The document discusses different perspectives on faith and belief through various Bible passages. It contrasts "seeing then believing" with "believing then seeing", noting the latter is the approach of the Kingdom of Heaven. It also examines passages where Jesus tells Thomas he is blessed for believing without seeing, and how 1 Peter talks of believing in Jesus even without seeing him. The document emphasizes fixing one's eyes on eternal rather than temporary things, and how some people's hearts have become calloused so they do not see, hear or understand with their hearts.
1. Seeing and Believing
“In the same way the chief priests and the
teachers of the law mocked him among
themselves." He saved others," they said,
"but he can't save himself! Let this Christ,
this King of Israel, come down now from the
cross, that we may ___________ and
_____________." Those crucified with him
also heaped insults on him.” - Mark 15:31-32
(See then Believe is not the way things in
the Kingdom of Heaven; BELIEVE then SEE)
2. John 20:8
“Finally the other disciple, who had
reached the tomb first, also went
inside. He ________ and
_______________.”
(This is not Kingdom faith)
3. “So the other disciples told him,
"We have seen the Lord!" But he
said to them, "Unless I ________
the nail marks in his hands and
_________ my finger where the
nails were, and ______ my hand
into his side, _______________
believe it." John 20:25
(This is not Kingdom faith)
4. “Then Jesus told him,
"Because you have _______ _________,
you have believed; blessed are those who
_______ _______ _________ and yet have
____________." - John 20:29
5. Believing and Seeing
1 Peter 1:8 “Though you have not
_______ him, you _______ him; and
even though you do not see him now,
you _____________ in him and are
filled with an inexpressible and glorious
joy, for you are _____________ the
goal of your faith, the
_________________ of your souls.”
6. “So we fix our ________ not
on what is _________, but on
what is _________. For what is
________ is temporary, but
what is __________ is eternal.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NIV)
7. " 'Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever ___________ but never
______________;
you will be ever ___________ but never
____________."
For this people's heart has become calloused; they
hardly _______ with their _______, and they have
closed their __________. Otherwise they might
________ with their _________, __________ with
their __________,
_______________ with their hearts and _________,
and I would heal them.” - Acts 28:26-27 (NIV)