SERMON 157: THE FAITH
Germaine Charles Lockwood

 The prophet of God Habakkuk wrote what God told Him to write:

 Habakkuk 2:4: . . . But the just shall live by his faith.

This can also be translated into English by:

 . . . But the just shall live by his faithfulness.

The Hebrew word for faith or faithfulness is “emunah.”

God foretold that the righteous would live by his faith, by his faithfulness. Galatians 3:11 quotes Habakkuk 2:4:

Galatians 3:11: But that no one is justified by the law in the sight of God is evident, for “The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11. 

And:

Galatians 3:23-25: But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Messiah, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. Galatians 3:23-25.

The faith has been revealed. What is the faith that was revealed? That which we are to believe and obey in the New Covenant revealed through Messiah and His apostles. 

Hebrews 12:2: looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2.

Messiah Jesus is the author and finisher of the faith.

Let us see how the Bible uses the expression: “the faith.” 

Acts 6:7: And the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. Acts 6:7.

When the priests followed Messiah, they were obedient to the faith. The faith is to be believed and also to be obeyed. Listen to: 

Romans 1:3-5: concerning His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, through whom we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name, Romans 1:3-5.

Yes, the faith is the teaching to be believed and obeyed.

We read also about obedience to the faith in:

Romans 16:26: but now has been made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures has been made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith-- Romans 16:26.

The word of God states clearly that there is only one faith.

Ephesians 4:4-6: There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all. Ephesians 4:4-6.

There is only one faith that has been revealed by God.

Jude wrote that we are to contend earnestly for the faith.

Jude 3: Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith, which was once for all delivered to the saints. Jude 3.

Note that the faith had been delivered to the saints once for all. There was no faith to be delivered later to the people of God.

We are to contend earnestly for the one faith that had been delivered to Christians in the New Covenant. This is the faith that we are to believe and obey. Any faith that came later is not the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. The New Covenant that came through Messiah Jesus and His apostles is the only true faith from God. We need to return to Messiah Jesus, to the New Testament, rejecting all that has come later from men.

In Romans 14:1: we read about those who are weak in the faith. In 1 Timothy 4:1: the Spirit foretold that some would depart from the faith. In 1 Timothy 5:8: there are those who deny the faith. In 1 Timothy 6:10: there are those who stray from the faith. In 
1 Peter 5:9: we are to resist the devil, steadfast in the faith. The Apostle Paul wrote before he was killed for his faith in:

2 Timothy 4:7, 8: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, . . . 2 Tim. 4:7, 8.

Paul had kept the faith and went to receive his crown in heaven.

We need to keep the faith. We need to be faithful, full of faith from the word of God. It is written in: 

1 Peter 1:7-9: that the genuineness of your faith, being more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:7-9.

Will you have faith in Messiah Jesus that is more precious than gold? Will you receive the end of your faith--the salvation of your soul, eternal life in the heavenly Jerusalem? 

Revelation 14:12: Here is the patience of the saints; here are those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus. Revelation 14:12.

The good news is that Messiah Jesus died for our sins according to the scriptures, and He was buried, and He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. This is the gospel.

Romans 1:17: For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ”The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17.

You can become a child of God in the Kingdom of Messiah by putting your faith in Messiah Jesus, the Son of God, turning away from sin, confessing your faith in Messiah, and being baptized, buried in water into Messiah Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins. 

Galatians 3:26, 27: For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. Galatians 3:26, 27.

Then you can obey the faith, keep the faith, become sound in the faith, resist the devil, steadfast in the faith, walk by faith, live by faith, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your soul in the heavenly New Jerusalem. Amen!