ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Friday March 17, 2017

“Christ, the object of my faith”

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. – Romans 12:3

Faith in Christ

C.        Variety of faith

While these are essential characteristics of faith, we must not forget that it has other dimensions. True faith takes its character and quality from its object and not from itself. Faith gets a man out of himself and into Christ. Its strength therefore depends on the character of Christ. Even those of us who have weak faith have the same strong Christ as others.

            1.  Degrees of faith

Faith is liable to greater and less degrees. The New Testament speaks of little faith (Matthew 6:30; 8:26; 14:31; 16:8) and great faith (Matthew 8:10; 15:28); of weak faith and strong faith (Romans 4:19 – 20); of growing faith (2 Thessalonians 1:3), unfeigned or sincere faith (2 Timothy 1:5), sound faith (Titus 1:13; 2:2), men who are full of faith (Hebrews 10:22); of all faith (1 Corinthians 13:2) and of shipwrecked faith (1 Timothy 1:19). The object of faith does not change – Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. But our love for him, our knowledge of his goodness, our acquaintance with his ways, our experience of his power may grow and in proportion to that growth becomes a strengthening of faith.

Strong faith in Christ draws on the resources of his grace and sets us free from many of the inhibitions that bind our lives. Strong faith enables us to use to the full the gifts God has given to us (Romans 12:3). At the same time, Paul teaches us the importance of recognizing the measure of faith we have and not despising others or criticizing them because their faith is either weaker or stronger than our own (Romans 14:1). In the household of faith, there is always change, development, progress and sometimes illness. The presence of faith among the people of God does not produce carbon copy Christians. The church is always kept in the place where it is dependent upon the living Christ.

Memory Verse:

He ‘oku fakae‘a ‘i ai ha mā‘oni‘oni mei he ‘Otua, ‘oku kamata mei he tui, pea iku ki he tui; ‘o hangē ko e Folofola, Ko e mā‘oni‘oni te ne mo‘ui mei he tui. – Loma 1:17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.” – Romans 1:17

Bible Reading Plan: (52 weeks; 5 days a week)

Week 11 – Numbers 26-36; Deuteronomy 1-5; Psalm 35-36; Luke 2-6