The word "faithful" in Acts
Volume 4, Number 16Faithful in Acts:We’ve examined the Greek word “pistis,” usually translated “faith” in Acts and now move on to “pistos,” usually translated “faithful” to learn what it teaches. Pistos is found 66 times in the New Testament (NT) and in the King James Version (KJV) it is translated “faithful” 53 times and with various other words the remaining 13. Its only found 4 times Acts; translated “faithful” once, “believe” twice and once as “sure.” Strong defines it as “objectively trustworthy; subjectively trustful; believe (-ing); faithful (-ly), sure, true.” The Greek Lexicon indicates it is derived from another Greek word that means,... Continue reading →
Jesus Christ's Faith introducted in Acts
Volume 4, Number 15The Gift of Jesus Christ’s Faith Introduced in Acts:When the word “faith” is found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John it normally is used in reference to the faith of an individual or a group of people and so the phrases “thy faith,” “little faith,” “no faith,” “their faith,” “great faith,” etc., are found frequently. However, I’ve not been able to find in the King James Version (KJV) of those books the phrase “the faith,” whereas it is found in Acts and the books following it. “The faith” first appears in Acts quoting the Apostle Peter who was addressing Jews... Continue reading →
The faith of the lame man in Lystra
Volume 4, Number 14Faith in Acts - Paul perceives the Faith of a Man:We continue tracing the Greek word “Pistis” through Acts, where it is translated “faith” 15 times and “assurance” once in the King James Version. Today we find Paul preaching on his first missionary journey with Barnabas, Acts 14:6 & 7: “And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who steadfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy... Continue reading →
Sermon - Abraham's DNA
Volume 4, Number 13Your browser does not support the audio element.Dear Friends,This Faith Study is my presentation at West Valley Grace Fellowship (WVGF) in Sun City West, Arizona on Sunday, September 18, 2016.This first link takes you to the sermons posted on the WVGF website and you can either click on the link or copy and paste it in your browser. This study is titled "The Transition in the Book of Acts" September 25, 2016..http://new.westvalleygf.comThe same study is posted on SoundCloud, which can be accessed by either clicking on or copy and pasting the following link:https://soundcloud.com/user-854534204/the-transition-all-for-us-not-all-to-usPlease let me know if you have a... Continue reading →
Abraham - the father of our Faith
Volume 4, Number 12Vol 4 - No 12, September 20, 2016Abraham’s DNA - Or - Abraham, the Father of Our Faith:I’m trying something new with this Faith Study because I put a lot of time into this presentation at the West Valley Grace Fellowship (WVGF) in Sun City West, Arizona on Sunday, September 18, 2016 and didn’t have time to study anything else.By clicking on one of the following two links or copying and pasting them to your browser should provide access to this study.I have another study to present orally this coming Sunday but after that I will return to the regular... Continue reading →
Barnabas - the transition from Law to Grace
Volume 4, Number 11Faith in Acts - Barnabas in the Transition:Today we come to the 6th occasion of the word faith in Acts where Barnabas is referred to as “... a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith ...,” Acts 11:24a. As far as I can determine, only Stephen (Acts 6:5) and Barnabas are described as being “full of the Holy Spirit and faith.” They were Jews and along with the rest of the Pentecostal church in Jerusalem, believed Jesus Christ was Israel’s Messiah; had received the gift of the Holy Spirit; sold all their possessions and lived from... Continue reading →
Acts - The book of Transition
Volume 4, Number 10Faith in Acts - The Book of Transition:A great deal of anxiety exists today because of uncertainty and violence throughout the world. Many ask what happened to the manifestations of great power working though men such as Moses, Gideon, Samson, David and others on behalf of God’s People Israel, and, what happened to the miracles in the Pentecostal church described in the first part of Acts; communicating with each other regardless of language, healings, opening the doors of prisons, etc. (see Vol 4, No 2) Sir Robert Anderson published a book in the early 1900’s titled “The Silence of God”... Continue reading →
Abraham's Faith - Works required under the Law of Moses
Volume 4, Number 9Abraham’s Faith:Comments and feedback including divergent opinions are appreciated and today’s study is based on an observation from a reader regarding the last Faith Study (Vol. 4, No. 8). He wrote in part: “... Paul states in Romans 4 that justification is by faith - as evidenced in how God dealt with Abraham, the father of faith. I don't think salvation from the penalty of sin was ever by faith and works. Salvation from the unbelieving nation's condemnation required baptism and repentance.” I wrote back asking where in the study he is referring and he answered: “In the... Continue reading →
Stephen & The Son of Man in Heaven
Volume 4, Number 8Faith: Communications with Heaven - The Apostle Paul - Part 3:We’ve been studying instances in the New Testament when individuals received direct communications from the Lord Jesus Christ and today we consider the Apostle Paul’s experience. He was formerly a Pharisee named Saul and it’s clear it was not on his own initiative that he came to believe in The Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior. That is, he was not convicted of his sin and saw his need for a Savior on his own or by attending a church service or because another person shared the gospel with him.... Continue reading →
The Lord's communications to Paul - the Gospel of Grace
Volume 4, Number 7Faith: Communications with Heaven re. “The Son of Man” - Part 2: Our last Study listed 23 instances in the New Testament (NT) where people had communication, either directly or by vision or dream with either angels or The Lord Jesus Christ in heaven. All were Jews, confirming what Paul wrote in Romans 3:1 & 2 that Jews have many advantages but most importantly because they were entrusted with the utterances of God. This is noteworthy when we note that many false prophets since NT times have been Gentiles. Our last study covered Jesus Christ’s heavenly persona revealed to 3... Continue reading →