But without faith (a firm persuasion or conviction) it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

• God is revealed in creation:

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.  Psalm 19:1

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:  Romans 1:20

• God’s laws are written upon man’s heart and conscience:

For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves:

Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;  Romans 2:14 & 15

• God is unveiled in Jesus Christ:   

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.  For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.  Colossians 2:8 & 9

And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.  John 17:3.

• God is revealed in a changed life:

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  II Corinthians 5:17

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?  Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.  I Corinthians 6:9, 10 & 11

Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.  Psalm 66:16

……………the just shall live by faith.  Galatians 3:11

• What is faith? Is it a leap in the dark?

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

Faith is both substance and evidence.

According to W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, faith is a firm persuasion or conviction based upon hearing. 

• Faith should not be placed randomly. Faith has a clear objective.

The Apostle Paul defined the gospel in I Corinthians 15:1-4. It is clear and simple.

Moreover brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I have preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I have preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also have received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

• Faith is the gangplank used to board the ship of grace (we are saved by grace through faith).  Misplaced faith can be used to board the wrong ship.

Warning against false teachers Jesus said: Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.  Matthew 7:21-23

• Saving faith is based upon the finished work and merit of Jesus Christ alone.

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.  Acts 4:12

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8&9

• Is faith important?

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.  Hebrews 11:6

Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  Ephesians 6:16

• How do we get faith?

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly!

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:6

God is sinless, that is His nature.  Nothing sinful or defiled can enter into His presence without being destroyed.  We understand this whether we can admit it or not.

Nuclear energy is invisible to our eyes.  It is a tremendous resource for power, both constructive and destructive.  It’s nature is radioactive.  Radiation kills people.  We must handle it properly or witness it’s nature to kill that which is not properly protected.

Nuclear energy is just a power.  God is a person with whom we may have a relationship.

We are sinners, that is our nature.  Because we are sinful and God is sinless, we are alienated from Him.  

Religion is constantly looking for ways to appease God.  The act of appeasing God is like bringing an offering of flowers to lay before a breached nuclear reactor, in hope of saving oneself from radiation’s destructive power.  That is silly, but so is the idea that we can possibly do anything to make ourselves acceptable to God.

We are made in the image of God.  We are a spirit that has a body.  God wants to have a relationship with us but He cannot invite us into His presence without destroying us.  We cannot sneak into His presence without being destroyed.  We cannot protect ourselves from His sinlessness.  There is nothing that we can fabricate or invent that will make us presentable to Him.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him (Jesus Christ) the iniquity of us all.  Isaiah 53:6

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him (Jesus Christ) should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

Come to Christ and live!

When morning gilds the skies,
My heart awaking cries:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Alike at work and prayer,
To Jesus I repair;
May Jesus Christ be praised!  

Does sadness fill my mind?
A solace here I find,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Or fades my earthly bliss?
My comfort still is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

When sleep her balm denies,
My silent spirit sighs,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
When evil thoughts molest,
With this I shield my breast:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

The night becomes as day
When from the heart we say:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
The pow’rs of darkness fear
When this sweet chant they hear:
May Jesus Christ be praised!

In heav’n’s eternal bliss
The loveliest strain is this,
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Let earth, and sea, and sky
From depth to height reply,
May Jesus Christ be praised!

Be this, while life is mine,
My song of love divine:
May Jesus Christ be praised!
Sing this eternal song
Through all the ages long:
May Jesus Christ be praised!