Development of Faith

We have seen that faith comes by hearing of God's rhema Word (Romans 10:17). Please read my earlier message: "The Nature of God's Word" concerning the nature of Logos and Rhema. Once faith has come, there are three phases of development through which it must pass:

Confession - Faith must be confessed with the mouth.

Outworking - Faith must be worked out in action.

Testing - Faith must be tested by tribulation.

Faith must be confessed

The word "confess" in Greek is "homologeo" (a verb) which literally means "to say the same as". Thus the word "confession" is "saying the same as". In Scripture, "confession" is always related directly to God's Word. Confession is saying the same with our mouth as God says in His Word. It is making the words of our mouth agree with the written Word of God.

The psalmist said, "I believed, therefore I spoke ...." (Ps. 116:10, NKJV).

Paul applied this to the confession of our faith when he said: "And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, 'I believed and therefore I spoke,' we also believe and therefore speak" ( 2 Cor. 4:13, NKJV).

Speaking is the natural way for faith to express itself. Faith that does not speak is dead.

The entire Bible emphasizes that there is a direct connection between our mouth and our heart. What happens in the one can never be separated from what happens in the other.

Jesus said, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" (Matt. 12:34).

In other words, the mouth is the overflow valve of the heart. Whatever comes out through that overflow valve indicates the contents of the heart.

Basic requirements of salvation

Paul said, "(V. 8) But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach); (V. 9) that if you confess with your mouth that Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. (V. 10) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation" (Romans 10:8 - 10, emphasis added).

Notice that in each of these three verses Paul speaks about the mouth and the heart, but the order in which he does so is significant. In verses 8 and 9, it is the mouth first, then the heart. But in verse 10 the order is reversed - the heart comes first, and then the mouth.

I believe that this corresponds to our practical experience. We begin with God's Word in our mouth. By confessing it with our mouth, we receive it into our heart. The more persistently we confess it with our mouth, the more firmly it becomes established in our hearts. Once faith is thus established in our hearts, no conscious effort is needed any longer to make the right confession. Faith naturally flows out in what we say with our mouths. Thereafter, as we continue to express our faith through our mouths, we confess our way progressively into the full benefits of salvation.

Fact, faith and feeling

There are three words, each beginning with "f," that we must put in the right order: fact - faith -feeling.

Fact - found in the Word of God, and they never vary.

Faith - as we have already seen, relates us to the invisible realm of God and His Word. It takes its stand with the facts of God's Word, and confesses them as true.

Feeling - based on our senses. It may waver. But ultimately, if faith stands fast, feelings will come into line with the facts. On the other hand, if we start at the wrong end - with feeling rather than fact - we will always end up in trouble. Our feelings change hour by hour and moment by moment. If our life is based on them, it will be as unstable as they are.

Faith must be worked out in action

The Scripture indicates that faith that is confessed with the mouth must be backed up by appropriate actions. Faith without works - that is, without appropriate action - is dead.

Faith works by love

Paul said, "For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love" (Gal.5:6).

Here are some statements of truth:

1. Paul here establishes four vital points which follow each other in logical order.

2. First, taking circumcision as an example, Paul says that no outward ritual or ceremony can by itself commend us to God. God is primarily concerned with the internal, not the external.

3. Secondly, the one essential element in true Christianity is faith. This is the inner condition of the heart which alone is acceptable to God and for which there is no substitute.

4. Thirdly, faith works. It is the very nature of faith to be active. Where there is no appropriate activity, there is no genuine faith.

5. Fourthly, the way in which faith naturally acts is by love. Where there is no love manifested, ther is no genuine faith. Love is strengthening, comforting and upbuilding.

Relationship between faith and works

The Epistle of James emphasizes the relationship between faith and works. There is actually no difference or contradiction between James' view of faith and Paul's view of faith even though some Bible teachers suggest that their views ar different and contradictory. In actual fact, their views are two obverse sides of the same truth.

We are justified by faith without works, because there are no works we can do that will earn us righteousness. But once we are justified by faith without works, we must then express our faith by our works, or else our faith is not valid. So Paul tells us how we receive righteousness (or justification) from God and James tells us what results follow when we receive righteousness from God. There is no conflict between thse two views; only a difference in emphasis. Furthermore, it is completely wrong to suggest that Paul lays no emphasis upon works. In Galatians 5:6, as we have already seen, he shows that the very nature of faith is to work - and to work through love. He brings out the same truth also in 1 Corinthians 13 - commonly known as the "love" chapter.


The main part of James' teaching concerning faith and works is found in James 2:14 -26. James turns to the life of Abraham (Vs. 21 - 24) and Rahab (V. 25) as examples of "justified by works."

James concludes by saying: "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also" (V. 26). The only thing that can give life to a body is the spirit. Likewise, the only thing that can give to faith is works - appropriate actions from faith.


Faith is a Walk


Paul said, "And he (Abraham) received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while still uncircumcised, that he might be the father of all those who believe, though they are uncircumcised, that the righteousness might be imputed to them also, and the father of circumcision to those who not only are of the circumcision, but who also walk in the steps of the faith which our father Abraham had while still uncircumcised" (Romans 4:11, 12, NKJV, emphasis added).


The phrase "walk in the steps of the faith" indicates that faith is not static; it is not a condition, or a position. Rather it is a progressive walk that we take step by step. Each step springs out of our personal relationship with God. Different believers are in different stages of the faith walk. A believer who has been in the faith many years should be further down the road than a new convert. What God requires of a mature believer is different from what He requires of a beginner. Each step, regardless of the degree of maturity, is an act of obedience. Through a whole series of such steps, faith is developed and finally brought to maturity.


Faith must be tested by tribulation


Paul said, "Therefore haveing been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, (V. 2) through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. (V. 3) And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; (V. 4) and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; (V. 5) and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us" (Romans 5:1 - 5, NAS, emphasis added).


Here are some statements of truth:


1. At first sight, this seems ridiculous. Who could ever imagine "exult in our tribulations" - in our hardship, persecution, loneliness, misunderstanding, or in poverty, sickness, and bereavement? Why should Paul suggest, or God expect, that we should exult in such things as these?


2. Fortunately, Paul gives us a reason, for he continues on in verses 3, 4 and 5. The reason for exulting even in tribulation is that, when received as from God and endured in faith, it produces results in our character which cannot be produced in any other way.


3. There are four successive stages in character development that result from meeting the test of tribulation:

Perseverance (or endurance) - This is an essential aspect of Christian character. Without it, we will not be able to enter into many of God's choicest blessings and provisions for us.


Proven character - The Greek word here translated is "dokime" which means "strength of character" or "a mature character" or "God approved character" or "proof that we have stood the test".


Hope - Steady confident hope - not mere daydreaming or wishful thinking. Hope of this kind is a strong, serene, confident expectation of good - the good that will ultimately result from the process of testing.


The love of God - The final objective of God in dealing with our character is to bring us into the enjoyment of His divine love.


Tested by fire - through various trials


According to James - "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (James 1:2 - 4, emphasis added).


Paul tells us that we are to exult in tribulations; James tells us that we are to count all our trials as joy. Each is equally contrary to your natural thinking, but each has the same reason - testing alone can produce endurance or patience. Endurance is the only way that we can enter into the fullness of God's will for us - "perfect and complete, lacking nothing."


According to Peter - "In this (the expectation of salvation) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ" (1 Peter 1:6, 7, emphasis added).


Peter here compares the testing of our faith to the way in which, at that period, gold was tested and purified by fire in a furnace.


According to prophet Malachi - Here Malachi paints a vivid picture of Jesus, as a long-waited Messiah, coming to His people and dealing with them as a refiner deals with gold and silver:


"But who can endure the day of His coming? and who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire and like launderers' soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer to the Lord an offering in righteousness" (Malachi 3:2, 3, NKJV, emphasis added).


Trials or afflictions are the crucible in which God refines and purifies His people (including "sons of Levi" - New Testament priesthood, the Christians) until they meet the requirement of His holiness.


The Bible teaches that tribulation is a neccessary part of our total Christian experience. Once we understand the purpose of our tribulations, we will embrace them with joy. Even if we fail temporary under extreme pressure, we must never give up our faith. God will see us through.