This is a study of biblical principles of faith. It is part of the Crossroads programme, written by Dr Kevin Smith and offered by the South African Theological Seminary.

2. Trusting Your Guide
- Principles of Faith

3. Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God,
because anyone who comes to him must believe
that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him.

4. Lesson Outline
1. The Importance of Faith
2. The Kinds of Faith
3. The Principles of Faith
Ninety per cent of this study is devoted to five
principles of faith.

5. 1. The Importance of Faith

6. Importance of Faith
1. We are saved by faith, not by works
2. We know God by faith, not by reason
3. We live by faith, not by sight
4. We worship by faith, not by feelings

7. Importance of Faith
By studying the
principles of faith, you
are going to learn how
to cultivate faith that
pleases God. You can
be a man or woman of
faith, a man or woman
who pleases the Lord.

8. 2. The Kinds of Faith

9. Kinds of Faith
1. Natural faith There are several different
kinds of faith. This study is
2. Intellectual faith about what we call living
faith. We cover other
3. Saving faith kinds of faith elsewhere.
4. Gift of faith
5. Living faith

10. 3. The Principles of Faith

11. Principles of Faith
We are going to explore five principles of faith:
1. The errors about faith
2. The explanation of faith
3. The expansion of faith
4. The evidence of faith
5. The exhilaration of faith

12. Principle 1
ERRORS

13. ERRORS about faith
What is faith?
Believing in
something that
you know isn’t
true.

14. Errors about Faith
Error 1: Faith is irrational

15. Errors about Faith
Faith is not irrational! Hebrews 1:3
1. Faith goes beyond By faith we understand
reason, but not that the worlds were
against reason. framed by the word of
God, so that the things
2. Matters of faith lie
which are seen were not
outside the realm of
made of things which are
rational proof.
visible.

16. ERRORS about Faith
Error 1: Faith is irrational
Error 2: Faith is magical

17. Errors about Faith
This error is common in the Faith Movement,
and is based on a misunderstanding of Hebrews
11:1, which in the NKJV reads, “Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen.” They interpret ‘substance’ as a
‘tangible, powerful force that activates God’.
Thus faith is viewed as a magical force.

18. Hebrews 11:1
NKJV NIV
Now faith is the substance Now faith is being sure of
of things hoped for, the what we hope for and
evidence of things not certain of what we do not
seen (NKJV). see.
The NIV gives the proper interpretation of Hebrews 11:1. Faith is
not a magical force, but an inner assurance. The NKJV means the
same thing, but some people misinterpret it.

19. Errors about Faith
Error 1: Faith is irrational
Error 2: Faith is magical
Error 3: Faith is impersonal

20. Errors about Faith
Faith is not a thing Faith is a relationship
• Your faith is not a thing • Your faith is a personal
within you that you trust relationship with
must muster up. another person, God.

21. Principle 2
EXPLANATION

22. Explanation of Faith
Faith is trust in the character and
competence of God.
Longer Definition
Faith is any act or attitude based on or inspired
by trust in the character and competence of God.

23. Luke 5:12-13
When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face
to the ground and begged him, “Lord if
you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Jesus reached out his hand and touched
the man. “I am willing,” he said, “Be
clean!”

24. EXPLANATION of Faith
1. Faith is trust in God himself
2. Faith is trust in his character
3. Faith is trust in his competence

25. Principle 3
EXPANSION

26. Increase Our Faith
Luke 17:5
And the apostles said
to the Lord, “Increase
our faith.”
Increase
our faith

27. Increase Our Faith
Mark 9:24
Immediately the father
of the child cried out
and said with
tears, “Lord, I believe; I believe,
help my unbelief!” help my
(NKJV) unbelief.

28. Expansion of Faith
You cannot increase your
faith in God.

29. Expansion of Faith
You cannot increase your
faith in God.
You cannot improve your
friendship with God.

30. Expansion of Faith
How can we increase our faith?
1. The word of God builds faith.

31. Romans 10:17
So then faith comes by hearing, and
hearing by the word of God (NKJV).
“word”: a personal word as
opposed to a general truth
“hearing”: listening and
obeying what is said

32. Expansion of Faith
How can we increase our faith?
1. The word of God builds faith.
2. The work of God builds faith.

33. Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work
together for good to those who love
God, to those who are the called
according to His purpose.
By personal experience!

34. Principle 4
EVIDENCE

35. Evidence of Faith
How can we ‘see’ faith?
1. Faith is known by its exploits
2. Faith is known by its endurance

36. Evidence of Faith
How can we ‘see’ James 2:17-18
faith? Thus also faith by itself, if it
does not have works, is
1. Faith is known by dead. But someone will
its exploits say, “You have faith, and I
have works.” Show me your
faith without your
works, and I will show you
my faith by my works.

37. Evidence of Faith
How can we ‘see’ James 2:22, 24
faith? Do you see that faith was
working together with his
1. Faith is known by
works, and by works faith
its exploits
was made perfect?
You see then that a man is
justified by works, and not
by faith only.

38. Evidence of Faith
Exploits
Faith is taking
action on what
you believe

39. Evidence of Faith
Exploits Daniel 6:10
Now when Daniel learned that
Faith is taking the decree had been
action on what published, he went home to his
upstairs room where the windows
you believe
opened toward Jerusalem. Three
times a day he got down on his
knees and prayed, giving thanks
to his God, just as he had done
before.

40. Evidence of Faith
Exploits
Faith is taking
risks because
you believe

41. Evidence of Faith
Exploits Daniel 3:16-17
If we are thrown into the blazing
Faith is taking furnace, the God we serve is able to
risks because save us from it, and he will rescue us
from your hand, O king. But even if
you believe he does not, we want you to
know, O king, that we will not serve
your gods or worship the image of
gold you have set up.

42. Expansion of Faith
How can we ‘see’
faith?
1. Faith is known by
its exploits
2. Faith is known by
its endurance

43. Expansion of Faith
How can we ‘see’ The great faith chapter,
Hebrews 11, is sandwiched
faith? between references to
endurance at the end of
1. Faith is known by
chapter 10 and the beginning
its exploits of chapter 12. This suggests
the power to endure hardships
2. Faith is known by and setbacks is one of the
its endurance distinctive features of great
faith.

44. Hebrews 10:35-36
So do not throw away your confidence; it will be
richly rewarded. You need to persevere
[endurance] so that when you have done the
will of God, you will receive what he has
promised.

45. Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great
cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that
hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us
run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let
us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of
our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the
cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right
hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured
such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not
grow weary and lose heart.

46. Evidence of faith
Faith is known by its endurance:
1. Faith does not always experience instant
success
2. Faith does always endure intense
struggles
3. Faith that has not been tested cannot be
trusted

47. Hebrews 11:13
All these people were still living by faith when
they died. They did not receive the things
promised; they only saw them and welcomed
them from a distance. And they admitted that
they were aliens and strangers on earth.

48. Hebrews 11:32-25
And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about
Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the
prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms,
administered justice, and gained what was promised; who
shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames,
and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was
turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and
routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead,
raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be
released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

49. Hebrews 11:36-39
Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were
chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were
sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword.
They went about in sheepskins and goatskins,
destitute, persecuted and mistreated—the world was
not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and
mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. These
were all commended for their faith, yet none of them
received what had been promised.

50. 1 Peter 1:6-7
In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little
while you may have had to suffer grief in all
kinds of trials. These have come so that your
faith—of greater worth than gold, which
perishes even though refined by fire—may be
proved genuine and may result in praise, glory
and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

51. Principle 5
ENJOYMENT

52. Enjoyment of Faith
Faith Exhilarates God!
Being trusted by his creatures is
one of the things that God finds
most pleasing.

53. Enjoyment of Faith
Faith exhilarates God!
1. God delights in those who believe
him.

54. Hebrews 11:5-6
By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that
he did not experience death; he could not be
found, because God had taken him away. For
before he was taken, he was commended as one
who pleased God. And without faith it is
impossible to please God, because anyone who
comes to him must believe that he exists and
that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

55. Zephaniah 3:17, NLT
For the Lord your God has arrived to live
among you. He is a mighty savior. He will
rejoice over you with great gladness. With
his love, he will calm all your fears. He will
exult over you by singing a happy song.

56. Enjoyment of Faith
Faith exhilarates God!
1. God delights in those who believe
him.
2. God boasts of those who believe
in him.

57. Enjoyment of Faith
Hebrews 11:2, 39 Job 1:8
This is what the ancients Then the Lord said to
were commended for. … Satan, “Have you
These were all considered my servant
commended for their Job? There is no one on
faith, yet none of them earth like him; he is
received what had been blameless and upright, a
promised. man who fears God and
shuns evil.”

58. Conclusion

59. Conclusion
1. Errors: not irrational, magical, or impersonal.
2. Explanation: trust in the character and
competence of God.
3. Expansion: through the word and works of God
4. Evidence: known by its exploits and endurance
5. Enjoyment: faith delights the heart of God