Doctrine of Faith

Feb 27, 2019

Faith has to do with the character of the one who promises what is hoped for.


Hebrews 11:1  Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 


It would seem appropriate to use Hebrews 11:1 as a definition of faith; and we do need to define our terms or the doorway for miscommunication is opened more widely than necessary.  

If I am to have faith in something, I must be made to be sure of what I am looking for and I must be made to be convinced of what I do not see.  I must be sure of what I don't yet completely possess and convinced that it is mine by promise.  The thing promised is as good as in my hand - that's how sure I must be in faith.

Hebrews 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 tells us why the "must" is in the mix of being assured and convicted.  What God promises must be taken as if it is already ours.  Just like the Hebrews were taken out of Egypt and brought to the border of their new land.  We are brought to the border of our new land, but ours is as yet invisible.  They refused to enter, not believing they could enter.  God was so angry at being disbelieved, especially after all He had revealed to them about His ability and faithfulness, that he declared that generation of people would not enter, but that they would die in the desert.

So faith is imperative.  But who can be absolutely sure of what has only been told to them and of what they cannot even see?  How can one be so very convinced of eternal life promised when we can barely understand what it means?  Someone must convince us and someone must assure us so that we can take today what is promised and please God in doing so.

John 5:24  Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 

John 17:3  And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.


The gospel, God's good news to us about His Son Jesus and our salvation, is the most important promise - ever!  It is a promise of life.  It's really more like a declaration that a promise made has been kept; meaning the way to life with God forever without our sins has been made by Jesus in his coming and dying and rising from the dead to return to Heaven from where he came.  However, it is a promise in itself as well because it is by faith in Jesus - the one who completed the work of the promise - that we are saved from our sins and God's judgment to be made His children forever.

The gospel is what we are to believe.  God in Christ Jesus is who we are to believe.  The Holy Spirit is He who makes it possible for us to believe.

So we clarify (a little) the promise of all promises to believe and now can get back to the faith of it.  No one can be sure of anything that is promised without first being sure of the one who promises.  The character, revealed reputation, of the one who makes the promise tells us how sure we can be of the promise being completed.  What God promises can not be done by anyone other than God.  So how can we please Him by having faith in Him?  How can we be absolutely sure of God, that He will do as He has said - give us life eternal?

The only thing that can make us sure is to know who God is.  God not only tells us what to believe and who to believe, He makes sure to give ample reason for us to know His ability and willingness and even his motivation (His Glory).  He reveals His character in the Scripture as well as to us personally through circumstances and prayer and life in general.  Anyone can read the Bible and anyone can live through circumstances and anyone can pretend to pray, but the Holy Spirit reveals God through things to those whose eyes He has opened.

If ones eyes have been opened, he has but one need - to keep on being sure of the one who makes the promise!  If his eyes have not been opened, he has but one hope - keep on being told why he can be sure of the promise maker.  The Holy Spirit will testify to God and to no one else.  The power of the Holy Spirit is necessary to believe at first and to believe until the end.

We come to the necessity of doctrine.  What are we to teach and preach and focus on?  Doctrine has to do with the character of God or it is empty.  Any doctrine that is not rooted in and based on God's character will have no lasting good effect on one's faith.  God is one.  God is what He does and He is what He says.  There is no division in Him, His words, acts and being are one.  Knowing His deeds and declarations cause us to know His character.  Knowing His character makes us more sure of the promises He has made because it makes us more sure of Him.

A doctrine is a stance or a perspective which is taught.  If a doctrine cannot be traced back to God's character, it is not sound.  It will not hold water; has no floor.  No matter how fervently it is shouted, if God's character does not back it, it is of no use.  On the contrary, it will be a distraction at best and a deception at worst.  Take for example the doctrine that Jesus is in fact the Son of God.  This is in accordance with God's character as revealed in the whole of Scripture.  In Scripture it is made quite plain that no one can save except God alone, that God would not have it any other way, that at the end of it all, no one will say they did anything for God with respect to completing His plan for His glory.  Of course, there are lots of individual verses that prove the declaration of this doctrine but God's character makes it firm.  It seals it with the assurance of Himself.

Faith has to do with the character of the one who promises that which is hoped for.
True doctrine has to do with relating God's character in specific ways for the purpose of securing the assurance for the believer and giving the unbeliever a rock to stand on.

It does the hearers no good to be shy of discussing doctrine or to avoid certain doctrine because of its unpopularity - real or perceived.  If you are certain that you have sound doctrine, teach it.  If you aren't certain, examine it.   You might want to start with the Bible ;)