Without faith, it's impossible to please God, the Bible states. But as anything on earth, there are different types of faith and not all are God-centered. So which faith do you have? Will it enable you to please God and accomplish His will?
This post is a continuation of the article I recently presented on Faith Towards God, the second foundational doctrine each christian requires. I do say presenting because, as I said on previous articles on this series, I'm tapping this from my Spiritual dad, Apostle David Juma.
TYPES OF FAITH
We will examine six types of faith to understand what is required of you as far as Faith Towards God is concerned:
Natural Faith
This is natural trust in things that have proven stable. For example. faith that the chair on which you are sitting will support you. This is not "faith towards God." It is a natural faith in certain things around you that you have learned by experience are usually dependable.
The following types of faith are what we mean when we speak of "faith towards God."
Sanctifying 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
Sanctifying faith enables a believer to live a holy life after conversion. You do not do this by your own strength but through the power of God which dwells within you.
Defensive Faith
Faith is one of the weapons for defense against your spiritual enemy, Satan:
Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:16
Satan will try to attack your faith by sending "darts" of unbelief into your mind. Having faith towards God provides a spiritual defense to these attacks.
Saving Faith
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Roman 5:1
Faith towards God, combined with true repentance, is saving faith. Salvation is knowing, believing, and personally accepting the Gospel message. Saving faith requires a personal response towards God. No person can respond on behalf of another. Each person is saved by his own response to the Gospel.
Faith is a fact. It's the gift of God to men to enable them to be saved.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
But faith is also an act. Each person must act upon the faith given by God. Faith towards God is your response, your action by faith toward Him.
After you have experienced "faith towards God" and become a believer, the spiritual fruit of faith and the gift of faith both increase your faith towards God.
MISPLACED FAITH
The doctrine we are studying is called "faith towards God." It is not just faith in general, but it is directed faith. That means you can have misdirected faith. Misdirected faith can be in:
- Natural Weapons
For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me. Psalms 44:6
- Great Men
Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. Psalms 146:3
- Self
He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
Proverbs 28:26
- Idols
They shall be turned back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to the molten images, Ye are our gods. Isaiah 42:17
- False Prophets
Trust ye not in lying words...Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit. Jeremiah 7:4,8
- Natural Power
Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God. Psalms 20:7
- Wealth
Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness. Psalms 52:7
- Friends
Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. Psalms 41:9
CONCLUSION
Now you can search yourself and examine where what type of faith you have. It's my prayer that you will purpose to foster the "true" types of faith. Soon we'll look at one person who served as an example of faith and what we can learn from the footsteps he laid down. God bless you and thanks for reading through.
What is your experience and thoughts concerning "faith towards God? Please
feel free to share your in the comment box
bellow, and if you found some help in this article, do share for your friends.
Blessing and all the best in your walk of faith!