I enjoy reading and listening to faith related materials, with scriptures from the Holy Bible. In Kenneth E. Hagin’s book titled, “New Thresholds of Faith”, we receive encouraging news about faith. So, for the next several weeks, I will be posting his lessons on faith. I hope you will enjoy reading this as much as I enjoy studying about faith. Be encouraged, believe and receive!
How Do We Get Faith?
We read in Hebrews 11:6,
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
If God demands we have faith when it is impossible for us to have faith, we have a right to challenge His justice. But if He places within our hands the means whereby faith can be produced, then the responsibility rests with us whether or not we have faith.
God has told us without faith it is impossible to please Him. But He also has told us how to get faith. If we don’t have faith, it is not God’s fault. To blame God for our lack of faith is nothing but ignorance. God has provided the way whereby everyone can have faith.
Faith for Salvation
The Apostle Paul said we are saved by faith. In Ephesians 2:8 it says,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”
But how do you get faith to be saved?
ROMANS 10:8-10, 13, 14, 17
8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in they heart: that is , the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation….
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?...
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
After studying the passage of Scripture quoted above, what three steps does man take to receive salvation?
(1. Confess 2. Believe 3. Accept.)
To whom is this salvation available, according to verse 13?
(Whosoever.)
According to verse 17, where does faith come from?
(By hearing the Word of God.)
ACTS 11:13-14
13 “And he shewed us how he [Cornelius] had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.”
God instructed Cornelius to send for Peter in order to learn the plan of salvation. In the Great Commission recorded in Mark 16:15-18, Jesus told His disciples,
“Go ye into all the word, and preach the gospel to every creature…”
Cornelius had not yet heard this glorious Gospel. He was not saved. God told Cornelius to send for Peter in order to learn the plan of salvation.
Why did Cornelius have to send for Peter? Why couldn’t the angel have explained the plan of salvation to Cornelius just as well? (Angels cannot preach the Gospel. God has given this task to man.)
The verse “Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” shows us that men are saved by hearing words! The reason for this is because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Kenneth E. Hagin, “New Thresholds of Faith"
How Do We Get Faith?
We read in Hebrews 11:6,
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is,
and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”
If God demands we have faith when it is impossible for us to have faith, we have a right to challenge His justice. But if He places within our hands the means whereby faith can be produced, then the responsibility rests with us whether or not we have faith.
God has told us without faith it is impossible to please Him. But He also has told us how to get faith. If we don’t have faith, it is not God’s fault. To blame God for our lack of faith is nothing but ignorance. God has provided the way whereby everyone can have faith.
Faith for Salvation
The Apostle Paul said we are saved by faith. In Ephesians 2:8 it says,
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God”
But how do you get faith to be saved?
ROMANS 10:8-10, 13, 14, 17
8 “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in they heart: that is , the word of faith, which we preach;
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation….
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?...
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
After studying the passage of Scripture quoted above, what three steps does man take to receive salvation?
(1. Confess 2. Believe 3. Accept.)
To whom is this salvation available, according to verse 13?
(Whosoever.)
According to verse 17, where does faith come from?
(By hearing the Word of God.)
ACTS 11:13-14
13 “And he shewed us how he [Cornelius] had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;
14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.”
God instructed Cornelius to send for Peter in order to learn the plan of salvation. In the Great Commission recorded in Mark 16:15-18, Jesus told His disciples,
“Go ye into all the word, and preach the gospel to every creature…”
Cornelius had not yet heard this glorious Gospel. He was not saved. God told Cornelius to send for Peter in order to learn the plan of salvation.
Why did Cornelius have to send for Peter? Why couldn’t the angel have explained the plan of salvation to Cornelius just as well? (Angels cannot preach the Gospel. God has given this task to man.)
The verse “Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved” shows us that men are saved by hearing words! The reason for this is because “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
Kenneth E. Hagin, “New Thresholds of Faith"
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