Union Church of Christ

Introduction

1. Surely none of us would deny the importance of faith.
2. Faith goes through different stages.
   1. Matthew 6:30 little faith
   2. Matthew 8:10 great faith
   3. Luke 17:5 Increase our faith
   4. Acts 6:5 a man full of faith
   5. Romans 14:1 weak in the faith
   6. Romans 4:20 strong in faith
   7. 1 Timothy 1:5 faith unfeigned
   8. James 2:20 faith without works is dead
3. Romans 10:17.

Discussion

1. Borrowed
   1. 2 Timothy 1:5
   2. Ephesians 6:1-4
   3. Deuteronomy 6:4-7
   4. Joshua 4:5-7 - pile of stones
   5. Those born in the wilderness did not see the miracles in Egypt, but they could believe on the Lord as a result of their parents' teaching.
2. Born In You
   1. God does not accept "proxy" faith.
      1. 2 Corinthians 1:24
      2. Romans 14:7, 22-23.
   2. Matthew 7:24
      1. Most of us came with someone else - would you have come if they had not?
      2. While we draw encouragement from others, that cannot replace personal faith.
   3. Our faith cannot be the faith of our parents.
      1. Faithful, Christian parents are a great blessing for which one should be grateful.
      2. They point in the right direction, but our faith is not in them.
      3. 2 Timothy 1:5
      4. Romans 14:12
         1. Parents/children will not answer for each other, but only how we fulfilled our duty.
         2. Some who have godly parents are not what they should be - vice versa.
   4. Our faith cannot be the faith of our spouse.
      1. Acts 2:38.
         1. The invitation that day was not to couples, families - but to individuals.
         2. Wife/husband can go to heaven while the other spouse is lost.
      2. One does not have enough faith for both in a marriage.
      3. Matthew 25:1-13 - note esp. v. 9
   5. Our faith cannot be the faith of any other person.
      1. Every congregation has within it saved and lost people.
      2. 2 Corinthians 5:10.
      3. Romans 2:6
      4. My faith must not be dependent upon any other human being - otherwise I will fail.
3. Built Up
   1. Romans 4:18-21
   2. John 20:30, 31
   3. Acts 16:5
   4. Colossians 2:7
   5. Jude 20
   6. Faith is built up through study, prayer and exercise of the spiritual senses.
      1. Acts 24:16
      2. 1 Timothy 4:7
      3. Ex. athletes work hard to prepare for competition.
      4. A faith worth having is a faith worth exercising.
         1. Galatians 6:4
         2. 1 Thessalonians 4:4
         3. Matthew 19:29

Conclusion

1. When this is true of our faith, it will be blessed.
2. Hebrews 11:6