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Spiritual Life Life of Faith. + Christian Faith + Some Actions of Faith + Nature of Christian Faith + Testing of Faith + Biblical Understandings of Faith + Cloud of Witnesses + Some Fruits of Faith. Christian Faith
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Spiritual LifeLife of Faith + Christian Faith + Some Actions of Faith + Nature of Christian Faith + Testing of Faith + Biblical Understandings of Faith + Cloud of Witnesses + Some Fruits of Faith
Christian Faith + The reality of faith in Christian life is that who believes and trusts that God exists lives in that existence, e.g. He who believes and trusts that God is love lives in His love. + He who believes and trusts in the salvation which God made through His Son lives in that salvation. + Faith means accepting God’s gifts and boldly taking possession of them as rights given to mankind; this is the proper response to God’s unconditional giving. (St. Mark’s monthly Magazine, September 1995, p. 1-5) Life of Faith
The Nature of Christian Faith This has two aspects: • The first aspect is subjective. It concerns the theological truths which one has to believe according to the Scriptures, Ecumenical Councils, and the Church Fathers. • The second aspect is personal. It is the measure by which one responds to the faith truths, the degree by which they affect the person and change humans life to achieve God’s will. Life of Faith
Some Biblical citations about Faith St. Paul: “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1) Life of Faith
Some Biblical citations about Faith, cont. + Faith is the gift of sonship to God “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name” (Jn 1:12) For this reason baptism has to be fulfilled in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit in order for the person to become a child of God through faith in the Holy Trinity. Life of Faith
Some Biblical citations about Faith, cont. + Faith is belief in God’s Testimony “ ..., he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son” (1Jn 5:10) Faith is here shown as a freewill within man to respond to God’s testimony about Himself and His Son. Life of Faith
Some Biblical citations about Faith, cont. + Faith is a power to see God “If you would believe you would see the glory of God” (Jn 11:40) This means faith is the spiritual vision through which we know and see God, see the eternal life and unseen matters. Life of Faith
Some Biblical citations about Faith, cont. + Faith is a comprehension of the Incarnation “He who has seen Me has seen the Father” (Jn14:9) This is because the Son is the image of God’s glory and His essence. This means that faith is the divine eye through which we see the Father when we discover through it the Son’s glory. Life of Faith
Some Fruits of Faith + Submission of Life to God + Life of Peace and Joy + Contentment and Thanksgiving + Overcoming of Difficulties Life of Faith
Some Actions of Faith • Most Vital Bond to God • God’s Highest Gift to Mankind • Everything can be done through Faith • Granting Authority to do great things • Equality of Faith to Righteousness Life of Faith
Testing of Faith “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith, Prove yourselves” (2 Cor. 13:5) Life of Faith
Cloud of Witnesses + Heroes of Faith (Hebrews 11:4-38) + The race of faith: “ Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith..” (Hebrews 12:1) Life of Faith