ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

Saturday March 18, 2017

“Faith from God”

"Peace to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." - Ephesians 6:23

Faith in Christ

C.        Variety of faith

            1.  Degrees of faith

            2.  Kinds of faith

There are hints in the New Testament that there may also be different kinds of faith as well as different degrees of it. The faith of those who believed in Jesus because of his miracles (John 2:23) does not seem to be the same kind of thing as saving faith. Certainly it produced a different response from Jesus. Similarly, at the end of the sermon on the Mount, we find the warning of Jesus to those who claimed to have performed miracles in his name, “and then will I declare to them, I never knew you; depart from me you workers of lawlessness” (Matthew 7:23). Is this what Paul was to call the faith which could remove mountains but lacked love? (1 Corinthians 13:2). Apparently, the faith by which spiritual gifts are exercised is not necessarily saving faith. The New Testament is adamant that gifts are not grace and may even be exercised apart from the experience of grace. This is a warning to all who have received a gift of the Spirit, whether of preaching, routing, or pastoring, or of any other kind.

But true faith, saving, trusting faith, which is our response to the grace of God, is also a gift of the grace of God. However, we interpret Ephesians 2:8, “for by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (which certainly seems to indicate that faith is something which God gives), Paul later indicates in the same letter that faith is from God the father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 6:26). Not that God believes for us; that would lead us to the crassest form of fatalism. We believe in Christ, and God does not and cannot believe for us. But the faith with which we believe and trust is ours only because he has created it within our hearts. We find ourselves saying: “Lord, I believe, help my unbelief”, then we have reached another landmark in the outworking of God’s plan of salvation.

Challenge:

Our Faith and everything we’ve been taught and still struggle to understand must still need to be possessed. But regardless of how well we understand, hopefully this study will be a reminder of the depth and breadth of God’s love. I cannot believe, trust or have saving faith unless God grants it. Thank God today for this amazing gift!

This Day is Christian History

March 18, 1963 - HENRIETTA MEARS’ LAST EVENING

WHEN Henrietta Mears accepted leadership of the educational program of Hollywood Presbyterian Church, its Sunday school had an attendance of about four hundred and fifty. Within two years, under her dynamic leadership, it had grown to over four thousand. She was a dynamic and flamboyant leader with a seemingly limitless ability to find time for other people.

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