The Eye of Faith:
Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Faith opens the door to understanding the gospel of Christ and to salvation.
Little faith leads to doubting, fear, failure, and lack of understanding. Matt 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8
From and by faith - G1537 ἐκ, ἐξ ek ex ek, ex
A primary preposition denoting origin (the point whence motion or action proceeds), from, out (of place, time or cause; literally or figuratively; direct or remote):
Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
The righteousness of God is revealed through and by means of faith. Faith is the origin of the revelation and walking in this knowledge will lead to more faith. The pure and holy shall live through and by means of faith. Faith is the origin of spiritual life.
Faith - G4102 Πίστις pistis pis'-tis
From G3982; persuasion, that is, credence; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation; abstractly constancy in such profession; by extension the system of religious (Gospel) truth itself: - assurance, belief, believe, faith, fidelity.
Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries
To have faith means that we are persuaded without a doubt. We have a moral conviction of the truth and of the truthfulness of God. Because of this persuasion, we rely on Christ completely for salvation and for the benefits of salvation that He has promised. We are constant and unwavering in this profession no matter who we are with or in what location we find ourselves, and no matter what the circumstances look like.
Jas 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
Jas 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
Jas 1:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
Jas 1:8 A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
If you ask in faith, without doubting, God will give you wisdom. He will give us clear direction as to what we should do and the best way to do it.
Adam Clark's Commentary - Wisdom signifies in general knowledge of the best end, and the best means of attaining it; but in Scripture it signifies the same as true religion, the thorough practical knowledge of God, of one’s self, and of a Savior.
We can go to God for direction as to what we should do and how we should accomplish it. He is the source. In order for us to receive from Him, we must ask in faith, nothing wavering.
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.
Heb 11:3 Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
Faith gives us a different set of eyes. When we are completely persuaded, we see things differently. It helps us to stand in the midst of difficulty and to be obedient when common sense cannot give a reason. It believes that God sees everything and we just see a part. We see through a glass darkly; we see the puzzle, God sees the way, the means, and the end. When we look through the eyes of faith, we can see things clearly as God reveals them to us.
Often in order for us to see something clearly we must first humble our self and obey what God is speaking to our heart. Even if we don’t understand why He is asking that of us, if we will obey, God will open our eyes and help us understand the deeper things of God.
Through faith we understand what is right and true when human reasoning would point to many solutions. Faith accomplishes and understands while human reasoning confounds and complicates. The eye of faith has clear vision.
2Ki 6:14 Therefore sent he thither horses, and chariots, and a great host: and they came by night, and compassed the city about.
2Ki 6:15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?
2Ki 6:16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.
2Ki 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
Heb 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.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
It is impossible to please God unless we are fully persuaded, convicted of the truth and the truthfulness of God, and constant and unwavering in this profession.
In order to come to God we must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.
Noah was warned of God of things not seen as yet. He used the eye of faith and obeyed even when human reasoning would have pointed out a different way. He built an ark to the saving of his house. People thought that he was crazy. He went on preaching righteousness and building the ark. He became heir of, he inherited the righteousness that is by means of and originates in faith.
Adam Clark's Commentary - he walked in the way God had commanded, they did not; he repeatedly admonished them, 1Pe_3:20, they regarded it not; this aggravated their crimes while it exalted his faith and righteousness. “His faith and obedience condemned the world, i.e. the unbelievers, in the same sense in which every good man’s virtues and exhortations condemn such as will not attend to and imitate them.” Dodd.
Heb 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.
Heb 11:9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:
Heb 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
By faith Abraham obeyed and he went out, not knowing whither he went. He lived in a strange country to him because he looked for a city by the eye of faith. He was interested not in a literal heritage, but in a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Heb 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
God accomplishes the impossible. There is nothing impossible with God. Look through the eyes of faith; judge Him faithful who has promised. Trust God and have faith, nothing wavering. God is able to accomplish the impossible.
“Got any rivers you think are uncrossable? Got any mountains you can’t tunnel through? God specializes in things thought impossible and He will do what no other power can do.”
Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
Heb 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Heb 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Moses was looking through the eyes of faith when he forsook Egypt. Human reasoning may have caused him to stay a son to Pharaoh so that he could deliver his people from their bondage as a ruler.
Human reasoning would have caused him to not return to Egypt because of his first attempt and failure when he took things into his own hands and slew the Egyptian. He could have thought, “The Children of Israel don’t want my help.”
Human reasoning would have had him giving up when Pharaoh did not let the Children of Israel go after the first plague or the second and on and on. “He endured as seeing him who is invisible” by the eyes of faith.
Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jesus endured the cross and counted the shame as nothing, because of the joy that was set before Him. He wasn’t looking through human reasoning, but through the eyes of faith. He saw victory over death and salvation for us. He saw Himself sitting at the right hand of God, waiting for His enemies to become His footstool.
We have a great cloud of witnesses. We have many good examples of those that served God and made their decisions not by what would benefit them in this life, but through obedience to God and His Word. They didn’t use human reasoning, but sought God for direction and followed Him unwaveringly.
Let us also lay aside everything that would hinder us, lay aside all selfishness and carnality and seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and everything that we need will be added unto us.
Jesus is the beginner and the completer of our faith. Look unto Him who was faithful. We can be faithful too. Use the eyes of faith.
Consider:
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
Rom 1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;
Jer 13:15 Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the LORD hath spoken.
Jer 13:16 Give glory to the LORD your God, before he cause darkness, and before your feet stumble upon the dark mountains, and, while ye look for light, he turn it into the shadow of death, and make it gross darkness.
Jer 13:17 But if ye will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride; and mine eye shall weep sore, and run down with tears, because the LORD'S flock is carried away captive.
Joh 12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.
Joh 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
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