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Does faith grow?

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CEO:
Joe and Kathy and Dave adn Rodger

Hi.  I believe the scriptures we have referenced do indeed prove faith grows.  I also believe it can recede.  Knowledge and faith are so intertwined.  As we continue to discover the pearls in scripture (knowledge) our faith is more Rock solid-the more we know the more faithful we are that  the rest of the word is absolutely true.  I know I believe (have faith) greater than ever before.

One more point-its just how my mind works-the greater our knowledge the greater our faith, until we have complete knowledge, then we don't need faith!  But who says we will ever have complete knowledge?...of the increase of His kingdom there shall be no end-we can grow in the faith forever?!

Sometimes I get excited about what  is in front of us.  My thoughts are flying with the exhilation of US being shown things that are now unseen but will be clearly understood (and enjoyed) after our resurrection.

Aint God great.

Askseeknock
CEO

judith collier:
I was always, thanks be to God, a person of faith until I would go through a trial and I had to learn patience and trust which was hard for me as I did not know much.  I still believed, but what? My rebellion was strong and I had trouble turning things over to God but I studied and prayed and nourished this faith I was given. And there were times all I could do was say to myself "GOD is good" "God is good" Now at this time looking back I see God was working in me continuously giving me the grace of perserverance. This walk with God is not what I expected but my faith is "stronger" and "sure" and I know now what I believe. And I would not trade my experience with God for anything because my confidence in Him is like nothing else. Judy

chuckt:

--- Quote from: CEO on January 10, 2009, 11:03:14 AM ---Rodger

Good point. 

What I mean is can we make our faith grow?  God gives each a measure, if I want more faith will God increase the measure for me, or is it a set amount?

Charles

--- End quote ---


i dont think faith ""grows"" but we are told to ADD TO IT!

2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;


 2Pe 1:6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;


 2Pe 1:7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness LOVE.


 2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make [you that ye shall] neither [be] barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


 2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.


 2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:


 2Pe 1:11 For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.


Chapter 13
1 If I should be speaking in the languages of men and of the messengers, yet should have no love, I have become resounding copper or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I should have prophecy and should be perceiving all secrets and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so as to transport mountains, yet have no love, I am nothing.
3 And if ever I should be morselling out all my possessions, and if I should be giving up my body, that I should be boasting, yet may have no love, in nothing do I benefit.
4 Love is patient, is kind. Love is not jealous. Love is not bragging, is not puffed up,
5 is not indecent, is not self-seeking, is not incensed, is not taking account of evil,
6 is not rejoicing in injustice, yet is rejoicing together with the truth,
7 is forgoing all, is believing all, is expecting all, is enduring all.
8 Love is never lapsing: yet, whether prophecies, they will be discarded, or languages, they will cease, or knowledge, it will be discarded.
9 For out of an instalment are we knowing, and out of an instalment are we prophesying.
10 Now whenever maturity may be coming, that which is out of an instalment shall be discarded.
11 When I was a minor, I spoke as a minor, I was disposed as a minor, I took account of things as a minor. Yet when I have become a man, I have discarded that which is a minor's.
12 For at present we are observing by means of a mirror, in an enigma, yet then, face to face. At present I know out of an instalment, yet then I shall recognize according as I am recognized also.
13 Yet now are remaining faith, expectation, love -- these three. Yet the greatest of these is love.


maybe faith gets ""stronger"" or maybe we can say it grows, but faith still is just the beginning aND FAITH ALONE wont save you.


God bless
chuckt

chuckt:

--- Quote ---I disagree and believe FAITH indeed grows !! and not just say it does but believe FAITH can grow. This increase however comes only from God.
--- End quote ---

i can agree, but even if our faith """grows""" into something so strong we can move ""mountians"' and have not LOVE we are nothing.

for me ""faith"" is for baby christians on milk, its much needed indeed, im not putting it down. im just saying once certian knowledge comes faith is no longer need and in the end when we stand before Christ SEEING him faith will be no more, but LOVE remains.

faith in what is seen is not faith.

heck i dont even trust my OWN faith, i do however trust 100% in the faith OF Christ. ;)

i guess we can ask, does faith ""grow"" by adding those 7 things TO IT as per peters instructions?

but lets look into your proof texts, shall we?

 
--- Quote ---Corinthians 10:15
not boasting beyond our measure, that is, in other men's labors, but with the hope that as your FAITH GROWS, we will be, within our sphere, enlarged even more by you,
--- End quote ---


14 (for it is not as though, not reaching on to you, we are overstretching ourselves, for we outstrip others even as far as you in the evangel of Christ),
15 not boasting immeasurably in others' toils, yet having the expectation, your faith growing, to be magnified among you superabundantly,


Is paul talking of individual faith or their FAITH corperatly? you know ""the faith"" the ""christian faith"'


--- Quote ---Jude 1:20
Dear friends, use your most Holy FAITH to GROW. Pray with the Holy Spirit's help.
--- End quote ---

19 These are those who isolate themselves, soulish, not having the spirit.
20 Now you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith, praying in holy spirit,
21 keep yourselves in the love of God, anticipating the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ for life eonian.


again this seems to indicate the object of faith, not faith itself. its context points to more than individualistic  ""faith""


--- Quote ---Philippians 1:25
Since I am convinced of this, I know that I will continue to live and be with all of you, so you will MATURE in the FAITH and know joy in it.
--- End quote ---

this seems to go hand in hand with what peter is talking about ADDING to faith and becoming MATURE in need of nothing  :-* notice mature in THE faith


--- Quote ---2 Thessalonians 1:3
Brothers, at all times we are obligated to thank God for you. It is right to do this because your FAITH is GROWING all the time and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
--- End quote ---


 We ought to be thanking God always concerning you, brethren, according as it is meet; seeing that your faith is flourishing and the love of each one of you all for one another is increasing,

how does faith flourish? again i guess one can look at this as individualistic i dont.


--- Quote ---And from the Words of life spoken from Jesus the Christ::

John 11:14-15
14 Then Jesus told them plainly, "Lazarus has died,
15 but I'm glad that I wasn't there so that you can GROW in FAITH. Let's go to Lazarus."
--- End quote ---

once they SAW that Yeshua could raise the dead seems it would no longer be faith but knowledge, these yet not even being converted.


No biggie may you grow in the faith.

do you see, it seems we can grow in THE faith but do we really need anymore faith once we have been converted??



peace
chuckt

hillsbororiver:
Were the following Words spoken by Jesus only for His disciples of that day or is our Lord speaking to us all when we let the cares of this world or adversity affect our faith in a negative fashion.
 
Do we ever become anxious and/or irritable when things don't go as we would like? Are we fearful of conditions around us and all the predictions of doom and gloom that seem at times to come from every direction?

Have we ever lost confidence or doubted the Light He has given us when others do not accept what we have been shown?

Have we doubted His love for us when the prayers that originate from our own will  are not answered to our expectations?

Mat 6:30  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?
 
Mat 6:31  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
 
Mat 8:23  And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him,
 
Mat 8:24  And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep.
 
Mat 8:25  And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
 
Mat 8:26  And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm.
 
Mat 8:27  But the men marveled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!

Mat 14:28  And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
 
Mat 14:29  And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
 
Mat 14:30  But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
 
Mat 14:31  And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?
 
Mat 14:32  And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
 
Mat 14:33  Then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God.
 
Mat 16:6  Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.
 
Mat 16:7  And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread.
 
Mat 16:8  Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
 
Luk 12:25  And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

Luk 12:26  If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?

Luk 12:27  Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
 
Luk 12:28  If then God so clothe the grass, which is today in the field and tomorrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Our faith is purified and strengthened by the trials He sets before us;
 
Zec 13:9  And I will bring the third part through the fire and will refine them as silver is refined and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

1Pe 1:7  That the trial (a testing) of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

Peace,

Joe

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