What Faith Isn't/Two Essential Components (part 3)

 

What Faith Is Not

Biblical faith is frequently confused with things it is not:

1. A feeling. You can feel afraid and still walk in faith. Abraham left his homeland not knowing where he was going (Hebrews 11:8) — not because he felt fearless, but because he trusted the God who called him.
2. Blind belief. Faith in the Bible rests on the character, promises, and proven track record of God across every generation of Scripture. The more you know God’s Word, the stronger your faith becomes — because it rests on evidence, not ignorance.
3. Positive thinking. Faith is specific trust in a specific God who has made specific promises. Positive thinking hopes things will improve. Faith declares what God has already said.
4. Mere intellectual agreement. Even the demons believe in God — and shudder (James 2:19). A belief that leaves your life unchanged is not biblical faith.

The Two Essential Components of Faith

The biblical definition of faith requires two inseparable elements:

• Intellectual assent — believing the facts of Scripture are true: God exists, Jesus died and rose from the dead, God’s promises are reliable.
• Personal trust — actually relying on those facts with your life, your decisions, and your future.

Even the demons believe — and are still condemned. True faith adds complete personal surrender to intellectual agreement.

(Source: faithbiblestudy.org)

Revelation 16:8-9

8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.

Revelation 16:8-9 depicts the fourth bowl of God’s wrath, where the sun is empowered to scorch unrepentant humanity, highlighting divine judgment and the refusal of people to glorify God despite suffering

In Revelation 16, seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out as final judgments upon the unrepentant world. The first three bowls affect the land, sea, and rivers, while the fourth bowl targets the sun, the source of light and life (Revelation 16:8-9) thebiblesays.com+1. The sun, normally a blessing providing warmth and sustenance, becomes an instrument of divine punishment, symbolizing how God can transform even life-giving elements into agents of judgment thebiblesays.com.

Symbolism of the Sun and Scorching Heat

The sun in this passage is symbolic of rulers, kingdoms, or preeminent powers, reflecting both natural and political authority Bible Hub+1. The scorching heat represents intense suffering and divine wrath inflicted upon those who follow evil or have received the mark of the beast. This imagery recalls Old Testament themes of cosmic upheaval during the “day of the Lord” (Joel 2:30-31) and parallels the plagues of Egypt, emphasizing God’s control over creation and His ability to use it for judgment thebiblesays.com+1.

Human Response

Despite the severity of the punishment, the people do not repent or give glory to God; instead, they blaspheme His name (Revelation 16:9) godsbless.ing+1. This highlights a central theme of Revelation: recognition of God’s power without submission leads to further rebellion and spiritual ruin. The passage underscores the consequences of persistent disobedience and the refusal to acknowledge divine authority mbchicago.org.

Historical and Theological Interpretations

Some commentators interpret the sun as representing the Papal or political powers of the Roman Empire and later European states, with the scorching symbolizing wars, tyranny, or calamities inflicted by these powers on humanity Bible Hub+1. The passage illustrates that even powerful rulers and institutions are under God’s sovereignty, and their actions can serve as instruments of His judgment. Theologically, it contrasts the destructive “sun” of judgment with the “Sun of Righteousness,” Christ, who brings life and salvation Bible Hub+1.

Key Takeaways

• The fourth bowl demonstrates God’s authority over creation and human history.
• The sun’s scorching heat symbolizes divine judgment and the suffering of the unrepentant.
• Humanity’s refusal to repent despite suffering emphasizes the consequences of rebellion against God.
• The passage serves as a warning to recognize God’s power and respond with repentance and worship.
  Revelation 16:8-9 thus combines vivid imagery, historical symbolism, and spiritual teaching to convey the seriousness of divine judgment and the importance of turning to God.

Hello, Friends. I hope you had a good weekend. I did as my adult kids came over for a visit. We had a good time. Thanks for coming by. Have a blessed day.

What is True Faith? (part 2)

What is Faith in the Bible?

To define faith the way the Bible does, we start with Hebrews 11:1 — the closest thing Scripture gives us to a formal definition:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

— Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

The English Standard Version renders it:

“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”

— Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)

Four words carry the biblical definition of faith: assurance (or substance), conviction (or evidence), things hoped for, and things not seen.

Assurance of things hoped for means faith is not a vague wish — it is a present-tense title deed to what God has promised. Just as a property deed proves legal ownership of land you have not yet built on, faith proves possession of God’s promises before they materialize in the physical world.

Conviction of things not seen means faith functions like legal evidence — a court-level certainty about spiritual realities the natural eye cannot confirm. This is not blind belief. It is evidence-based trust in the character of a God who cannot lie

Monday's subject: What Faith is not

Revelation 16:5-7

 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say:

“You are just in these judgments, O Holy One,

    you who are and who were;

6 

for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets,

    and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.”

7 And I heard the altar respond:

“Yes, Lord God Almighty,

    true and just are your judgment

Revelation 16:5-7 emphasizes God’s righteous judgment on those who have persecuted His people, affirming His holiness, justice, and the moral order of divine retribution.

Context and Overview

In Revelation 16, the seven angels are preparing to pour out the seven bowls of God’s wrath upon the earth, representing the final judgments in the eschatological timeline. Verses 5-7 focus on the angel in charge of the waters, who praises God’s justice as the rivers and springs have been turned to blood, symbolizing the punishment of those who shed the blood of the saints and prophets (Revelation 16:5-6) godsbless.ing+1. This scene underscores that God’s judgments are deliberate, righteous, and aligned with His eternal character Bible Hub.

Verse 5: The Angel’s Declaration

The angel declares, “Just are you, O Holy One, who is and who was, for you brought these judgments” (Revelation 16:5). This statement highlights several key points:

• God’s Holiness and Eternity: He is the eternal Holy One, whose actions are always morally perfect BibleRef.com.
• Righteous Judgment: The angel affirms that the judgments are fair and deserved, reflecting God’s abhorrence of evil and His protection of the innocent Bible Hub.
• Divine Order: Even in the midst of terrifying plagues, heaven remains orderly, and every act of judgment flows from God’s sovereign will Bible Hub.

Verse 6: Retribution for the Persecutors

Verse 6 explains the reason for the judgment: “for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve.” This conveys:

• Moral Reciprocity: Those who persecuted the righteous receive punishment proportionate to their actions Bible Study Tools.
• Vindication of the Saints: God’s justice ensures that the suffering of His people is acknowledged and avenged BibleRef.com.
• Symbolic Imagery: Drinking blood symbolizes the full measure of retribution for the shedding of innocent blood Bíblia Plus.

Verse 7: Confirmation from the Altar

Verse 7 records the altar responding: “Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments.” This reinforces:

• Heavenly Affirmation: The angelic and heavenly witnesses confirm the righteousness of God’s actions Bible Study Tools.
• Divine Justice as Universal Principle: God’s judgments are not arbitrary but reflect the moral order and the consequences of rejecting goodness and life-giving truth Bíblia Plus.

Theological Significance

Revelation 16:5-7 teaches that:

• God’s judgments are just, holy, and eternal, reflecting His character.
• Persecution of the righteous has consequences, and divine retribution is inevitable.
• Angels serve as witnesses and agents of God’s justice, ensuring that His moral order is executed faithfully.
• The imagery of blood and the altar emphasizes both the seriousness of sin and the vindication of the faithful godsbless.ing+2.
  In summary, these verses affirm that God’s wrath is not arbitrary but a measured, righteous response to human wickedness, particularly the persecution of His people, and that His justice is universally recognized in heaven.

What is True Faith? (part one introduction)

 

Hello, My Friends. Well as it seems, my computer will not cooperate with the study on gotquestions.com and I cannot figure out why. And so, I am changing to a different study and hope that it goes well 

The website we will be using is faithbiblestudy.org, if you would like to go there for yourself to read more about faith and biblical teaching. I will be using just a portion of the study, each day. Please read on for today's lesson:

To define faith the way the Bible does, we start with Hebrews 11:1 — the closest thing Scripture gives us to a formal definition: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”— Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)The English Standard Version renders it: "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”— Hebrews 11:1 (ESV)Four words carry the biblical definition of faith: assurance (or substance), conviction (or evidence), things hoped for, and things not seen. Assurance of things hoped for means faith is not a vague wish — it is a present-tense title deed to what God has promised. Just as a property deed proves legal ownership of land you have not yet built on, faith proves possession of God’s promises before they materialize in the physical world. Conviction of things not seen means faith functions like legal evidence — a court-level certainty about spiritual realities the natural eye cannot confirm. This is not blind belief. It is evidence-based trust in the character of a God who cannot lie.

Today will be the introduction into the study from their website.

Biblical Faith: The Biblical Definition of faith, Why it matters, and How to acquire it

Every believer has heard the word faith — but ask someone to define faith in precise, biblical terms and most will hesitate.

Is faith just believing in God? Is it a feeling? Is it the same as hope?

Faith in the Bible is far more specific, far more powerful, and far more practical than most people realize. It is the foundation of your relationship with God, the mechanism of salvation, and the daily force that carries you through the hardest seasons of life.

This guide answers three questions the Bible addresses directly: what is the biblical definition of faith? Why does faith matter so much to God? And how do you put your faith into practice and grow it? Let us go straight to what God’s Word says

Tomorrows study: What is Faith in the Bible? The Definition of Faith

Thanks for being patient with me, Friends. I just want to report the Biblical truth in God's Word and sometimes, (like we all do at times) computer problems pop up and though I have learned a lot about dealing with them, sometimes for some reason I can't. 

Also, thanks for coming. I love and appreciate all that come here each day.