In this blog a lot of emphasis is put on reading the Bible. This is emphasized because ….faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).  Faith does not come by experience.  Experience (testings or trials) simply reveals whether or not we have faith. 

W.E. Vine defines faith as “a firm persuasion or conviction brought about by hearing.”  In order to be firmly persuaded about something, one must have understanding.  The Holy Spirit will give understanding and conviction from the Scriptures concerning man’s alienation from God, sin’s penalty, God’s mercy and His unspeakable gift of forgiveness and eternal life through His Son, Jesus Christ. 

There are different kinds of faith.  The type of faith you have depends upon what you are listening to.  Saving faith comes from the doctrine of Christ as revealed in the Scripture.  Saving faith is based upon the merit of Christ and nothing else.  I need no other argument, I need no other plea.  It is enough that Jesus died, and that He died for me.  Church tradition often gets in the way of the simple gospel message.

Superstition can be mistaken for faith.  Superstition can be biblical information without understanding.   Athletes often have Bible verses and crosses tattooed on their bodies, but the absence  of spiritual understanding is displayed by profane and immoral life styles.  Do those wearing crosses understand what took place upon the cross or are the crosses worn simply as a talisman or a lucky token to ward off defeat and misfortune?

Just reading or hearing the Bible is not enough.  There are those who spend their entire life in the Christian religion but without understanding.  A holy grail, church tradition, or some religious object somehow infused with mysterious power becomes the objective, and not the person of Christ.  The Lord Jesus challenged the Pharisees concerning this very thing saying; Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.  John 5:39-40

Do you lack understanding?

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.

Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.  And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?  And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me?  And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:  In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation?  for his life is taken from the earth.

And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this?  of himself, or of some other man?  Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.

And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.  And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.        Acts 8:26-38 KJV

Note: True Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ.

…….let the word of Christ dwell in you richly……

A fool has no delight in understanding, But in expressing his own heart.  Proverbs 18:2 NKJV