Separating Biblical Faith From Personal Opinion Belief
Posted: Sunday, January 29, 2012
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
It would seem to me that well over half of those professing Christianity to whom I have spoken over the years, simply fail to understand what the bible teaches concerning the faith taught in the inspired word. Most will simply say, “I believe the bible (or Jesus) teaches us to do thus and so” while having no scripture to back it up, or if there is such taught in the scripture, they cannot tell you where it is.
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 KJV)
That may seem to be kindly a round about statement, not explaining what is meant by faith, but it just shows that, whatever it is, it is absolutely necessary. So we must determine just what it is that is being spoken of here. If you will take the time to read this entire chapter of this letter to the Hebrews, you will see readily what it is referring to.
The first three verses of this chapter begins with this statement: Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
It then itemizes many things contained in the Old Testament which proves without any doubt that the faith being spoken of, is faith and trust in the word of God. If God told someone to do something, He meant what he said without injecting personal opinion in any way. Those of old, were required to carry out the dictates of the holy word, without injecting their own thoughts.
And we also have a scripture verse that, although short, gives the precise answer as to what faith is and where it comes from.
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV) This verse leaves nothing to doubt. One obtains his faith by absorbing the word of God. The more of the Holy Scriptures one learns, the stronger his faith becomes. If one knows nothing about what the bible says, then he may have all manner of opinions, but it is not the biblical faith without which it is impossible to please him. (Above Hebrews 11:6 reference) Also, if one has little knowledge of the word of God, he may have strong opinions but his faith in obeying what the bible says is weak.
In this age, we are without excuse. We can become quite knowledgeable of the contents of the bible, by reading it and study helps about it, 2 or 3 hours per day, in a couple of years time. By that time, you will not want to stop studying what it says and what it means. As your faith grows, so does your interest.
I’m retired, so I have many hours more per week that I can study than those who have to work. But even before I retired, for the last several years, I listened to tapes containing the bible as I drove to and from work daily…a one hour trip each way. There are tapes and now CD’s with the entire King James Version by Alexander Scourby. There are others, but I much prefer Scourby. He is an Englishman, with only a slight twinge of their accent. His voice is clear and pleasant. His enunciation is near perfect and it almost sounds as if the biblical characters are doing the talking.
In addition, we now have the internet where you can find almost everything of any value in your studying the Holy Scriptures. So drop some of your other hobbies and start studying the bible, and about the bible.
This Article has been viewed 326 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)As a Friend, I appreciate that you called it "the inspired word." I sometimes have confrontations over the Quakers' view of the Bible. It is especially a problem when a sect claims to have THE WAY. Friends only say that they believe they have found A WAY.Thank you Jack for reading and commenting. I've always admired the Quakers for their devotion. I know that I see some parts of the scripture differently than many others. But, I believe that there is only ONE way (and that is from the sctiptures) and it is not any church formed after the day of Pentecost as described in the 2nd chapter of Acts. His church came into being, that day. And admission into it is simply by obeying everything that the apostles taught and He adds you to it upon your humble obedience.
Excellent piece of writing.Thanks Denny for reading and the comment. I sincerely appreciate it.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.