Some Essentials of Faith

Lenny Chapman
11/29/15 - Sun AM

SOME ESSENTIALS OF FAITH

(2Peter 1: 5-8)

1. Some of the simplest things in life are the most profound, (Love).

2. Faith is such a thing – It is a concept even a child can understand; yet it contains depths that can 

hardly be plumbed by a lifetime of study.

a. Faith is much misunderstood in the religious world at large.

b. Generally it is trivialized and made to appear much less than it really is in the Scriptures.

3. Consider some things that must be true about faith.

B. Faith Must Be Generated By God’s Word

1. (Rom 10:17) “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” 

a. If the thing we call our “faith” has been produce by anything other than the word of God, 

2. The word of God produces faith in God and in Him alone. (2Tim 1:12) “For this reason I also suffer 

these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am 

persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 

a. If our “faith” has been produced by something other than the word of God, it will likely 

b. Some possibilities: bible scholars; creeds; (whether written or not); traditions, what “we 

it is something other than genuine faith! (1Cor 2:1-5) Read.

be in something other than God. 

have always done”; the majority the mainstream; individuals; papers; friends, peers, 

parents, family. 

3. If faith comes from God’s Word, what can be said about our tendency to spend so little time in the 

a. Are we thinking we can neglect the source of faith and somehow end up having a strong 

b. The truth is there is no shortcut!

C. Faith Must Be Expressed In Obedience

1. The person does not really trust God who does not obey Him.

a. (Luke 6:46) “But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things I say?” 

b. (Heb. 3: 18-19) “And to whom did He swear that they would not enter His rest, but to 

2. This is true in regards to our initial obedience to the gospel.

a. (Ac 16:14-15) Lydia

b.  (Ac 16:33-34) And he took them the same hour of the night (vs 25 - at midnight), and 

those who did not obey? So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.” 

washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when 

he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having 

believed in God with all his household.

3. But it is no less true in regard to our continued obedience to the Lord as Christians.

a. This is how we prove our faith to God, through obedience and by works that are 

generated by that faith. (Jas 2:14-18) Read. 

November 29, 2015 Page 1

D. Faith Must Be Reinforced Against Doubt

1. Even the strongest faith does not stay strong without constant reinforcement. 

2. Destruction of our faith is the business of the devil.

3. God has allowed protection and help to fend off Satan, if we apply His ways to our lives. 

4. It is folly to suppose that we will “stand” without “having done all” to make our standing possible.

a. (1Cor 10:12) “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.” 

b. (Mat 26:41) “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is 

willing, but the flesh is weak." 

a. (2Cor 11:3) “But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so 

your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 

b. (1Th 3:5) “For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, 

lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.” 

a. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in (1Th 3:10) “Night and day praying exceedingly that 

we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?” (Through 

prayer and others help).

b. (1Pet 5:8) “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith 

and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” 

a. (Eph 6:10-13) Read. (Eph 6: 14-18) Read.

E. Faith Must Be Transmitted To Others

1. The surest way to reinforce our faith is to be constantly about the business of sharing it. 

2. In fact, it is not likely that faith can survive without being shared.

3. Obviously, we must share our faith with our families. 

a. (2Tim 2:2) “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, 

commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 

b. (1Th 2:19-20) “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in 

the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.” 

a. (Ac 4:20) “For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 

b. How many are here because someone shared his or her faith with someone!

a. (2Tim 1:5) “when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt 

first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you 

4. Whatever else we may ever accomplish, the real question of life is “whether there is anybody else 

who has a stronger faith in God as a result of our having been in the world”.

1. Assessing the vitality of our faith is a valuable exercise.

a. Are we gaining real faith by feeding ourselves on the word of God?

b. Are we actively doing what our faith teaches us to do?

c. Are we strengthening our faith to withstand the assaults of Satan?

d. Are we influencing others by sharing our faith?

2. The most important question is not merely whether we have faith- it is what is happening to our 

a. (2Pet. 1:5-11) Read.