something that's true of believers.
I would translate this faith, but assume we should think of this as the quality of faithfulness. What would that mean? Paul could mean reliable. When we describe someone as having faithfulness, we typically mean they are dependable and trustworthy. Faithful people do what they say they will do something. But nothing in the context or the way Paul uses this word suggests he has reliability in mind.
Faithfulness can also mean steadfast, loyal, or persevering. The faithful hold on until the end. While perseverance seems more likely in context, what are we being faithful to? Faith. We persevere in the faith, so we might as well translate it faith.
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.
Next: Fruit of the Spirit: Gentleness
Previous: Fruit of the Spirit: Goodness
Series: Fruit of the Spirit
Faith as a fruit of the Spirit
In this series, we are searching for an understanding of the ideas on the list of the fruit of the Spirit. Today, we'll be talking about faith. We are exploring Scripture to see what Scripture says about these concepts and, therefore, what Paul was thinking when he wrote the list.
I have been arguing that the items on this list are not feelings. Rather, they result from a profound shift in worldview. As the Spirit of God teaches us truth, our perspective changes and that new perspective changes how we act, respond, and treat each other.
We find this list in Paul’s the letter to the Galatians. Let me briefly remind you of the context. Paul spends most of the letter refuting the teaching of the Judaizers and arguing that we are justified by faith in Jesus Christ alone.
In Galatians 5, he argues that freedom from the law does not mean that we are free to pursue sin. He argues that keeping the law produces a fake moral transformation. We are only changing our external behavior, not who we are inside.
However, once we have faith in Christ, God gives us His spirit. His spirit teaches us truth and changes us from the inside out, which produces the qualities on this list.
Faith or Faithfulness
Today we're looking at faith. Both the English Standard Version of the Bible and the New American Standard Bible translate this word as ‘faithfulness.’ The Greek word is the normal word for ‘faith.’ While it can be translated faithfulness, the vast majority of times Paul uses this word, he's talking about faith. Especially when he's talking about something that's true of believers.
I would translate this faith, but assume we should think of this as the quality of faithfulness. What would that mean? Paul could mean reliable. When we describe someone as having faithfulness, we typically mean they are dependable and trustworthy. Faithful people do what they say they will do something. But nothing in the context or the way Paul uses this word suggests he has reliability in mind.
Faithfulness can also mean steadfast, loyal, or persevering. The faithful hold on until the end. While perseverance seems more likely in context, what are we being faithful to? Faith. We persevere in the faith, so we might as well translate it faith.
37 min