Freedom
of the Will
The ability
to make decisions without being coerced by external
forces. Scripture stresses that people are confronted
with free choices between good and evil and commands
them to choose good. However, it also notes that
limitations are placed upon human actions through the
enslaving power of sin.
Freedom of the will to choose between good and evil Deut 11:26-28 See also
Deut 30:15-19; Jos 24:15; 1Ch 28:9; Jer 26:3; Eze 18:21-23
Freedom of the will to seek and find God Isa 55:6 See
also Am 5:4; Ac 2:21; Ro 10:11; Isa 28:16; Rev 22:17
The
Effect of Sin Upon Freedom of the Will
Sin
prevents human beings from breaking free from its
bondage Ro 7:14-20 See also Ro 6:16, 22; 7:25 Paul
stresses that it is only through Jesus Christ that human
beings can be freed from servitude to sin.
Sin
hardens human hearts Heb 3:13 See also Dan 5:20; Ro 1:21; Eph 4:17-19
God
hardens human hearts Ex 9:12 See also Ex 4:21; 10:20; 14:4, 8;
Deut 2:30; Jos 11:19-20; Ro 1:22-24; 9:17-18
Human beings harden their own hearts 1Sa 6:6 See also Ex 8:15, 32; Ps 95:8; Pr 28:14; Heb 3:8, 15; 4:7
Divine Acceptance
God's gracious favour shown both to Israel and to the
Gentiles. God accepts people who respond to him, and
worship that is offered sincerely and is accompanied by
wholehearted commitment.
Faith may be mixed with doubt Mt 14:31 Simon Peter; Mk 9:24 the father of the boy with an evil spirit; Jn 20:24-28 Thomas
Faith and Sight
2Co 5:7
Faith as trust in what is unseen Jn 20:29 See also 2Co 4:18; Heb 11:1-3, 7, 27
Faith looks towards an unseen future Heb 11:13-14 See
also Heb 11:8-10 Abraham; Heb 11:20-22 Isaac, Jacob and
Joseph; Heb 11:24-26 Moses
Faith and Obedience
True
faith is demonstrated in obedience Ro 1:5; Heb 4:2 See
also Ro 16:26; 2Co 9:13; 1Pe 1:2
Examples of obedient faith
Noah
builds the ark: Ge 6:22; Heb 11:7
Abraham leaves Haran: Ge 12:4; Heb 11:8
Abraham offers Isaac: Ge 22:1-10; Heb 11:17
Ex 14:15-16 Moses parts the sea.
Caleb and Joshua: Nu 13:30; 14:8-9
Jos 3:5-13 Joshua at the river Jordan
Joshua at Jericho; Jos 6:2-5; Heb 11:30
Jn 21:4-6 Jesus Christ's disciples, fishing; Ac 26:19 Paul
Faith and Works
True
faith is demonstrated in good deeds Jas 2:14-26 See also
Php 2:17; 1Th 1:3; Tit 1:1; 2Pe 1:5
True
faith issues in love Gal 5:6 See also Eph 1:15; 6:23; 1Th 3:6; 5:8; 1Ti 1:5, 14; 4:12
True
faith is constantly productive Lk 8:15 pp Mt 13:23 pp Mk 4:20 See also Jn 15:1-5
Faith, As Basis of Salvation
Both
in the OT and in the NT faith is the only basis of
salvation. Faith is the means by which God's grace in
Christ, and with him the blessings of salvation, is
received. Paul's doctrine of justification by faith
emphasises the centrality of faith in the Christian
life.
Salvation by Faith in The OT
Hab 2:4
The faith of Abraham and
other individuals Ge 15:6 See also Ro 4:9-16 Abraham,
the father of those righteous by faith; Heb 11:4 Abel;
Heb 11:5 Enoch; Heb 11:7 Noah
Salvation by Faith in The NT
Ro 1:16-17 See also 1Co 1:21; Php 3:8-9
Salvation through faith alone Eph 2:8-9 See also Ro 3:27-28; 4:1-8; Ps 32:1-2; Ro 9:30-32; Gal 3:10-14;
Deut 27:26
Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ Jn 3:14-16 Being
"lifted up" is a reference to Jesus Christ's death on
the cross; Ro 10:9-10 The necessity of outward
confession, as evidence of personal faith in Jesus
Christ. See also Jn 8:24; Ac 8:37-39; Ro 3:21-26; 4:24; 2Co 4:13-14; Gal 3:22
Salvation is for all who believe Ro 10:4 Jesus Christ is
the "end of the law", in the sense that he brings it to
its goal and fulfilment, and accomplishes its
intentions. See also Ac 15:7-9; Ro 3:29-30
Salvation is
for those who persevere in their faith Col 1:21-23 See
also Heb 3:14; 6:11-12
Saving faith shows itself in action Jas 2:14
Blessings of Salvation Received Through Faith
Justification and peace with God Ro 5:1-2; Gal 2:15-16; 5:5
Forgiveness Lk 7:48-50; Ac 10:43
Adoption into God's family Jn 1:12; Gal 3:26
The
gift of the Holy Spirit Jn 7:38-39; Gal 3:2; Eph 1:13
Jesus Christ in the heart Eph 3:17
Protection through God's power 1Pe 1:5
Access to God Eph 3:12; Heb 10:22
Sanctification Ac 26:17-18
New
life Gal 2:20
Eternal life Jn 3:16, 36; 5:24; 6:40, 47
Victory over death Jn 11:25-27
Faith, Necessity Of
A
fundamental duty for all people and the necessary
response to God's self-revelation. The only channel
through which God's blessings may be received, and the
only means by which life may be made meaningful, in
relationship with God.
The
Call to Faith
In
the OT Ps 37:3-5 See also Pr 3:5-6; Isa 26:4; 50:10
In
the NT Jn 6:28-29 See also Mk 1:15; Ac 16:30-31; 19:4; 20:21; Ro 1:5; 1Jn 3:23
God's Self-Revelation Leaves No Excuse for Unbelief Jn 14:8-11; Ro 10:17-18 See also Ps 19:4; Jn 1:10-12; Ro 1:18-21; 3:1-4; Ps 51:4; Ro 16:25-27
The
Need for Faith in God
The
Lord is the only true God Hab 2:18-20 See also Ps 115:2-11
God
alone can be trusted absolutely Ps 9:10 See also Ps 91:1-4; Isa 12:2;
Nah 1:7
Faith in God is the basis for peace Isa 26:3 See also Ps 42:11; Jn 14:1; Ro 15:13; 2Pe 1:1-2
Faith is necessary to receive God's blessing Heb 11:6 See also Ps 40:4; Jer 17:7-8; Jn 5:24
Faith is necessary to avoid God's judgment Jn 3:36 See
also Jn 3:18; 2Th 2:12; 1Pe 2:6-8; Isa 28:16; Ps 118:22; Isa 8:14
Actions Not Springing From Faith Are Sinful
Ro 14:23 See also Ro 14:5-8; 14:14
Unbelief Challenged
Heb 3:12-18; Ps 95:7-8 comparison with the Israelites in the
wilderness; Isa 7:9 Ahaz, king of Judah; Jer 17:5-6 the
people of Judah; Mk 16:14 Jesus Christ's disciples after
the resurrection
Unbelief, and Life of Faith
Believers may go through periods of doubt and
indecision, especially on account of difficulties in
trusting God or accepting certain aspects of his will
for them.
General Examples of Unbelief in Believers
Abraham Ge 17:17 See also Ge 15:8
Sarah Ge 18:13-14
Moses Nu 11:21-22
Gideon Jdg 6:12-17; 6:36-40
Elisha's servant 2Ki 4:42-44
Zechariah Lk 1:20
John the Baptist Mt 11:3
The
Unbelief of Jesus Christ's Disciples
Unbelief concerning Jesus Christ's power over the
natural world Mt 8:24-26 pp Mk 4:38-40 pp Lk 8:23-25; Mt 14:26 pp Mk 6:49
Mt 14:29-31; 16:8-10 pp Mk 8:17-21 See also Mk 6:37 pp Jn 6:7; Mk 6:52; Mt 15:33 pp Mk 8:4; Jn 11:39; Ac 12:15-17
Unbelief concerning Jesus Christ's resurrection Mk 16:14; Lk 24:25 See also Mk 16:9-13; Lk 24:11, 37-41; Jn 20:25
Unbelief concerning Jesus Christ's power to heal Mt 17:17 pp Mk 9:19 pp Lk 9:41 See also Mt 17:19-20
Encouragements in Overcoming Unbelief
Mk 9:24; Jn 14:11 See also Mt 11:4-6; Jn 10:37-38; 20:30-31; Ro 4:20
Believers
Those who have faith in God. After Pentecost, the term
came to be used specifically to refer to Christians,
that is, to those who believe and trust in God, as he
has made himself known through Jesus Christ. The NT
stresses that Jesus Christ brings the faith of OT
believers to perfection and to its proper fulfillment.
Believers As Those Who Have Faith in God
1Ki 18:3-4 See also Jn 4:39-42; Ac 16:15; Jas 2:1
OT
Believers Looked Forward to the NT Faith
Heb 11:13 See also Heb 11:39; 1Pe 1:10-12
The
Church Is Referred to As the Believers
Ac 5:12 See also Ac 1:15; 2:44; 4:32; 9:41; 1Ti 4:12
In
the Early Church a Distinction Was Sometimes Made
Between Jewish and Gentile Believers
Ac 15:23 See also Ac 10:45; 11:1-3; 15:5; 21:20-25
The
Term Believer Is Synonymous with Christian
1Co 7:12-13 See also Ac 15:2; 16:1; 1Co 6:5; 14:22; 2Co 6:14-15; 1Th 1:7; 1Ti 5:16
Believers Are Members of God's Family
Gal
6:10 See also 1Ti 6:2; 1Pe 2:17
The
Human Heart
According to the Bible, the heart is the centre not only
of spiritual activity, but of all the operations of
human life. "Heart" and "soul" are often used
interchangeably (Deut 6:5; Deut 26:16; Compare Mat 22:37; Mark 12:30, 33), but this is not generally the
case.
The
heart is the "home of the personal life," and hence a
man is designated, according to his heart, wise (1Ki 3:12), pure (Ps 24:4; Mat 5:8), upright and righteous
(Gen 20:5, 6; Ps 11:2; Ps 78:72), pious and good (Luke 8:15), etc. In these and such passages the word "soul"
could not be substituted for "heart."
The
heart is also the seat of the conscience (Rom 2:15). It
is naturally wicked (Gen 8:21), and hence it
contaminates the whole life and character (Mat 12:34; Mat 15:18; Compare Eccl 8:11; Ps 73:7). Hence the heart
must be changed, regenerated (Ezek 36:26; Ezek 11:19; Ps 51:10-14), before a man can willingly obey God.
The
process of salvation begins in the heart by the
believing reception of the testimony of God, while the
rejection of that testimony hardens the heart (Ps 95:8; Prov 28:14; 2Ch 36:13). "Hardness of heart evidences
itself by light views of sin; partial acknowledgment and
confession of it; pride and conceit; ingratitude;
unconcern about the word and ordinances of God;
inattention to divine providences; stifling convictions
of conscience; shunning reproof; presumption, and
general ignorance of divine things." (From: Easton's
Illustrated Dictionary: Heart)
See:
Hold Fast: Hebrews 6:4-6 and the Possibility of Apostasy
by Robert E. Picirilli
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