For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.
Ephesians 2:8 (ESV)
Series: The Gift of Faith
Today, January 6, marks the celebration of Epiphany, a Christian feast day commemorating the visit of the Magi—the Eastern Kings—to the baby Jesus. This feast rejoices in the manifestation of Emmanuel, God with us. Some Christians also celebrate Jesus’ baptism on this day, thereby acknowledging His introduction to the world as the beloved Son of God.
Epiphany can only be celebrated because of the first Christmas—when God gave the gift of His Son to the world. In response to God’s gift, the Magi brought gifts to the Christ Child: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And through His life, death, and resurrection, Jesus provided miraculous gifts to us: salvation, reconciliation, righteousness, grace, peace, love, wisdom, and so much more. Among the list of gifts we receive from God through Jesus is the gift of faith.
Paul acknowledged this truth and encouraged his readers to align their thoughts accordingly in Romans 12:3 (NLV):
God has given me His loving favor. This helps me write these things to you. I ask each one of you not to think more of himself than he should think. Instead, think in the right way toward yourself by the faith God has given you.
A measure of faith has been given to each of us. Just as God had purpose in the gift of His Son, and the gifts the Magi brought to Jesus had significance, there is great purpose in the gift of faith we’ve been given. So what exactly is faith, what is its purpose, and why do we need it?
The Oxford Dictionary describes faith as complete trust or confidence in someone or something. It is assurance, belief, and reliance. Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB) describes faith as follows:
Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see.
The purpose of faith is found in Hebrews 11:6 (HCSB):
It is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
Faith in God—the complete trust, confidence, and belief in Him—is necessary to please God. Paul, in Ephesians 2:8, taught that we are saved by grace through faith. Faith is required for our salvation. And, as we read through Hebrews 11, we understand the many blessings people experienced because of their faith in God. Some Bibles title Hebrews 11 as the “Heroes of Faith.”
By faith, these forerunners understood creation, offered acceptable sacrifices, received God’s approval, and even escaped death (vs. 2-5). By faith, these heroes received warnings, acted in obedience, remained in place, went out to the unknown, and received power for miracles (vs. 7-12). By faith, vision, promises, blessings, revelation, discernment, and guidance were received (vs. 17-27). By faith, protection, deliverance, victory, justice, and strength were realized (vs. 28-34).
We, too, are accepted in the beloved and we are approved by God because of our faith. Just like those who have gone before us, the blessings of God are ours through our faith. We hope you will join us throughout this series as we turn the pages of the Gospels to learn what Jesus taught about faith. After all, Jesus is our Great Teacher and the One who has the words of life.
Let’s grow together in the knowledge of what faith is and how it works. The choice is ours—to open this gift and nurture the measure of faith God has given us, or to let it remain stagnant, to ignore it, and leave it dormant. Let’s embrace this beautiful gift and experience the blessings that flow from a life lived by faith.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Ephesians 1:5-6, 2:8; Hebrews 11; Romans 12:3