Faith is...

In this third part of what faith is, from the notes I took off of Steve Lawson's message, it talks about the will. This is an area I have experienced much objection to because of the tension in God's Word about the difference between man's responsibility and man's 'free will'. I will address that issue in another blog as I believe this message will help clarify this subject and be very helpful.

[ The third non-negotiable aspect of faith after the mind and the emotions is the volitional or the will. This involves trust, commitment, the supernatural acting upon the truth of what your mind knows and your heart feels which causes a choice of the will to be made. It is a decisive obedience to the truth.

If there is no obedience to the truth there is not true faith. James 2: 17. Faith is never by itself. Faith alone saves but faith that is alone never saves. Demons believe with the mind and emotion and tremble. True living, saving faith goes all the way... beyond head knowledge and mere heart assent. It goes to the engaging and activating of the will to make a choice in accordance with the Word of God, to follow the will of God. It is full surrender to God and a relentless pursuit of Christ with purposeful obedience to His Word.

True saving faith acts, chooses, steps out, moves out, reaches out, pursues Christ.

Hebrews 11: 7 shows how all three parts of true faith are evident in Noah's obedient response to God.

1. intellectual- "being warned by God", God said, facts, command
2. emotional- 'in reverence' Noah responded because he believed in his heart what God said.
3. volitional- "he prepared an ark" Commitment of his will, "If I am the only one who believes what God said, I will believe it!!" And for 120 years he built the ark- alone!]

All three elements must be evident if/when there is true salvation.
Faith is a gift from God- He gives us faith so we can know His Word, believe His Word, and commit to follow His Word. Our response to God often appears as though we were making a choice for Him from within our own self, by our own will and this is what I want to address in the next blog.

for the praise of His glory alone,
Norma