THE FAITH OF JESUS

One Christian author has defined faith simply and quite nicely –

Faith is trusting God -- believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good.

What did Jesus believe that faith was ?

What is the faith of Jesus and why is it important ?

And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 
(Mark 2:3,4)

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5)

By faith – By trusting God 

Anyone can have the assurance that his or her sins are forgiven 

just like the man sick of palsy

Notice that Jesus forgave the man after He saw their faith - 

After He saw their trust in God

What does this teach us ? What can we learn ? 

JESUS BELIEVED THAT FAITH COULD BE SEEN

Why did Jesus believe that faith could be seen ? The Bible tells us why.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

(Hebrews 11:1) 

FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE - FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

(Hebrews 11:1)

Substance - The essential part; the main or material part.  

 Something real, not imaginary; something solid, not empty. A setting under as in support

Evidence = proof

Anything that is substance or evidence is observable, recognizable or viewable.

It can be seen. 

TRUE FAITH IS ALWAYS THE SUBSTANCE AND THE EVIDENCE

Even growing faith has substance and evidence - 

If it did not have evidence or substance, how would you know that it was growing ?

When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son,

thy sins be forgiven thee. (Mark 2:5)

What was the faith or evidence that Jesus saw ?

(Mark 2:4)…they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. 

FAITH IS THE EVIDENCE NOT JUST THE WORDS – “I BELIEVE”

FAITH IS THE SUBSTANCE AND THE EVIDENCE THAT A PERSON TRUSTS AND BELIEVES IN GOD

FAITH IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO PLEASE GOD – 

IN ORDER TO PLEASE GOD THERE MUST BE EVIDENCE AND SUBSTANCE

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

(Mark 11:22) And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

One of the names that the Bible uses to refer to Jesus is the Word of God. True faith is in accordance or agreement with the word of God. Hence, the evidence and substance in a person's life will grow more and more in harmony with the word of God.

Did Jesus have faith in God ? 

Did He trust God ? 

Where is the evidence of the faith of Jesus ? Answer - Right here in the Scriptures...

(Matthew 26:39) And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. 

(Matthew 27:46) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me ? 

(John 20:17) Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God. 

Consider the following statements and the verse below that supports them

THE FAITH OF JESUS ENABLES A PERSON TO BE SPIRITUALLY CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST          

THE FAITH OF JESUS ENABLES A PERSON TO HAVE CHRIST LIVING IN US

THE FAITH OF JESUS MAKES IT POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON TO LIVE BY THAT SAME FAITH

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)

The faith of Jesus led Him to pour out His love for you and for me from the depths of His heart and the evidence and substance of that marvelous love was in how He kept giving Himself for human beings while He walked this earth until He was crucified upon the cross and He could not physically give any more. What wondrous self-sacrificing love !!

The Bible indicates that the faith of Jesus is one of the identifying characteristics of those who truly believe in God and those who are called saints.

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12)   

THE PEOPLE OF GOD ARE THOSE WHO KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE FAITH OF JESUS

Let's take another look at the faith of Jesus and His deep love for God and human beings as He revealed it in His life on earth.

The faith of Jesus led Him to pray - Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.  (Matthew 6:9) 

The faith of Jesus led Him to say - And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8:29)                     

The faith of Jesus led Him to say - I and my Father are one.  (John 10:30)                 

The faith of Jesus led Him to say – In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2) 

The faith of Jesus led Him to pray - O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.  (Matthew 26:42)                                                                                                                  

The faith of Jesus led Him to pray - Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. (Luke 23:34)      

The faith of Jesus led Him to say - Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (Luke 23:46) 

Christ's faith in God and love for human beings was constantly being revealed in His interaction with people. No one can adequately estimate the value of a single person in the mind of Christ. His love for you and I is everlasting and that love overflowed in concentrated strength drop by bloody drop at the cross. The Lord's voluntary sacrifice at Calvary is the substance and evidence of His faith in God and His love for you dear reader. 

True faith always has and is the substance and the evidence

The only way for any human being to be saved is by faith and the only way to be saved by faith is to live by faith – the faith of Jesus

Whenever someone is living by faith - there will be substance and evidence is his or her life. The faith with be visible, observable, viewable and recognizable.The Bible warns that some among the people of God will stop having this faith - 

They will stop having substance and evidence in their lives.

Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  (1 Timothy 4:1)

When Christ returns the 2^nd time He will still be looking to see faith – 

He will still be looking for it

I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth ? (Luke 18:8)

Hence the Bible admonishes those who are in the faith...

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. (1 Corinthians 16:13)

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates ?  (2 Corinthians 13:5)

The only faith that will sustain anyone living in the last days before the return of Christ is the faith that works by love and revealed in keeping the commandments of God.

For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. (Galatians 5:6)

Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus. (Revelation 14:12) 

Do you have real faith ? Do you have the faith of Jesus ? Are you in the faith ?

Does the evidence pass the test of the word of God ?

Do you want Christ to strengthen your faith ?

Would you like to have the faith of Jesus and the assurance of salvation

 that this faith will ultimately bring ?

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, please forgive me for my sins. Please help me to trust you right now . I believe that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and was resurrected assuring me that I can have power over sin. Put your grace and faith in my heart, in Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

© 2010-2018 Tyrone Keels

www.issues-of-life.com