FAITH | Gary 1st #2

FAITH TOWARD GOD

A Familiar Pattern Repentance from dead works is the very first foundational doctrine mentioned by the Apostle Paul in Hebrews 6:1; with faith toward God being second. This order follows a familiar pattern in the scriptures.

Heb 6:1 Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principals of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Mark 1:15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."

Acts 20:21 "testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Basic Teaching About God As we discus "faith toward God" there are some basic things we should understand about God. These things concern God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. There is only one true and living God who is:

1. A SPIRIT - He is not flesh and blood.

2. ETERNAL - He is without beginning or end.

3. THE CREATOR - He made all things.

4. OMNISCIENT - He knows all things.

5. OMNIPRESENT - He is present in every place at all times.

6. OMNIPOTENT - He is almighty and nothing is too difficult for him.

7. ALL OF THESE AN MUCH MORE.

John 4:24 “God is Spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Eph 4:6 one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.

Isa 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

1 John 3:20 For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things.

Psa. 139:7 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, you are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, you are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.

Rev 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."

Rev 19:6 And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, "Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns!

A SERIOUS ERROR

God is not now, and never was a man as some religions teach (i.e. Mormons). God has always been God, from eternity to eternity. This leaves no time period in between for him to have been a mere man. The Mormons promise those who they have deceived that they will become "gods", through doing good works. We must always remember! There are no gods beside the Lord. There were no gods before him and there will be none after him!

Psa. 90:2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

Isa 43:10 “You are My witnesses,” says the Lord, “And My servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He. Before Me there was no God formed, nor shall there be after Me. 11 I, even I, am the Lord, and besides Me there is no savior.

JESUS CHRIST IS:

1. THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD. - He was physically born of the virgin Mary.

2. THE ETERNAL WORD OF GOD. - God’s word became a man.

3. GOD HIMSELF MANIFEST IN FLESH. - God was revealed among men.

4. THE CREATOR. - All things exist through him.

5. THE ONLY MEDIATOR BETWEEN GOD AND MEN. - He alone can reconcile us to God.

6. THE ONLY SAVIOR. - He alone is able to save us from the penalty of sin.

7. THE WAY OF ETERNAL LIFE. - God has provided him as the only way of eternal life.

8. ALL OF THESE AND MUCH MORE.

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

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. (compare to John 1:14 below)

John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Rev 19:13 He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Micah 5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting." (This is a prophecy concerning the birth of the Messiah. Compare Matthew 2:4-6.)

1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up in glory.

Mat 1:23 "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel," which is translated, "God with us." (Compare Isaiah 7:14.)

Heb 1:8 But to the Son He says: "Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your Kingdom.

John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

1 Tim 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 4:12 "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." (Peter is speaking of the name of Jesus Christ. Compare Acts 4:10.)

1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. 10 He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. 11 And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS:

1. GOD WHO DWELLS IN BELIEVERS.

2. GOD WHO WORKS IN BELIEVERS TO TRANSFORM THEM AND MAKE THEM HOLY.

3. A TEACHER WHO REVEALS TO US THE THINGS OF GOD.

4. THE BAPTIZER WHO MAKES US PART OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH

5. ALL OF THESE AND MUCH MORE.

1 Cor 3:16 Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Eph 2:20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone, 21 in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Titus 3:5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Th 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

John 16:13 "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written: "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." 10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. 13 These things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

1 Cor 12:12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. (the body of Christ)

A SERIOUS ERROR

A special warning is appropriate concerning God’s Holy Spirit. He is not an inanimate object or a “thing” as some teach (i.e. Jehovah’s Witnesses). A rock, a table or a wall cannot speak, be grieved or be lied to. The Holy Spirit is God himself.

Acts 13:2 As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, "Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

Eph 4:30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Acts 5:3 But Peter said, "Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? 4 "While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God."

THE THREE ARE ONE.

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are three manifestations of the one true God. The three are one.

1 John 5:7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. (Remember that the Word is Jesus Christ. John 1:1 and 1:14)

HOW ARE THEY ONE?

The Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are one in the same way that the believers are one in the body of Christ (the church). There are many members, but one body. This unity illustrates the oneness of God.

1 Cor 12:12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body; whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.

John 17:11 "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. (Notice the words "that they may be one as We are".)

RIGHTEOUSNESS THROUGH FAITH

We cannot be righteous in God's sight by keeping a moral code or even through the Law of Moses (the Ten Commandments). God gave us his law to teach us that we have sinned and to show us our need to be justified through faith in his Son. It is impossible to be pleasing to God without faith in Jesus Christ.

Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Rom 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh shall be justified in his sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. 21 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

RECEIVING FAITH

Faith is a gift from God which comes to us through his word.

Eph 2:8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,

Rom 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

WHAT ABRAHAM BELIEVED

In Genesis 15:4-6, we read that Abraham believed God's Word and was therefore considered righteous. It must be understood that Abraham did not merely choose what he wanted to believe. His faith was based upon the truth of what God had spoken. Abraham's righteousness was not given to him by men, but by God.

Gen 15:4 And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

GOD'S WORD TO US IS THE GOSPEL.

Abraham believed the word of God and was considered righteous. God’s word to us is the gospel (good news) of our salvation.

1 Pet 1:25 But the word of the LORD endures forever." Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.

AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

Abraham received the promises of God. He believed that nothing is impossible with the Lord. He is our example of how we should believe in God, who faithfully performs what he has spoken. God promised a savior for all men. He fulfilled his promise in sending Christ to die for our sins and in raising him from the dead. The gospel is a testimony of God’s faithfulness to perform his promises.

Rom 4:20 He (Abraham) did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, 21 and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. 22 And therefore "it was accounted to him for righteousness." 23 Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, 24 but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

THREE ESSENTIAL POINTS OF THE GOSPEL MESSAGE

A Christian’s faith is based upon the truth concerning the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. These are three essential points of faith included in the preaching of the gospel. These are things which we must believe and hold fast to in Christ because they are necessary for salvation!

1 Cor 15:1 Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you; unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, (see Rom. 4:24-25 above).

1. THE SACRIFICIAL DEATH OF CHRIST

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3). That is to say that God foretold the sacrificial death of his Son in the Bible. Christ's death for our sins was the fulfillment of God's promise. The following verses were written more than seven hundred years before Jesus was born.

Isa 53:4 Surely He has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth. 8 He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

SERIOUS ERROR

The cross of Christ was not a mistake or a failure on the part of God’s Son as is taught by some contemporary religions (i.e. Unification Church). The death of Christ on the cross was ordained by God from the beginning of the world. His death on the cross was the will of God and was the fulfillment of what the prophets had spoken. Christ submitted himself to a sinners death to bring us salvation.

Luke 24:44 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." 45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. 46 Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

2. CHRIST WAS BURIED

"He was buried" (put in the grave, 1 Cor. 15:4) Notice the prophecy and its fulfillment below.

Isa 53:9 And they made His grave with the wicked; But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

Mat 27:57 Now when evening had come, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. 58 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given to him. 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 and laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, and departed.

3. CHRIST ROSE AGAIN ON THE THIRD DAY

"He rose again the third day according to the scriptures" (1 Cor 15:4). The prophecy of Isaiah, chapter 53, speaks of the glory and honor to be bestowed upon Christ after his resurrection from the dead.

Isa 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. 11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities. 12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, And He shall divide the spoil with the strong, Because He poured out His soul unto death, And He was numbered with the transgressors, And He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

Luke 24:1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 "He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 "saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.' "

JESUS EXPLAINED THE SCRIPTURES

MANY WITNESSED THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST

1 Cor 15:5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.

SERIOUS ERROR

A special warning is appropriate concerning the resurrection of Christ. The scriptures tell us that Christ’s dead body was resurrected from the grave. We should beware of the teaching of those who deny the truth of the gospel. They claim that the resurrection of Jesus Christ was spiritual and that his body is still in the grave. This teaching of the Jehovah’s Witnesses represents a denial of God’s word and should be avoided.

Luke 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, "Peace to you." 37 But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. 38 And he said to them, "Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39 "Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have."

John 2:18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?" 19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?" 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

Acts 2:31 "he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption.

THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

We who believe the gospel look forward to the second coming of the Lord Jesus. Our faith that he died for us and rose again creates a great and glorious hope within our hearts. We look for the visible and glorious return of Christ. At that time, we will be resurrected and Jesus will take us for himself.

1 Th 4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

Rev 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

Luke 21:25 "And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; 26 "men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. 27 "Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

THE PURIFYING HOPE

We have the hope of being changed into the image of the Lord at his coming. Through believing and having this hope, we purify ourselves from sin.

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Phil 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS TO HIS PROMISES

The gospel is the fulfillment of God's promise. He is a faithful and loving creator who did not even spare his only son in saving us from sin. He will yet perform many other promises for those who believe.

Rom 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

2 Pet 1:4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Through faith, we are absolutely persuaded of what we have not seen. We are to walk by faith in the promises of God, and not by what our eyes see.

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

2 Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Faith in God's Promises and Preparation for the Day of the Lord
In faith, let us continue to look toward the fulfillment of all God's promises. In so doing, we will prepare ourselves for the great Day of the Lord. He is Faithful who promised! "HAVE FAITH IN GOD." (Mark 11:22)

2 Pet 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;

Heb 11:10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Compare Revelation Chapters 21 & 22)

A SERIOUS ERROR ABOUT FAITH

Many today seek to further the false teaching of an antisemitic named Martin Luther (father of today's Lutheran Chruch). Luther wrongly taught that justification is by "faith only". We need only read the scriptures to know that this is false. Faith requires works to make it perfect. Without the works, faith is dead!

James 2:19--24 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble! 20 But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? 22 Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? 23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. 24 You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF "FAITH TOWARD GOD".

1. God is not flesh and blood as a man but is instead__________________________________.

2. God is ______________________________, having no beginning or end.

3. God is the ____________________________, because he made all

things.

4. God is ________________________________because that he knows all things.

5. God is _________________________________ because he is in every place at the same time.

6. God is __________________________________because nothing is too hard for him.

7. Jesus Christ is the only begotten __________________ of God.

8. God’s word became a man, and his name is __________________________________.

9. God made all things through whom? _________________________________________.

10. The name given to Christ is Immanuel. What does it mean? ___________________________________________

11. No one can come to God the Father except through ___________________________________.

12. Christians are the temple of God and the __________________________ of God lives in us.

13. Who works in us to transform us into the image of Christ? ____________________________

14. Ananias lied to the ________________________________________________.

15. The Father, the ____________________ and the ____________________________ are one.

16. Men cannot be justified in God’s sight through keeping a moral code or through their own

efforts, but only through _________________________.

17. Faith is a ___________________________ from God and is not a result of man’s own efforts.

18. Faith comes to us through ___________________________________ God’s word.

19. Abraham believed the ______________________ of God and was counted righteous.

20. The _______________________________________(good news) is God’s word to us.

21. The three essential points of faith in the gospel message concern the________________, ________________ and___________________ of Christ.

22. The hope which purifies the believers is________________________________________.

23. Walking in faith means that we believe the promises of God’s word and not what we __________.