Searching the internet on any religious topic such as, “What is faith”, can be very time consuming, fruitless, and a waste of invaluable time! If we google “what does faith mean”, we learn of the 3 levels of faith, and the 5 levels of faith, and there is very much to read. We will see many questions asked in attempts to end confusion on this subject. The truth stares folk in the face, but is not revealed as the essential ingredient is missing! Upfront, the dictionary definition of faith is given as confidence, trust and belief, yet the message is missed. For the fortunate few, the Elect, Matthew 24:24, their search continues!
From cover to cover Scripture is about the Kingdom of Heaven coming to overspread the entire Earth! No Scripture reveals this truth better than Isaiah 66 verses 23 and 24, yet the churchgoing Christian is uneducated on the subject, and not at all sure of Daniel 7:18. “But the saints of the Most High shall TAKE the kingdom, and POSSESS the kingdom forever, even for ever and ever”! Even those churchgoing Christians that OBSERVE the Sabbath, deny we have the Kingdom of God now! “It is in the future” they say, “when the Lord returns to establish His kingdom”, and this belief, (faith), is at variance with what The Scriptures teach, and it is heresy!
The first precept of this brief study “What is faith”, is the undisputed fact that our Lord Jesus, fulfilling the Old Testament prophecies to the letter, established the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth in His death on the cross! We have very many verses, however in the interests of brevity, the following scripture references will suffice. Isaiah 9:7, Daniel 2:44, Daniel 9:24 to 27, and in the New Testament, Matthew 12:28, Matthew 16:28, Luke 12:32.
The reason the simple truth of “what is true, or pure faith”, fails to impress on potential disciples, rests in the fact “this” Gospel of The Kingdom of God as having come among men, has not been preached in all the world until now! For example, it is quite in order for the Seventh Day Adventists, to keep the sabbath, but for them to SEE the Kingdom of God as having been “given” to us by the “good pleasure” of our Heavenly Father, Luke 12:32, is impossible! In their thinking this cannot be! With all the crime and evil on Earth, the Kingdom of God cannot be seen to be in the world!
Daniel and The Revelation make the matter extremely clear, but The Adventists are too occupied with Ellen G. White, too consumed by her prophecies, to actually search out the scriptures themselves to learn the “more sure word of prophecy”! 2 Peter 1:19. Trusting their teachers, Seventh Day Adventists err exceedingly, and are not the only ones making this fundamental error! A further example of the deception that has overrun the world, are Jehovah’s Witnesses. Another incredulous denomination, or sect, (whichever one may choose suits), Jehovah’s Witnesses have their Kingdom Halls everywhere, and deny the deity, and oneness of Christ, the King of kings, with the Godhead and Father of creation!
Having elements of truth only, false doctrine is exposed by two basic precepts or first principles of the Christian faith! These are the doctrines of obedience to all God has commanded man to do in the Ten Commandments, and the one following, John 13:34, that we love one another, and keep His commandments, 1 John 5:2-3, and the doctrine of The Kingdom of God as having come on Earth, and existing on Earth where the faithful are! “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus”! Revelation 14:12.
Seeking first the Kingdom of God, Matthew 6:33, to find it within ourselves, Luke 17:21, to live obedient lives as subjects of the King of kings, it follows the faith of Jesus becomes the focal point of this brief study! What is the faith of Jesus is the question requiring an answer! Going about His Father’s business from the age of twelve, Luke 2:42 and 2:49, our Lord purposed to do only His Father’s will, and finish His Father’s work! John 4:34.
From the outset of our Lord’s ministry beginning when John the Baptist was cast into prison, Matthew 4:12, after John had announced our Lord as, “The Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world”, John 1:29 and 1:36, our Lord Jesus preached the gospel saying, “repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”! Matthew 4:17. Declaring “the Kingdom of Heaven at hand”, there for the taking, the religious leaders could discern the face of the sky, but not the signs of this time! Matthew 16:1 to 3. The Pharisees and the Sadducees, did not want the kingdom heaven. They were enjoying life as it was, until our Lord entered the temple, and overturned the money tables! Manifesting confidence in His Messianic mission, ministry, and Himself, our Lord exposed the religious corruption, and declared His house to be a house of prayer. John 2:15 and Luke 19:46.
The two, “first precepts” to this brief study being that our Lord Jesus came to redeem His Elect, and establish the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth, are facts, manifest in our Lord Jesus Christ’s entire ministry to His creation when He, our Creator God visited us in the flesh! Delusion and confusion strike deathly blows when men say, “Son of God, or The Son of Man”? When our Lord Jesus refers to Himself as, “The Son of Man”, He is referring to Daniel’s prophecy concerning Him, The promised Messiah! Daniel 7:13.
Living in the time of the fulfillment of our Lord Jesus Christ’s prophecy in Matthew 24 particularly verses 11 and 12 speaking of the rise of many false prophets that shall deceive many, we must understand verse 12, “And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold,” refers to modern day religious corruption! Churchgoing Christians of the 21st century, do not keep the Sabbath Day holy, nor the faith of Jesus! So much ministry is available from so many preachers and teachers in so many churches, and not a word is heard that the Kingdom of Heaven has come on Earth, and is here for the taking!
Our Lord clearly states in Matthew 24 verse 14, “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come,” yet 2020 closes without a word of God’s Kingdom heard in any church ministry! Moreover, there is a serious word of caution that when ‘a gospel’ of “the kingdom” is heard in a church, the chances are excellent the message will fulfil Daniel’s “raiser of taxes in the glory of the kingdom”, which is “destroyed in a few days”! Daniel 11:20.
It is a worthwhile note that to fully understand faith in the scriptures, the word confidence is the most appropriate substitute. When reading The Word, substitute faith with the word confidence to experience The Word coming alive to give you understanding! Lord Jesus endorsed this teaching when He healed the Centurion’s servant, saying of the Centurion’s confidence in our Lord Jesus, that He had not seen so great faith, no, not in Israel! Matthew 8:10 and Luke 7:9.
This brief study may be concluded giving this a try. “There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man. And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, avenge me of mine adversary. And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her lest by her continual coming she weary me.” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge saith. And shall not God avenge His own elect, which cry day and night unto Him, though He bear long with them? I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall He find faith, (confidence) on the Earth?” Luke 18:2 to 8.
Will we be found as having joined ourselves to The Lord, Isaiah 56:3 and 6, at our Lord’s appearing to judge His kingdom, 2 Timothy 4:1, keeping the faith of Jesus, fulfilling the great commission to preach “this” gospel of the kingdom, Matthew 24:14, to every creature, Mark 16:15, teaching all nations to observe all things whatsoever we have been commanded , Matthew 28:18 to 20, or will you be as that wicked servant who laid up his pound in a napkin? Luke 19:12 to 27. Will our Lord find you confident, in the faith of Jesus, at His return?
Lester Oliver Thomas Flock © 2020