Lecture 112-1(Part 1)
By Kathy L. McFarland
The standards of Christian faith are the standards that our LORD God and our Lord Jesus Christ expects for us to emulate in our Christian journey with Him. The Holy Spirit, given to each Baptized Believer, assists us to walk in the way of Christ at every step we take in our natural and spiritual lives. However, busy lives often lead us off the path of Christian faith and into the control of the world and sometimes even the enemies that would wish harm to come to us.
It is critical that you walk the narrow path of Christ through this life, grow in spiritual maturity through that practiced pace and knowledge, and one day be rewarded greatly for the works you have done to bring glory to the LORD God.
But first, you must understand what the standards of Christian faith are expected by our Lord Jesus Christ:
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV 1900)
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:13 (KJV 1900)
13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
1. Sometimes, Christians confuse surety of faith with absolutely “already happened, thus their faith is strong.” If something has already happened, it is not faith, but history that is reflected.
2. When a Christian has faith, he is hoping that all the LORD God said in His Word will come to pass. Either the Word of God is evidence of things we cannot see as it reflects God’s full Truth, or it is error that gives victory to the devil. Christian’s faith stands strongly on choosing the winning team of the LORD God because they have been called closer to Him, and through His Word, given them hope of salvation to come.
3. Hebrews 11:13 gives us the full standard of faith. You must be persuaded to the promises of the LORD God, embrace them, and confess them.
Let’s breakdown the standard of faith in the promise of the LORD God listed in Hebrews 11:13 that must be persuaded, embraced, and confessed.
The Promises of the LORD God
Acts 2:38–40 (KJV 1900)
38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as
many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
4. The LORD God promises:
a. If you are called by God, you can repent of your sins.
b. If you are called by God, you can be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins. (Please note: Remission means you are released from the power of sin through your baptismal grave)
c. If you are called by God, you can receive the Holy Ghost.
d. If you are called by God, you can save yourselves from the immoral, corrupt, crooked, worldly generation (Separate your presence from them).
Hebrews 6:9–12 (KJV 1900)
9 But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak. 10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. 11 And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises.
5. The LORD God promises through salvation:
a. To NOT forget your works and labors of love that you did in His
name
b. To righteously keep His promises for those with faith and patience, full assurance, and diligence to the end
2 Corinthians 6:16–7:1 (KJV 1900)
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 7 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all
filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
6. The LORD God promises:
a. You will be the temple of the living LORD God.
b. The LORD God will dwell in you (through the Holy Spirit).
c. The LORD God will walk with you (through the Holy Spirit).
d. The LORD God will be your God.
e. You shall be part of the LORD God’s people.
f. The LORD God will receive you if you separate yourself from the unclean things of the world.
g. The LORD God will be a Father to you.
h. You will be a part of the LORD God’s sons and daughters.
Luke 5:22–24 (KJV 1900)
22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house.
1 John 1:7–10 (KJV 1900)
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
7. The LORD God promises:
a. To give the Lord Jesus Christ power to forgive sins on earth,
b. To allow the blood of Jesus Christ to forgive and cleanse all those that walk in the light with his Son and have fellowship with other Christians.
c. To allow Christ to cleanse His Followers from all unrighteousness
Romans 4:21–5:2 (KJV 1900)
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. 22 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Teachings from Kathy L McFarland
When we teach young Christians who are beginning their faith walk with Christ, we talk most often about our beloved Lord Jesus Christ. After all, it is His blood that brings salvation to all of us, and is the most important doctrine that becomes a part of all the other doctrines that help contribute to us becoming righteous. But, as we mature, we must understand deeper, the things of God through His Word.
The Lord Jesus Christ shed His blood for the remission of sin in those that follow Him. Jesus Christ was given the power by the LORD God to forgive sins on this earth. The Lord Jesus Christ is our teacher, our mentor, our Lord, and our King. He is the risen Lord from His crucifixion, and that contributes to our hope of one day following Him in Resurrection into Eternal Life. His teachings and examples contributed to us becoming righteous, a condition necessary for us to serve our LORD God.
But the Lord Jesus Christ is NOT the LORD God. He is separate. He has His purposes, goals, and ways that enforce the things of the LORD God and contribute to God’s program.
The Trinity members (the LORD God, Lord Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) are equal in nature, distinct in Person, and submissive in duties. They are ONE GOD with THREE PERSONS.
That distinct “in Person” is the knowledge that mature Christians must understand before they can achieve full enlightenment of the Word of God. So let me make it a bit easier.
Check out points four to seven. All those points show some (but not all) of the important promises of the LORD God. Not Jesus Christ. Not the Holy Spirit. Those promises come from the LORD God of Omniscience (Holy), Omnipresence (Everywhere), and Omnipotence (Powerful).
If we believe those promises, if we have hope of those promises then that is called faith. When we have faith, we are saying that we believe all the promises that the LORD God has made to us in the Word of God.
The forgiveness of sin on this earth by the Lord Jesus Christ has happened to us as Christians. And the going to our Baptismal grave and resurrection in eternal life has been promised when our physical bodies die. We have faith that it all works because the LORD God promised it. He promised that His only begotten Son would lead us to Him.
So, though faith as a young Christian is expressed in the surety of forgiveness of sin and eternal life through Jesus Christ, as mature Christians, we must understand it more deeply. When we say we have faith, we are saying that we believe without doubt that the LORD God will keep His promises. Then as mature Christians, we start exploring the Word of God, to sort out exactly what those promises are, and what they mean to us as we seek after righteousness.
Updated Feb 15, 2024 10:24:51am
