Introduction. There is a philosophy that has been expounded and continues to be expounded today that denies the existence of God and insists that “man in the measure of all things.” We call this philosophy “humanism,” but it is no more than what we used to call “atheism.”
This philosophy has almost completely taken over our public institutions — educational, judicial, entertainment, etc. There has been a cultural shift going on for a long time in our country between those who hold this philosophy and those who hold the Bible to be the inspired revelation of the Creator of the universe.
In a time when forces of evil are seeking to ruin our minds, remember that our responsibility is always to uphold sacred truth. If we haven’t done this, we need to repent and reform. To successfully bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), we need to have a tremendous faith in every aspect of God, so we’ll develop those different aspects in our lesson today.
Our Faith in the Person of God
Because the existence of deity was so readily accepted by mankind, the Bible contains no formal argument for His existence. It simply assumes that He is.
The Bible says that God existed in the beginning (Genesis 1:1).
The fool says that there is no God (Psalm 14:1).
If you come to God, you have to believe in Him (Hebrews 11:6).
Jesus told His disciples to have faith in God (Mark 11:22).
Jehoshaphat told Judah to believe in God (2 Chronicles 20:20).
There are several reasons why I believe in the person of God.
I believe in the person of God because the Bible affirms such, and there is ample proof that the Bible is real.
I believe in the person of God because every attempt to disprove the existence of God can be successfully refuted.
I believe in the person of God because it’s infinitely safer to believe in God than to believe otherwise.
Our Faith in the Power of God
Our God is powerful. He is the Almighty God. This is how He revealed Himself to Abraham and Moses (Genesis 17:1; Exodus 6:3).
“Is anything too hard for God?” This was said to Sarah, Mary, and the disciples (Genesis 18:14; Luke 1:37; Matthew 19:26). Nothing is too hard for God.
God spoke the world into existence (Psalm 33:6-9).
Moses told Israel not to be afraid (Exodus 14:13).
God pulled down the walls of Jericho (Joshua 6:1-27).
God cleansed the leprosy of Naaman (2 Kings 5:14).
God saved Daniel from the lions (Daniel 6:16-23).
Indeed our God is Almighty. Consider what He can do:
He always lives to make intercession for man (Hebrews 7:25).
He is able to keep what I’ve committed to Him (2 Timothy 1:12).
He is able to make all grace abound toward you (2 Corinthians 9:6-9).
He will transform our lowly body into a glorious body (Philippians 3:19-21).
He is able to do above all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).
Our Faith in the Providence of God
Although the age of miracles has passed, the age of providence has not.
Miracles were performed without the use of natural means, over and above God’s prescribed natural laws. In a miracle, the physical laws that operate this world are superseded. An example of this would be when Jesus turned water into wine (John 2:1-11).
Providence is a word we use to describe God’s working through, and in harmony with, the physical laws that operate in this world. He may influence the process of healing in this manner.
Providence is a “provable, non-provable” proposition.
Providence is provable; that is, we know that God works in this fashion because of clear Bible teaching affirmed from beginning to end.
Joseph and his brothers were instruments of God’s providence to preserve a posterity upon the earth (Genesis 45:4-7).
Cyrus, the Persian king, delivered the kingdom of Judah from Babylonian captivity (2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Isaiah 45:5).
Esther, the queen wife of Ahasuerus, was a vessel used of God to save the lives of Jews threatened by the wicked Haman (Esther 4:14).
Paul saw the possibility of providence, but not even he, though inspired, knew for certain (Philemon 15-16).
Providence is non-provable in the sense that no person can point to particular circumstances of his or her life and confidently assert, “I know that this was the providential intervention of God at work.”
We are confident that God answers prayer, for the Bible declares it, but subjective assertions regarding prayer prove nothing.
We may suspect providence, believe in it, hope that providence is the case, and even act in such a way as to accommodate providence; but in the end, we just don’t know (2 Corinthians 5:7).
In order to accept and appreciate God’s providence, we hold to the belief that God does bless His people in this present world (Matthew 6:33; Mark 10:28-30).
Our Faith in the Presence of God
That God is omnipresent is repetitiously asserted throughout His Word.
Hagar said that God sees her in her distress (Genesis 16:13).
Jacob said the Lord was where he dreamed of the ladder (Genesis 28:16).
Ahaziah did evil in the sight of the Lord (2 Kings 8:27).
The Lord fills heaven and earth (Jeremiah 23:23-24).
God is especially interested in the welfare of mankind (Acts 17:24-28).
Omnipresence does not require God to be everywhere. It simply means that wherever we are, we are always in His presence (Psalm 139:7-12).
God is above all, and through all, and in all (Ephesians 4:6).
The Lord surrounds His people (Psalm 125:2).
The Lord lead the Israelites on their journey from Egypt (Exodus 13:21).
The Lord tells His people the way so that they can walk in it (Isaiah 30:21).
The eternal God is your refuge (Deuteronomy 33:27).
God will uphold you with His righteous hand (Isaiah 41:10-13).
Christ is in you, which is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).
Faith in the presence of God:
Will make us live better.
Will keep us from secret sin.
Will sustain us in trials.
Will strengthen us in temptation.
Will fortify us in persecution.
Will comfort us in death.
Our Faith in the Promises of God
Both Abraham and Moses had faith in these promises (Romans 4:20-22; Hebrews 11:26).
God is not slack concerning His promises (2 Peter 3:9). His promises are great and precious (2 Peter 1:4).
Have faith in the promises of God that are found in these verses:
Give and it will be given to you (Luke 6:38).
God won’t allow temptation beyond what’s bearable (1 Corinthians 10:13).
God cares for us (1 Peter 5:7).
Jesus is always with us (Matthew 28:20).
The Word will not return to God void (Isaiah 55:10-11).
Our Faith in the Precepts of God
Believe and receive the Word of God (Acts 27:24-25; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:21). It is “perfect,” “sure,” “right,” “pure,” “clean,” “true,” and “righteous” according to Psalm 19:7-9.
Marshall Keeble said, “Brethren, whatever the good Lord tells me to do in this blessed Book, that I am going to do. If I see in it that I must jump through a stone wall, I am going to jump, and leave it to God to provide the hole.”
May our faith never waver. Instead, may we always believe that God means what He says and says what He means. His Word can be trusted. Thus believing, we trust His promises, heed His warnings, and obey His commands.
Conclusion. True faith in God and His Son involves the assent that God is and that Jesus is His Son, a realistic trust in God as Father and in His Son as Savior, and a true obedience to the instructions contained in the divine revelation (Romans 16:26).
