Keep in Step with the Spirit 7

We’ve been covering how to stay in step with the Spirit by going through the fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23 [KJV] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

For this blog, I want to jump over goodness and talk about faith. The New International Version (NIV) of the Bible uses the word “faithfulness”, but the King James Version (KJV) uses “faith”.

Ephesians 2:8 [NKJV] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God,

In my opinion, these are two very different things - having faith versus being faithful (or exhibiting faithfulness). According to the Strongs Concordance, based on the original Greek word, the KJV has it right.

I also believe that one cannot be faithful to God, to the scripture, to the Spirit, unless one has faith in them.

All of what we are called to do and to become hinges on having faith that what is promised to us will come to pass. Otherwise, why do the hard work of changing? Why give up our old and natural way of sin?

Hebrews 11:6 [NIV] 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.

It takes faith to be saved, to overcome sin and adversity, and to do the work required of us. You can check out Hebrews 11 for a litany of faithful examples.

We are justified by faith. Galatians 2:16 [NIV] “know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.

We are healed by faith. Many, many times Jesus told those who came to Him for healing that it was their faith that caused or allowed that healing. [Examples Luke 7:50, 8:48; 17:19; 18:42]

And it only takes a tiny little bit of faith to do great things. [See Matthew 17:20 and Luke 17:6]

We do not need to worry about stirring up or striving to acquire faith. God gives it to us.

Ephesians 2:8 [NKJV] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; [it is] the gift of God,

Faith is the fruit we need to please God and to accomplish the works we are given to do. It is an important part of walking in step with the Spirit.

I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or any time at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org