Text Isa. 50:4 – 10 Walking, standing, and knowing in faith.

A. What is faith?

1. Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says it means "firm persuasion," – The word faith is used in the NT always of "faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual." In the Old Testament Vines says “The basic meaning of faith is certainty"

2. Strong's Greek & Hebrew Dictionary says it literal means firmness; and figurative means security; it also means stability, steady, truly, and truth.

3. Practical Word Studies in the New Testament says - Faith, faithfulness. It means to be faithful and trustworthy; to be loyal and steadfast in devotion and allegiance. It goes on to say - A faithful person denies and sacrifices himself—all he is and has—and trusts God. He believes God and knows that God will work all things out for good. Therefore, he casts himself totally upon God and becomes faithful to God. And it concludes with this - Faithfulness begins with God and continues with God. Faithfulness continues on and on; it never slackens or surrenders.

4. The Lord gives a great example of “faith” in Habakkuk 2:2-4 “And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. (3.) For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (4.) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” This means to have faith that is a "firm persuasion," that when Christ comes be sure that His sacrifice will be your eternal life.

5. The Lord says one cannot have faith and believe that salvation consist of anything out side of faith. Romans 4:14 “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:” Because only faith is "firm persuasion," works is not.

6. The writer of Hebrews concludes with this - Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

B. So in this live we walk in faith, we stand in faith, therefore we know in faith.

1. The word “know” means to be absolutely sure, so when the Lord tells us to have faith that “the just shall live by faith” we know that salvation comes only by faith. So we know or we are “absolutely sure” that God has promised salvation to them that believe. John 3:18 “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

2. Those who doubt faith will invent other ways for salvation. Let’s remember what Paul said in Romans 4:14 “For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:” Simply because faith and works cannot mix. Faith is "firm persuasion," this does not exist in works.

3. We cannot “know” or be absolutely persuaded if there is any doubt, and we know that works of any kind has doubt.

C. Some things we know.

1. Job said he knows that his Saviour will live on this earth. Job 19:25 “For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:”

2. We know we have a Saviour because we know God’s word is truth. John 4:41-42 “And many more believed because of his own word; (42.) And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.” Here are those words Believe not me but believe Christ Himself, His words. John 4:25-26 “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. (26.) Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.” And Jesus goes on, John 14:6 “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

3. We know that we have nothing to fear if we are in Christ. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

4. We know that even if our lives are taken we live on. 2 Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”

5. We know that being faithful and being sound will bring suffering. 2 Timothy 1:12 “For the which cause 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 that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

6. We know that we will one day be fashioned like unto the Lord Jesus. 1 John 3:2 “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

7. 1 John 3:14 “We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.”