Commentary by Roger Oakland
Understand the Times
Since September 11, 2001, we hear a lot about believing in God and faith. There are many people who are asking questions such as, what does the Muslim faith believe? Or others want to know how the Christian faith is different from the Muslim faith? Even people who profess to be Christians are divided on the answers to such questions. As you can see, the issue of faith can be very confusing.
There are many Scriptures we could examine to help answer these questions. We will only look at a few. Paul, writing to the church at Ephesus stated: “By grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works that no one should boast.[1] So faith is a gift that comes from God and cannot be earned through good works or merit.
In the book of Romans, Paul explains that Christian faith is Bible-based: “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.[2]
In Hebrews 12:2, Paul tells us that as believers we are, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.” He also says, “[I]f Christ be not raised, your faith is vain.[3] So Jesus Christ is to be the focus and subject of our faith.
Writing to Timothy, Paul warned that people, who once had faith, can fall away from the faith.[4] “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” The word apostate is a term used to describe a person, a church, or denomination that goes this route. Click here to continue reading.
