Joel Kontinen

Without Faith It Is Impossible to Please God



Posted: Sunday, February 14, 2010

by Joel Kontinen
http://joelkontinen.blogspot.com/

Faith is one of the key words of the New Testament. An entire chapter in the Letter to the Hebrews deals with the significance of faith. The author defines the concept as " the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1).

While faith is a foundational aspect of Christianity, it is often a difficult one, at least in practice. "By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible", we read in Hebrews 11:3 but we might still have doubts as to what this might mean in our own lives.

And we are not the only ones who have doubts in our hearts. Many first century Jewish believers seemed to suffer from the same syndrome. Often Jesus had to reprimand His followers for their lack of faith. Once, when the disciples were at the mercy of a violent storm, they forgot that the Creator of the entire universe was with them in the same boat. "Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?", He had to rebuke them (Matt. 8:26).

After the crucifixion, when two very dejected disciples were trudging their way to Emmaus, a little village on the outskirts of Jerusalem, the resurrected Lord appeared to them but they failed to see the evidence before their eyes. Gently but firmly Jesus reminded them of the necessity of faith, pointing out the importance of believing "in all that the prophets have spoken" (Luke 24:25).

How many times has the Lord had to rebuke us for our unbelief? Perhaps, like the father of a very sick son in Mark 9:24, each of us ought to confess: " Lord, I believe; help my unbelief."

May the Lord help us to overcome our unbelief.

Joel Kontinen is an author and translator currently living in Finland. His bacground includes an MA in translation studies and a BA in Bible and Theology. He mostly writes about origins issues.
 
Blog:. http://joelkontinen.blogspot.com/
 
Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/joelkontinen
 
 
 
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)
» left by Marijo Phelps
 2 years 87 days ago.
143 fans.
Do you finding yourself believing that God CAN do it but then wondering if he will do it for you now today? then there are those impossible things that he does do to the amazement of all and as a witness of his presence and love. Thanks for this piece.
» left by Joel Kontinen 2 years 87 days ago.
43 fans.
Thanks, Marijo. Exactly. I think it's easier to believe that God does great things somewhere else than right here. But perhaps we should stop restricting Him.
 
Blessings,
 
Joel
» left by Natalia Brophy 2 years 86 days ago.
6 fans.
Good article, Joel. Definitely, food for thought.
» left by Joel Kontinen 2 years 86 days ago.
43 fans.
Thanks, Natalia.
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