Faith is not the acceptance of biblical facts. Deception occurs here often when a person considers himself a Christian because he believes in and accepts the facts of the Bible. These facts include Christ's virgin birth, sinless life, death and resurrection. You can believe all the facts of the gospel without ever exercising true faith. You can know that Christ died for you, but the knowledge and acceptance of these truths do not consist in true faith.

James 2:19 "Thou believes that there is one God; thou does well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

True faith is an act of the heart or will that must consist in the embracing of truth by the will. It is a choice to place confidence in Christ and what the Spirit reveals of Him. It is a complete surrender of the will and the whole being to God, Christ, and the gospel. Faith truly receives Christ and His truth. Faith is depending upon Christ for everything as a Savior He promises to do for us. True faith receives the promises of God because it believes that God means exactly what He says.

A person must have an awareness of his actual dependence on Christ. This dependence must become a living idea and a practical reality to the mind for him to truly depend on Christ. Faith in Christ must become a reality that the mind deeply feels before a person can be cleansed from sin. Many that claim they depend on Christ are only making self-righteous efforts. They do not realize that they are dead in sin. A person will always rely on himself until he is convicted that all is hopeless and fruitless without Christ.

A person must realize that he never will get rid of his desire to sin without trusting Christ. While he considers any quality about himself as good he will never depend on Christ. Every person must be saved from a selfish heart. A heart that chooses to love selfishness and does not love God. This selfish heart will never even have the desire to ever love Him. When you are truly convicted, you will know without a doubt that your heart is continually set on doing evil and you desperately need Christ.

Many are deceived and in darkness because when they consider sin, they only think of some particular sins. They think that they only need Christ to be saved from these. They do not realize that they are rotten to the core. They do not see that they are rooted in selfishness and this is why they really need salvation. Each person truly needs his desire to love sin to be replaced with a desire to love God and please Him. God through Christ promises that He will do this for those who fulfill the conditions.

Have you ever seen your total selfishness? Are you trying to get rid of certain sins? Have you learned that you need salvation from your selfish state of mind? Do you know that a selfish mind is at enmity against God? Each person must come to this understanding before they can put any trust in Christ. He must realize that within his own flesh dwells no-good thing. Without this knowledge a person will always trust and rely on himself making it impossible for God to save him.

Faith is the base for all obedience. There can be no giving up sin or repentance or any acceptable obedience without first exercising faith. Nothing can be done before or without faith but the works of the law that flow out of pure selfishness. The sinner's only real duty then is faith.

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

Romans 14:23b "For whatsoever is not of faith is sin."

All holy acts proceed from faith. There is no repentance, justification or salvation without faith. Repentance, submission and love all depend on the exercise of faith. Every Christian grace depends on faith as its foundation. Faith is the fountain from which all true obedience and holiness flow.

True faith naturally produces all other inward grace and outward good works as any cause produces its effects. Without true faith that receives Christ, one remains a total enemy of God. Without confidence in the character and requirements of God it is impossible for a person to do any holy act.

True faith is not passive or inactive. True faith must always consist in the using of all available resources. Many claim to have faith but have no works to support their claim. The person who says he has faith but does nothing is deceived. True faith must always produce works. The Christian relies on Christ for his ceaseless supply of every need.

James 2:17,26 "Even so faith, if has not works, is dead, being alone. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also."

Deception occurs when a person considers his deeds have spiritual value. There are two kinds of work possible. One is dead works. These are deeds of the flesh done in one's own strength and energy. Much work and effort that takes place in the churches is dead. These efforts are legal and have no spiritual value at all. Any work done out of selfishness is sinful no matter what it is. The other kind of work results from a heart full of God's love.

Gal. 5:5 "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love."

All efforts that do not proceed from a heart full of God's love are legal and sinful. True works must flow out of a heart filled with God's love but no works can ever produce God's love. True works are the result of love.

Faith will instantly make a person's heart holy. You must exercise faith immediately or remain faithless. There is no circumstance or state of mind where the exercise of faith is impossible. We always can rely and trust in God.

Obedience from the heart is impossible without a confidence that works by love. A person cannot truly love God out of hope, fear or any other selfish motive.

Faith needs an idea of the truth and a trust of the heart that freely chooses to submit to the control of truth to exist. The mind can understand the truth without the exercise of faith. Faith requires the mind to have an idea of the truth so the heart can embrace it.

No person will receive or believe a truth or doctrine any further than he can understand it. It is impossible for faith to exist without some knowledge of the truth. Faith freely yields to the control of truth. Faith is a free choice that receives Christ's lordship, rule, influences, instructions, and guidance. Faith is the only method by which Christ can be received.

There is much deception about faith today. There are many books, tapes, and teachings on faith. Many teach if you believe something and speak it out, you will cause it to happen. They teach that you can create what you want out of your words. The problem with this teaching is, it places us and our words above Christ. Faith can never be placed above or take Christ's place. True faith receives and submits to the lordship of Jesus Christ in all His relations, roles and functions.

In 1 Cor. 13:2 Paul said that even if he had the faith to remove mountains, and did not have God's pure love, he would be nothing. Christ said in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches: He that abides in me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit: for without me you can do nothing." This nothing is sin. Remember without God's love in the heart all that is done is sin.

Faith is not like a genie in a lamp that you rub to get your dreams and wishes fulfilled. True faith never works by selfishness. Faith does not force nor manipulate God in any way. Faith is not a button to press that receives God's service. God is not a person's servant to do his bidding. A true Christian has Christ as his King and Ruler. He serves Christ and is totally submissive to Him. Any doctrine, teaching or practice that presents the idea that God is to serve us is wrong and deceptive. Many people use faith and God for their own selfish interest. These people are not true Christians for they are the god of their own realm and only use God as a way to serve their own selfishness.

Faith cannot be put in the place of Christ. Faith is not anyone's savior. Jesus Christ is the only Savior there is. Faith is simply the only method to receive Christ. Without Christ salvation is impossible. It is Christ that saves us. Without faith, we would never receive Christ, but without Christ salvation is impossible.

Faith is not to be worshiped or something to seek after. True faith exists only as a result of the working of God and Christ. It only exists as the result of the influences of Christ on the mind. Jesus Christ Himself is the only true source of a person's faith. Heb. 12:2a "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith."

It is impossible for a person to have true faith independent of Christ. Faith is a result of God's free grace. True faith always works by love, makes the heart holy, and overcomes the world, the flesh, and the devil. I John 5:1-5 "Whosoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves him that begat loves him also that is begotten of him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. For whatsoever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcomes the world, but he that believes that Jesus is the son of God?" Jesus Christ is the only true source of faith there is. All one needs to do is take Him as Lord, King and only source of faith. One must always be totally dependent on Christ for faith.

The proof of true faith is a true love for God and others that keeps His commandments. A person who claims to have faith but does not overcome sin nor keep God's commandments is deceived. He does not have God's love.

No amount of positive confession, possibility thinking, or positive thinking can ever produce faith. The power of thinking never can produce anything that God considers good. If it could, then we would never need God.

Even Bible reading does not produce faith. Romans 10:17 "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Faith comes by the Spirit of Christ birthing the words to life in one's soul. It does not come from just hearing the words of the Bible. A person can read or listen to the Bible all day without the production of any faith. Faith is a simple act of submission. No amount of preparatory work of any kind can lead to faith.

The unrepentant sinner does not lack just faith and light. Unbelief is the will in a chosen state in extreme opposition to the truth and will of God. The mind in this state takes many efforts to resist and shut out existing light. The mind refuses to know and be influenced by truth. It is not a state of ignorance but the mind resists knowing the way of obedience and known duty. Any truth that a sinner receives or acts on is for selfish interests. He rejects all truth that he cannot apply to self.

Unbelief is the cause of all sin. It is the source of all sin. It consists in the refusal to trust and place confidence in God. This refusal of confidence led to Adam's real crime. His distrust led to and caused the outward act. Nothing but unbelief in any instance, is the cause of a person's sin.

Unbelief is the cause and faith is the remedy if you are in any difficulty, in deep sin, in a backslidden state, or in confusion. Unbelief in any person will defeat all God's efforts to save and make him holy. Isa. 7:9 "If you will not believe, surely you shall not be established." Holiness is nothing else than giving up the mind to the truth and promises of God.

Faith is a trust or confidence in God that commits the soul to Christ. I Peter 4:19b "Commit the keeping of your soul to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator." Many people are deceived. They think they believe in Christ and His truth but they remain unchanged. A person does not believe at all if his conduct remains unchanged by the truth. A person does not believe a truth until it influences the conduct. True faith does not exist if a person's conduct remains unchanged by truth. Any person who claims to believe in Christ or claims to be born again but remains in sin is completely deceived. True faith will make a person holy.

Many are confused. They think and say they trust God but distrust themselves and never expect the fulfillment of God's promises. It is true that a person cannot place any trust or confidence in himself. Faith is total and complete confidence in God and His promises. His promises provide everything for holiness and entire sanctification. A person may say that he trusts God but does not trust himself ever to fulfill the conditions. He is calling God a liar and is full of unbelief. Examine one such promise:

1 Thess. 5:23-24 "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God that your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He that calls you, who will also do it."

This promise covers all the needs of a person. It is sinful unbelief if you do not expect the fulfillment of the promise. The person claiming distrust is saying, "Lord you said you would sanctify me wholly in soul, body and spirit but I do not believe it. I do not believe you can for I distrust myself." The lack of trust in oneself is not an excuse for failing to experience the results of the promise. Do not fool yourself. Unbelief is sin and the only real reason that a person fails.

Take hold of the promises and believe. Expect God to fulfill His word and He will. This expectation cannot be based upon the promise itself. It must be based upon the character of the promise giver. It is impossible for any person to rely upon or believe any promise without a total confidence in God's character. God stands behind every promise. For true faith to exist a person must look beyond the promise to God Himself.

Study questions.

1. What is faith?

2. What does true faith always produce?

3. What is the real duty for the sinner?

4. What must each person realize before he can place any real trust in God? Why?

5. What is the source of all Christian grace?

6. Can a person repent without faith? Why?

7. Does believing the Bible prove one has faith?

8. What does faith work by?

9. Can positive thinking ever produce faith? Why?

10. What must faith depend on?

11. How does one get faith?

12. Are there any preparatory works one needs to perform before faith? Why?

13. What does the mind need before faith can exist?

14. Does faith manipulate God? Why?

15. Is faith possible independent of Christ? Why?

16. Explain the difference between the two kinds of work possible.

17. Can faith exist without works? Why?

18. What is the source of one's salvation?

19. What would happen if a person had faith but no love?

20. Is faith something to worship? Why?

21. What is unbelief? Why is it a crime?

22. What causes all sin? Why?

23. What is the proof of true faith?

24. What kind of person claims to have faith but fails to keep God's law?

25. Should a person have faith in faith? Why?

26. What is the problem with the teaching of getting what you say?

27. Is there any circumstance where the exercise of faith is impossible? Why?

28. Does true faith always overcome the world? Why?

29. Can one believe the facts of the Bible without ever exercising true faith?

30. What is wrong if a person claims he trusts God but thinks he may fail?