A Picture of Faith

March 4, 2012 (c) The working of God in our lives according to his purpose 1. The wherewithal to do what is right a. Ephesians 2:8-10 b. Philippians 2:12-13 c. Titus 2:11-14 2. Discipline (Hebrews 12:4-11; Proverbs 3:11-12) 3. The means of deliverance through temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) (d) Advocacy in judgment 1. Romans 8:33-34 2. 1 John 2:1-2 (e) Resurrection into a transformed body 1. 1 Corinthians 15:42-54 2. Philippians 3:20-21 (f) Participation in the glory of God 1. Romans 5:2; 8:17-18, 30 2. 1 Peter 1:3-7; 5:1 3. 2 Peter 1:3-4 (3) Hope is a function of faith (a) Hebrews 11:1We hope for something; faith is certainty of it. (b) Hebrews 12:2-3The joy set before him describes hope that is certain. 5. Enduring the cross a. Suffering productive of hope (Romans 5:3-4) b. Hope productive of endurance through suffering (Hebrews 10:32-36; Hebrews 12:2-3) 6. Consider him: the model of faith (Hebrews 12:2-3) a. The pioneer and perfecter of faith b. The basis for our faith is his faithfulness (1) Hebrews 11:1 (2) Hebrews 10:23 c. Our faith response is therefore rooted in the knowledge of God. (1) 2 Timothy 1:12 (2) 2 Peter 1:3 B2329J29

1. A picture of faith a. Scripture often teaches through word pictures and object lessons b. An overview of faith depicted through Scripture in the person of Jesus 2. The pioneer of faith: Hebrews 12:2-3 a. A pioneer is someone who goes ahead of the others who are to follow b. A picture of perseverance through suffering c. A picture of the hope of glory d. Consider him, the complete picture of what it means to do faith 3. Emphasizing what is emphasized in Scripture a. Romans 1:16-17: Righteousness comes only through faith. b. Description of faith in New Testament Scripture (1) English renderings of pistis (): faith, belief, trust (nave count of occurrences in New Testament Scripture) (a) Verb: 241 times (b) Noun: 243 times (2) Compared with agapae (), godly love (nave count of occurrences in New Testament Scripture) (a) Verb: 141 times (b) Noun: 116 times c. In plain English: The English concepts of faith, belief, and trust have to become combined in order to begin to synthesize an understanding of the conception of pistis () in New Testament Scripture. 4. The joy set before him a. Faith from relationship, as with child and parent b. Faith from covenant: counting on explicit promises (1) Explicit for those who put our trust in him (2) Examples of explicit promises: (a) Basic needs met 1. Matthew 6:19-34, esp. vv. 31-33 2. Hebrews 13:5-6 (b) Absolute cleansing and forgiveness of sin 1. Jeremiah 31:34 (Hebrews 8:12) 2. Hebrews 9:14