The Faith of Jesus

Memory Verse: "Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus"(Revelation 14:12).

Scripture Reading: Titus 1.

Introduction: Faith is not a license to sin. It is not an avenue for disobedience. It is not a destroyer of good works. Faith is the guide-star and the living principle, without which, righteousness could not be known.
  Paul defined faith as, "the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:60). Faith has the meaning also of "the faith," or the tenets of one's religious belief. Yet, these tenets all revolve around the possession of an abiding faith in the Higher Power, who has given us light and truth.
  To have the faith of Jesus is to keep the commandments of God, because obedience comes as a result of faith. "Here are they that keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus" (Revelation 14:12).
  It is our "faith" that tells us that God is holy, just and good; that with Him there is no wavering or changing (James 1:17). We believe that His standards of righteousness were established before the foundations of the world, and that they cannot be abrogated by any power inferior to God. No law can be annulled by anything less than the same power which instituted that law.
  How can one who walks in faith also walk in darkness or disobedience? "If we say we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth..." (1 John 1:6). Now if we walk in the light, what will prove that our faith contains "substance," or "evidence" that it is real? Answer: "Hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments" (1 John 2:3). Faith must be expressed in order to be recognized.

Questions:

1. How does the Bible describe a righteous person? Revelation 14:12-14 and Psalm 1.

2. Why was Abraham considered righteous? Genesis 26:5; 18:19.

3. What motivated Abraham to obey God? Genesis 15:6.

4. Was faith as necessary to salvation in the time before Christ as it is in the Gospel Age? Hebrews 11:32-40.

5. How is active faith described in the Scriptures? James 2:14-26. (Note: "Active faith" means sufficient faith to result in action and deeds.)

6. How did the apostles show that any claim of faith without works is a childish and vain claim? James 2:11-18; Romans 3:31.

7. How is faith in God reflected in Christian doctrines? Romans 6:15-17; 1 Timothy 4:16; 2 Timothy 1:13; John 7:16,17.

8. Do faith and grace in any way make void God's laws? Are we to obey or disobey them? Romans 6:1,3; 3:19; 2:1-6,21-23.

9. What then does constitute the "faith of Jesus" according to the Scriptures? Hebrews 6:1,2; James 1:21-25; 2:8-12; Acts 2:37-42.

10. Why is it important to have the "faith of Jesus?" Matthew 7:21; 12:50; Acts 5:29; James 1:25; Revelation 22:14.