Now faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.
Does this mean our faith shall become stronger by hearing and studying the Word? When we only study and hear it is like seeing ourselves in a mirror, because when we leave the presence of the mirror we forget who we are. When we see ourselves and put into practice what the Word says we are, then we shall remember who we are. A major part of the Word is "doing", not studying. Jesus said we are now capable of healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out devils because of the power and authority we have jointly inherited with Him. How is our faith strengthened in that belief? By studying about that belief in the Word, or by doing it?
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. This passage of scripture is about becoming a good worker and becoming approved of God for being a good worker. It is not about getting a stronger faith through studying. Paul was talking about his teachings being corrupted by other teachers picking apart words. Words had become more important than the basic sound teaching of the Gospel that Paul was preaching. Rightly dividing the Word is part of being a workman approved of God. Being an approved workman is the goal, not studying.
Romans 10:17 New Living Translation So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. This passage is about the faith of being saved. An unbelievers faith to be saved comes from hearing the Word of God being preached. How can a person hear and believe if the Word is not preached? So the faith to be saved comes from hearing, and the message heard is the Word of God. It is like a mustard seed faith. How is our faith strengthened? Through studying? James 2:22 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? This passage is about Abraham sacrificing Isaac. The faith of Abraham became perfect through his works. Abraham believed and became a friend of God, and the Father of many nations. Abraham was declared righteous by God because Abraham believed God.
What is the works God wants us to do? John 6:29 28Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." John 14:12 12"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater. Jesus learned and became stronger. Luke 2:52 52And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
And there is King David. Was his faith in God strengthened by studying? Or was his faith strengthened by the practical application of his faith in God through the trials he went through? The major part of the Psalms are written by David and they express the faith of David getting stronger through doing something, like trusting in God.
The Pharisees of Jesus time studied the scriptures and knew the scriptures but they did not recognize Jesus as being the person the scripture pointed to. Saul (Paul), was a Pharisee of the Pharisees', studying under top Pharisees. He did not recognize Jesus as being the one the scriptures were pointing to. All that studying and their faith was not strengthed. How sad. They had faith in themselves that they knew the Word, but they did not "know" God and have a strong faith in God. Jesus is all about doing something, like healing the sick, freeing those oppressed of the devil. I don't see where He said "study". How many illiterate people were there at that time. The poor, the sick, the lepers, the prostitutes, etc. were not students capable of studying. But when the Holy Spirit came in them and on them they could do the works that Jesus did, and greater. Their faith became stronger through "doing" the works, not studying about them. They did not have a New Testament at that time to study. The N.T. came about because of people doing something with whatever faith they had.
The believers in Jesus time did not have Bibles to study. The scriptures were in the temple, and people did not carry around a New Testament or Old Testament or have one on the table. They did not have public schools to learn how to read. They believed and did something about what they heard and believed, and their faith was strengthened.
Does this mean our faith shall become stronger by hearing and studying the Word? When we only study and hear it is like seeing ourselves in a mirror, because when we leave the presence of the mirror we forget who we are. When we see ourselves and put into practice what the Word says we are, then we shall remember who we are. A major part of the Word is "doing", not studying. Jesus said we are now capable of healing the sick, raising the dead, and casting out devils because of the power and authority we have jointly inherited with Him. How is our faith strengthened in that belief? By studying about that belief in the Word, or by doing it?
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. This passage of scripture is about becoming a good worker and becoming approved of God for being a good worker. It is not about getting a stronger faith through studying. Paul was talking about his teachings being corrupted by other teachers picking apart words. Words had become more important than the basic sound teaching of the Gospel that Paul was preaching. Rightly dividing the Word is part of being a workman approved of God. Being an approved workman is the goal, not studying.
Romans 10:17 New Living Translation So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ. This passage is about the faith of being saved. An unbelievers faith to be saved comes from hearing the Word of God being preached. How can a person hear and believe if the Word is not preached? So the faith to be saved comes from hearing, and the message heard is the Word of God. It is like a mustard seed faith. How is our faith strengthened? Through studying? James 2:22 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? This passage is about Abraham sacrificing Isaac. The faith of Abraham became perfect through his works. Abraham believed and became a friend of God, and the Father of many nations. Abraham was declared righteous by God because Abraham believed God.
What is the works God wants us to do? John 6:29 28Therefore they said to Him, "What shall we do, so that we may work the works of God?" 29Jesus answered and said to them, "This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He has sent." John 14:12 12"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater. Jesus learned and became stronger. Luke 2:52 52And Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
And there is King David. Was his faith in God strengthened by studying? Or was his faith strengthened by the practical application of his faith in God through the trials he went through? The major part of the Psalms are written by David and they express the faith of David getting stronger through doing something, like trusting in God.
The Pharisees of Jesus time studied the scriptures and knew the scriptures but they did not recognize Jesus as being the person the scripture pointed to. Saul (Paul), was a Pharisee of the Pharisees', studying under top Pharisees. He did not recognize Jesus as being the one the scriptures were pointing to. All that studying and their faith was not strengthed. How sad. They had faith in themselves that they knew the Word, but they did not "know" God and have a strong faith in God. Jesus is all about doing something, like healing the sick, freeing those oppressed of the devil. I don't see where He said "study". How many illiterate people were there at that time. The poor, the sick, the lepers, the prostitutes, etc. were not students capable of studying. But when the Holy Spirit came in them and on them they could do the works that Jesus did, and greater. Their faith became stronger through "doing" the works, not studying about them. They did not have a New Testament at that time to study. The N.T. came about because of people doing something with whatever faith they had.
The believers in Jesus time did not have Bibles to study. The scriptures were in the temple, and people did not carry around a New Testament or Old Testament or have one on the table. They did not have public schools to learn how to read. They believed and did something about what they heard and believed, and their faith was strengthened.
