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Faith

Scripture defines faith (πίστις) as the substance of that which is hoped for, the conviction of accomplished deeds not seen in Hebrews 11:1. It is therefore not an attitude or belief that is dictated by probability, that is wishful thinking based upon a desire, want, or need; rather, it is a conviction based upon a promise.

Substance is referring to the underlying essence by which something exists. Christ is the exact image of God in the flesh. Through His life the fundamental nature of God was made visible to humans, Hebrews 1:3.

Conviction is the act of presenting evidence to persuade a person’s mind to believe in the truth. This evidence is established upon accomplished deeds that are not seen. We see this demonstrated in the actions of God when He determined to show the heirs of promise the immutability of His determination by giving two immutable facts, it is impossible for God to lie and making an oath based upon His word, Hebrews 6:13-18. The conviction of faith is therefore based upon the facts related to accomplished deeds that God has done.

Therefore, faith is the essence of that which is hoped for, and by the conviction based upon the facts of the promise that hope is based upon, the individual expressing belief will act according to their confidence in the person making the promise.

Many times in Scripture Jesus called out the faith of those around Him, especially of those who would not normally have faith. When a Centurion, a Gentile, asked Jesus to heal his servant, he expressed faith in the fact that Christ is the Messiah promised to the Jews by only asking that Jesus speaks the words, for one who is of authority only […]

Faith2023-12-14T08:12:55-08:00

Tongues (γλῶσσα)

Through the prophet Isaiah, God told Israel that He would give them a sign by speaking with them in other tongues (Isaiah 28:11). Fifty days after the Passover, in which Christ was put to death by wicked men but raised out from the dead three days later by God, the disciples where in Jerusalem as they had been commanded (Acts 1:4) when the Holy Spirit came upon them (Acts 2:1-4) and they spoke in a different language.

Tongue (γλῶσσα) is a word that is used of the physical tongue, how a person speaks, and the language spoken. When Christ healed a deaf man with a speech impediment, the man’s tongue was loosed, and he spoke correctly (Mark 7:33-35). In the story of the rich man and Lazarus, the rich man asked for water to cool his tongue (Luke 16:24). In the book of Romans, we see that the tongue is used for speaking for with their tongues they deceive (Romans 3:13) and every tongue will verbally agree with God (Romans 14:11).

When it comes to the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, it is defined in the same context in which it first appears in Scripture. The intense sound made when the Holy Spirit came upon the disciples caused many of the Jews in the city to come to see what was happening (Acts 2:6). Now at this time a lot of devout Jews, meaning they were saved under the Mosaic Law, from every nation under heaven were in the city and their reaction explains what was happening. They marveled because the disciples were speaking in their dialects (διάλεκτος) the wonderful works of God (Acts 2:11). They were not just speaking another language, but specific dialects from […]

Tongues (γλῶσσα)2023-11-25T07:55:36-08:00

Call (καλέω)

Called is used for the name of a person or a description by which a person is defined. Summons is an aspect of “called” in which a person is called to a meeting, event, place, or state of existence for the purpose of participating.

In Matthew 2:7 Herod summons the Magi, but not in a public way, so he can gain information about this King of the Jews they speak of. During the tribulation period, while the Jews are in the wilderness, those who are peace makers are described (called) as sons (mature ones) of God (Matthew 5:9).

God calls those things that do not exist as though they do, for when He says He will do something, even when we cannot see it, He is able to make it come true (Romans 4:17). Within the decree of God, He made specific plans according to His purpose. One of the things He determined was that a group of the saved would be marked off to conform to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). Now is the time for all who believe to be placed as sons in Christ so we can mature unto a full experiential knowledge, so today God calls us. Our calling is not because we are righteous, for those whom He calls He also justifies (Romans 8:30). God showed that his calling is not based upon the desire or the work of humans, but rather His own plan when He called Jacob over Esau for the inheritance of promise before they were even born (Romans 9:7). Unlike under law, now both Jew and Gentile are being called (Romans 9:24). Therefore, the fellowship we have with Christ is because God called us, not by […]

Call (καλέω)2023-11-25T07:56:55-08:00

Happy (μακάριος)

This aspect of “blessed” means to be happy, which is an attitude of enjoyment and pleasure resulting from a sense of well-being and contentment.

When Jesus is speaking to the Jews concerning His Kingdom and the tribulation period that is about to come, He states several things in the Sermon on the Mount that they will go through, yet they can be happy because the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them.

Happy are the poor in spirit because the kingdom of the heavens is concerning them, Matthew 5:3.

These ones are happy because they lack in spirit, which is referring to their lack of understanding concerning what the man of lawlessness is doing in Jerusalem as he desecrates the temple of God (Daniel 9:27). Jesus goes on to encourage those who mourn, have an objective mind, hunger and thirst after righteousness, have a pure heart, are peacemakers, and are persecuted and reviled for righteousness, because even though they will go through these things they will all be happy since when Christ returns, He will rescue the Jews in the wilderness and will setup His kingdom in which the nation of Israel will serve as priests to the Gentile nations while living in a land of peace where righteousness rules.

When it comes to the Christians:

Our happy hope is the appearance of our great God even Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13). This happy hope is the rapture, the day when Christ returns to take His Church home (1 Thessalonians 4:16). In this day we will be like Him (1 John 3:2) and will forever be with Him (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

Do we have faith? Remember, faith is based upon accomplished deeds that God has done through which we have promises, […]

Happy (μακάριος)2023-12-15T04:59:02-08:00
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