DOCTRINE OF FAITH
Foundational Doctrine #2

 

Turn to Rom 10:8 - 11

 

A.  Definition.

1.  There are three systems of human perception.

               

a.  Faith is a non‑meritorious system of perception based on confidence in the authority and the veracity (truthfulness) of another. 

 

b.  Rationalism is reason from the source of knowledge in itself, independent of the other sources of perception. 

 

Rationalism says that reality is what you think to be true. 

 

Rationalism relies upon a high I.Q. from which, systems of philosophy are often developed. E=MC2

 

c.  Empiricism is knowledge from perception by observation and experience rather than by theory. 

 

All ideas are derived from some sensuous experience using the eyes, ears, nose, touch, etc. having no innate or prior conceptions.

 

Faith is the only system of human perception which is non-meritorious in nature.

 

Faith is not based on one's own knowledge as is rationalism, or empiricism.

 

Faith is the only system of perception which will unlock spiritual untruths; neither rationalism nor empiricism will do this. 1Co 1:18-2:16 vs. 1:18; 2:5

 

Don't put faith in people or the pastor.   They’ll always let you down.

People have an Old Sin Nature

 

Always put your faith in Christ.

 

2.  Perception by faith is always non‑meritorious and depends on the authority, veracity and ability of someone else. 

               

Faith requires and depends on authority.

 

3.  Faith also means a system of doctrine, or a creed perceived by faith; (i.e., what is believed.)

 

B.  Etymology.  Isa 28:16

       

1.  Hebrew.

 

a.  The verb Aman - aw-man  =  to believe, to support, to use someone as a prop, a crutch; to use someone else to be supported,  The root meaning is a foundation on which you build something.

 

In Isa 28:16, the hiphil means "to cause to believe". 

 

Isa 28:16      Therefore thus says the Lord GOD,

   “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a tested stone,

   A costly cornerstone for the foundation, firmly placed.

   He who believes in it will not be disturbed.

 

Hiphil usually expresses the “causative” action of Qal.

 H8851

Qal is the most frequently used verb pattern. It expresses the “simple” or “casual” action of the root in the active voice.

Examples: He ate.

 

Hipal Stem - he ate  = he caused to eat, he fed

 

This shows the work of the Holy Spirit causing us to believe.

 

Gen 15:6 uses aman in the hiphil stem for the salvation of Abraham, meaning to use God as a prop and foundation.

 

Gen 15:6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.

 

Metaphorically, aman = to be faithful (to stay faithful to), trustworthy (to prove oneself), to be verified and sure (to remain or continue). Gen 42:20; 1 Kings 8:26; Hos 5:9.

 

b. Emunah em-oo-naw (noun)  = faithfulness, security, or that on which security is based, (e.g., the integrity of God). Prov 28:20;

2 Chr 19:9; 1Sa 26:23

 

c. Emun (noun) ay-moon = integrity, fidelity, reliability.

Deut 32:20; Prov 13:17; 14:5

 

d. Omen (noun) oh-men = doctrine, truth, faithfulness.

Isa 25:1 (truth)

 

e. Emeth (noun) eh'-meth  = faithfulness, integrity, stability.

Jer 23:28; Ex 18:21

 

f.  Batach baw-takh (verb) is a wrestling term = to trust in the sense of slamming your troubles on God; this has a faith‑rest connotation.  In Ps 37:3 and 91:2, it also means to confide in someone.

 

g.  Chasah khaw-saw (verb) = to hide in the cleft of a rock, as a rabbit does when chased by a fox; and is used for suffering and adversity. 

 

It means to trust in the sense of taking shelter or taking refuge in Bible Doctrine; to believe in the integrity of God.
Ps 57:1; 2:12; 5:11; 25:20; 7:1.

 

     Ps 57:1 Be gracious to me, O God, be gracious to me,

   For my soul takes refuge in You;

   And in the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge

   Until destruction passes by.

 

h. Jachal yaw-chal (verb) = to trust the Lord in time of great pain or disaster, Lam 3:21,24;  Job 13:15

 

In Job 13:15, it means to have hope and to wait. 

 

Job 13:15     “Though He slay me,

   I will hope in Him.

   Nevertheless I will argue my ways before Him.

 

It is used for faith under great pressure, intense suffering and pain.

 

i.  Qawah kaw-vaw (verb) is the strongest word for faith, Ps 25:3.  It depicts a fine thread woven into a giant rope that cannot be broken. 

 

Isa 40:31 - the faith of a mature believer. 

 

Isa 40:31 Yet those who wait for the LORD

   Will gain new strength;

   They will mount up with wings like eagles,

   They will run and not get tired,

   They will walk and not become weary.

 

Lam 3:25 - to wait.

"The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,

   To the person who seeks Him".

 

This word means that Faith which gets its strength from outside of itself, connoting the non‑meritorious aspect of faith. 

 

All merit lies in the object of faith.

  2.  Greek.

             a.  Pistis - ðßóôéò. (noun)

 

(1) Used as an attribute, pistis is what causes trust or faith, reliability, faithfulness, or integrity, Tit 2:10; 2 Thess 1:4.

 

Titus 2:10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith so that they will adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in every respect.

                didaskalia

And In Heb 6:1 is the Genitive Feminine of Pistis - PISTEOS

 

Turn to 1 John 5:4

(2) In the active sense, pistis means faith, confidence, trust, faith as a recognition of and acceptance of Bible doctrine.  In the active sense, faith is used in three ways. 

 

(a) saving faith, Eph 2:8; 1 Jn 5:4‑5.

 

1 John 5:4For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes (present, active) that Jesus is the Son of God?

 

Rom 3:9

(b) The three stages of the faith‑rest drill, Rom 3:22; Heb 4:3;  Rom 3:9 – 26.

 

                                  (1) Faith applies a doctrinal rationale.

                                        (2) Faith reaches doctrinal conclusions.

                                        (3) Faith takes control of the situation.

                               

(c) The metabolization of Bible doctrine.

 

(3) Pistis (passive) = Bible doctrine, that which is believed, (i.e., doctrine, the body of belief, which is obedience to authority). 

 

Pistis is so translated "Doctrine" in such passages as
Gal 1:23; 2 Pet 1:5; 1 Tim 1:19; 4:1&6; Heb 11.

 

2 Pet 1:5 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge 6and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.

 

b. Pistos (noun) - used as an adjective in the passive sense and means: Being trustworthy, worthy of trust, faithful, dependable, and inspiring trust.  1 Cor 4:2; 7:25

 

In the active sense, it means trusting or believing

 

c. Pisteuo (verb) = to believe, to trust something to someone, to use someone as an object of faith.  Gal 2:16

 

Principles:  It only takes a little more than no faith at all to be saved. 

                   Acts 16:31 (aorist, active)

 

It takes continual faith to avoid the judgment of God.

John 3:18 (present, active)

           

d. Peitho pi'-tho (verb) Passive = to come to believe, to obey, to be persuaded, or convinced.  Heb 13:17; James 3:3

 

Perfect passive = to have confidence, to be absolutely convinced, to be certain.  Rom 8:38; 14:14; 15:14

 

Rom 8:38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Active (Gal 1:10) = to convince, to persuade, to appeal, to win over.  Phil 1:25

 

Perfect tense with a Present meaning = to depend on someone, to trust in someone, to have confidence. 2 Cor 1:9; Phil 2:24; Heb 2:13

 

Phil 2:24 "and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly."

               

e.  Pistoo (verb) = to show oneself faithful; to be convinced; to have confidence, 2 Tim 3:14.

 

2 Tim 3:14 "You, however, continue in the things you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them."

 

C.  Biblical use of "faith" or Pistis.

       

1.  Pistis is used for Bible doctrine.

 

Heb 11:1‑3  Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (2) must be converted manually."in fact, doctrine is the reality from which we keep receiving confidence, the proof of matters not being seen; for by means of doctrine men of old gained approval."

Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (1) must be converted manually.

2.  A description of faith is found in 2 Cor 4:18Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (2) must be converted manually.. 

 

 2 Cor 4:18 "we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen essence of God; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal."Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (1) must be converted manually. 

 

Faith is the means by which we perceive reality in the invisible essence of God.

 

3.  Sometimes both the faith‑rest technique and doctrine are described in the meaning of Pistis.

 

2 Cor 5:7 Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (2) must be converted manually."we walk by faith and not by sight."Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (1) must be converted manually. 

 

Your eyes are in your soul, and your soul must have Bible doctrine.

 

We see the unseen through doctrine. 

 

Doctrine gives us relationship with the integrity of God which sustains us in time of disaster. 

 

We see the justice and integrity of God through doctrine.

 

4.  Heb 11:6,Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (2) must be converted manually. "and without doctrine resident in the soul, it is impossible to please God, for when one is occupied with God, he must be convinced that he is and that he becomes a rewarder of those who diligently seek him."

Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (1) must be converted manually.

5.  Rom 10:17,Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (2) must be converted manually. "doctrine comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (1) must be converted manually. 

 

  6.  Gal 5:22, Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (2) must be converted manually."the fruit of the spirit is doctrine."Note:  The change to pitch (12) and font (1) must be converted manually. 

 

        7.  In each verse above, Pistis relates faith to the perception of Bible doctrine.  Pistis means both faith and doctrine.  All perception of Bible doctrine is accomplished through the function of faith perception.

 

8. Pistis related to the doctrine of demons. 1 Tim 1:19 & 4:1 didaskalia - Instruction, doctrine, teaching, learning

 

D.  Faith is the means of salvation adjustment to the justice of God.

 

1.  Believing is a non‑meritorious system of perception. 

 

The merit is always found in the object of faith (Jesus Christ) and not in the subject, the one having the faith (the believer).

 

2.   Salvation by faith and faith alone in Jesus Christ is documented in many passages, including:

 

a.    Nouns: Rom 3:28; 9:30; Gal 3:26; Eph 2:8

 

Gal 3:26 "For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus."

               

b. Verbs.

 

1. Salvation by faith for Eternal Salvation:

                      (Aorist) Acts 16:31; Gal 2:16; 1 Jn 3:23

 

1 Jon 3:23 "This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us."

2. Salvation by faith in time for deliverance

    (Present) Jn 3:16, 18‑19, 36; 6:47; Rom 3:22; 4:5;
1 Jn 5:4‑5

 

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."

 

3. Both Eternal Salvation and Temporal Salvation:

                      (1st Aorist/2nd Present) Jn 20:31

 

John 20:31 "but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name."

 

Believing in Jesus Christ for salvation (of either kind) is adjusting to the justice of God.

 

3.  The justice of God is our point of contact with the essence of God because justice judged our sins in Christ on the cross.

 

The mechanics of receiving all blessing from the justice of God is grace.

 

R + J + L = GRACE, (For the Believer) = God’s provisions for the Righteous

 

R + J + L = MERCY, (For the unbeliever and Carnal believer) = God’s provision for Sin

 

Mercy is that within God which provides for sinful man while grace is the expression of that provision.

 

Grace is non-meritorious, compatible with faith.  Eph 2:8‑9.

 

E.  Faith is a system of doctrine or "what is believed."

 

1.  The object of faith is Bible doctrine. 

 

This includes both doctrine in perception and in application.

 

Bible doctrine is invisible.

 

Faith is confidence in the unseen. 

 

Bible doctrine must be transferred to our right lobe by means of faith.

  

2.  The perception concept is related to post-salvation epistemological rehabilitation. 

 

The application concept is related to the faith‑rest drill

 

10 Problem Solving Devices

 

3.  Once you have Bible doctrine on the launching pad of your soul, then the faith‑rest drill in its maximum use applies doctrine to experience.

 

4.  Maturity adjustment to the justice of God demands maximum Bible doctrine in the right lobe, which comes through the daily perception, metabolization, and application (PMA) of Bible doctrine. 

 

5.  The intake of Bible doctrine results in maximum blessing to your soul. 

 

Blessing does not come because of your self‑righteousness, personality, good works, or anything else.

 

F.         The object of faith.

 

        1.  The object of faith always has the merit.

 

There is no merit in the subject (the faith itself), because faith is based on the object.

 

Therefore faith itself is a non‑meritorious system of perception. 

 

2.  All the faith in the world secures nothing but condemnation from the integrity of God. 

 

We are born with faith.

 

We first learn vocabulary by faith.

 

3.  However, the tiniest bit of faith in Christ secures eternal salvation.

 

It only takes a little more faith than no faith at all.

 

It is the object of faith that counts, not the worthiness of the one with faith.

 

4.  There is no merit in believing; the merit lies in the object of faith.

 

5.  For salvation adjustment to the justice of God, the object of faith is Jesus Christ. 

 

For maturity adjustment to the justice of God, the object of faith is Bible doctrine.

 

6.  Faith is not something we do, but it is the channel by which we appropriate what God has done for us.

 

7.  For rebound adjustment to the justice of God, the object of faith is two‑fold, depending upon the believer's spiritual growth

 

a.      The scripture is the object of faith for the immature believer.

      1 Jn 1:9; 1 Cor 11:31; Ps 35; 32:5; 38:18; Prov 28:13

 

1 Cor 11:31 "But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged."

 

b.  For the mature believer, doctrine is the object of faith, and the integrity of God is the basis for understanding the forgiveness of our sins through rebound.

       

8.  Through these adjustments to the justice of God and blessings from the integrity of God, Jesus Christ becomes the author and finisher of our faith. Heb 12:2

 

G.  The application of faith in the function of the faith‑rest drill.

       

1.  Faith is having a revelation about the unseen and believing that revelation (not a dream). 2 Co 4:18; Heb 11:1

 

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

 

2.  Faith in its verb form is a transitive verb. 

 

It must have a subject and an object. 

 

The whole merit of faith is in the object.

 

3.  Faith as far as a relationship with God is concerned has a two-fold object:

 

a.  Phase I - Case of salvation - Lord Jesus Christ
John 3:15, 36; Acts 16:31; John 6:37 (Present)

               

b.  Phase 2 - the Word of God is the object of faith which is the mind of Christ, (1 Co 2:16), and He is thereby exalted. 2 Co 5:7; Heb 4:1-3, 11:6 (Aorist)

Heb 4:3 "For we who have believed (Aorist) enter that rest,"

 

4.  All of the believing in the world secures nothing but condemnation from God, but that tiny weak signal of faith with Christ as the object secures salvation.

 

Faith is not something we do, but a channel whereby we receive what God has done for us, because…

 

The efficacy of faith lies in the object of faith (Christ). 
Eph 2:8-9

 

5.  1 Peter 1, Faith must be exercised as it develops.  Learning doctrine develops faith. 

 

As this occurs, Faith has the increasing ability of perception, of learning more and greater details in the word of God. Heb 4:1‑3.

 

Heb 4:2 "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard."

 

6.  God has blessings, which will only be yours if you relate totally to the integrity of God by learning doctrine. 1 Pet 1:7‑8

 

1 Peter 1:6  In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, 7so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.

 

Turn to Romans 4

       

7.  Bible doctrine is the Royal Family's currency. 

 

Bible doctrine is the working currency in the life of every believer. 

 

Learning doctrine gives you currency to understand the integrity of God;  it pays the way, it's your "Gold" card to a relationship with God.

 

8.  Abraham's circumcision is the classical illustration of the mature believer with maximum adjustment to the justice of God making application of his faith.  Rom 4:17‑21 

 

Rom 4:17 (as it is written, “A father of many nations have I made you”) in the presence of Him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls into being that which does not exist. 18In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.” 19Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; 20yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, 21and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.

 

Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac was the proof or testing of his mature faith. 

Gen 22:1‑18

 

Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.”

 

9.  The mechanics of the Faith‑Rest Drill comprise three stages.

 

a.  Stage one:  Faith claims promises from the Bible, (Heb 4:1‑3), which can be called mixing the promises of God with faith.

 

b.  Stage two:  Faith claims doctrinal rationales.

(i.e. The essence of God rationale, the plan of God rationale, the logistical grace rationale, the a fortiori rationale, the escrow/election rationale), etc. 

 

This stage is known as reverse concentration, which is the application of doctrine.  You're reversing your thoughts from the issue to application of God's word in faith

               

c.  Stage three:  Faith reaches doctrinal conclusions and is in control of the situation. 

 

This becomes the function of spiritual self-esteem.

It is the third stage of the faith-rest drill that brings you to spiritual self-esteem.

 

H.  Faith develops in five ways:

 

a.  Primary development of faith is the Balance of Residency in the soul. Rom 10:17 "faith comes by hearing"

 

B. R. = M.B.D.S./ R.4 A. +

 

b.  Filling of the Spirit by the daily use of (G.A.P.) Grace Apparatus for Perception, which causes Experiential Sanctification. Gal 5:22 "fruit of the Spirit = Faithfulness"

 

B. R. = M.B.D.S./ R.4 A. + F/H.S.

 

c.    Using Doctrine in crisis moments = Faith Rest Technique, Heb 4:1-3

 

d.    Tests that come as we take in large amounts of Doctrine.

 

e.    Occupation with Christ

 

I.  The victory of faith, 1 Jn 5:4‑5; Rom 4:17-21 (Abraham).

 

1 John 5:4 "For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" (Present Tense)

 

The victory is gained by the utilization of Doctrine in the right lobe of the soul under Super Grace status (maturity).

 

Relationship with the integrity of God is greater than any pressure or disaster in life. 

 

It is more important than anything in life whether failures, successes, pressures, or prosperity.