IN THE FAITH

-Peter tells us:

            -What to do -           Resist

            -In what degree -     Stedfastly

            -By what avenue -   In the Faith

-What is meant by “in the faith”?

-Rom 1:16-17

            -“from faith to faith” – God has provided us with a system of faith that produces faith.

            -As a result, we can be considered righteous in God’s sight even though we have sinned.

-God’s System of Faith

-When considering God’s system of faith, we find the importance of the word “the” – “the” faith.

            -“The” indicates something in particular and can also indicate singularity.

            -There is a difference between “a” book and “the” book.

-Acts 6:7, 14:22, 16:5

-1 Cor 16:13

-Gal 1:23

-Eph 4:13

-1 Tim 5:8

-Jude 3

-We find then a particular system of faith:

            -Facts to be believed – John 20:30-31

            -Commandments to be obeyed – Eccl 12:13, John 14:15, 1 John 5:3

            -Promises to be embraced – 2 Pet 1:2-4, 1 John 2:25

-John 12:48-49 – Jesus delivered commandments from God.

            -2 John 9-11 – doctrine of Christ

-Matt 28:18-20 – When Jesus gave instructions to spread the Gospel, He specifically stated that the

                          information was to be in accordance with the things He taught.

-Now we have a system of faith (God’s word which completely furnishes us – 2 Tim 3:17) that

  produces faith within us.

-Producing Faith

-1 John 5:4 – “our faith”

-2 Pet 1:1,5 – Notice that faith is developed and built upon.

-Where does that faith come from?  How is it produced? 

            -Rom 10:17

-Other examples:

            -Eph 1:15 (vs 13 – word of truth)

            -2 Thess 1:3,  1 Thess 2:13

            -1 Pet 1:7-9, 18-23

-Oftentimes, we hear people telling how they think God works and what God expects of mankind

  but they make those decisions on their own without consulting God’s word.

            -Proper faith is not developed in that manner.  Jer 10:23

            -Proper faith results from God’s word – rightly dividing the word of truth – 2 Tim 2:15.

-Eph 4:5 – “one faith”

-To resist Satan, we must turn to God’s system of faith (His word) and allow it to produce the proper

  faith in us.

-Outside of the proper faith, there is no resistance to Satan.  Therefore, to resist Satan, we must do so “in the faith”.

-Therefore, may we always be diligent in our studies, earnest in our prayers and stedfast in our

  resistance so that we may one day share in that final victory – eternal life in heaven!