FAITH FORMATION
Hebrews 11-6: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Romans 4-16: Therefore it is of faith, that it might be grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.
In the above verses it appears God is saying that in order to please him the individual who is attempting to please God by taking an action has to believe that he is God and will be rewarded for seeking him. It is not enough to do a good work in an attempt to draw near to God as is communicated in Romans 4. A man is not justified by an act that he takes before God if he does not bring it before God in faith. The work is not what justifies an individual but it is the faith, which is God given, in Jesus Christ. The Bible goes on to communicate in Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the assurance (substance) of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Faith is not wishful thinking.
Formation of faith in a leader occurs when he or she hears the word of God as communicated in Romans 10:17 – “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” God makes commitments and then sets the conditions to allow individuals to be in a position so that they are receptive to the message of the Gospel. Once an individual has been given faith by God’s grace, he is a new creature in Christ and is expected to grow in the grace and knowledge of God, not an overnight process by any means. The scripture communicates that we should order our conversation in accordance with the will of God. There are four things which are essential in the growth of the Christian’s faith: 1. Spending time in the scriptures, 2. Looking for the evidence of God’s work in your life and world, 3. Getting close to the Lord, and hanging out with his people and 4. Waiting on the Lord to fulfill his promises.
I can see how this process of faith formation has played out in my life in the fact that at the age of 14 I came under the hearing of God’s word by reading a book by the name of Beyond Death’s door which contained the story of the Gospel and by which God gave me the faith in Jesus Christ that saves. My life was changed as far as what I believed. I always knew there was a God but now I knew God personally through Jesus Christ. The evidence of the new found life was a change in my grades in school dramatically. I struggled with the walk during the early years of being a Christian, many doubts of salvation along the way, but have been waiting on God (Jesus) who is the Author and Finisher of my salvation as communicated in Hebrews 12:2. I have learned patience by experiencing personal and professional trials in life. God communicates in his word that the trying of one’s faith has benefits as far as the lessons learnt and that he chastises his children like a father does a son and that we should not despise the chastising although it may be unpleasant while going through it. Mature faith formation is a process that does not occur overnight.