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by Larry Ollison
 
I am constantly amazed by some of the mail I receive. Just this last week I received a letter from a man who said he had been in the ministry for over 30 years. He was a pastor of a church in a major denomination for most of those years and in his "retirement" had been placed over several small rural churches as the denomination's "man in the field."

In his letter he told me of all his vast biblical knowledge. He said he knew Greek and Hebrew and that he had been a Bible teacher for several years. After he finished his lengthy resume he went on to make this statement. And I quote:

"Last week I was given a copy of your book by one of the pastors I oversee. He was excited and very much caught up by your faith teaching. I had to calm him down and bring him back to reality. I think people like you make faith seem more important than it really is. Maybe if we didn't hear about faith for a while, the church could heal its wounds. God be with you, Signed Reverend ----" and I won't mention his name, but this letter comes from Springfield, Illinois.

Let me say this. I understand that false teachers do exist, but let's look at the Word of God, the Holy Bible, and see what God has to say about faith.

First of all Romans 14:23 says, "But he who doubts is condemned if he eats, because he does not eat from faith; for whatever is not from faith is sin."

Hebrews 11:6 says, "Without faith it is impossible to please God."

When the woman touched Jesus' garment in Mark 5:34, Jesus turned to her and the first thing He said to her was, "Daughter, your faith has made you well."

In James chapter 5 verse 15, where the church is instructed how to pray for those who are sick, the Bible says, "and the prayer of faith will save the sick."

In James chapter 1 we are told that if we want wisdom, all we have to do is to ask. However, verse 6 tells us how to ask:: "But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind."

In Ephesians 2:8 we are told that we are saved by grace and through faith. In other words, faith is required for salvation.

In Galatians chapter 3 we are told that, "since faith has come we are no longer under the law."

As Christians we are told in 2 Corinthians 5:7 to walk in faith and not by what we see. And in Hebrews chapter 4, verse 2, we are told that the gospel was preached to the Hebrews in the wilderness but was not profitable to them because it was not mixed with faith in their hearts.

In 1 Corinthians 15:17 we are told that without faith we are still in our sins.

I think we should be seeing a pattern appearing here. According to the Bible, not to me, but according to God's Word - we can see these truths.

Without faith, we are still in our sins. We are saved through faith. Christians are required to walk in faith. Because of faith we are no longer under the law. Faith is required when we ask for wisdom. The prayer of faith will save the sick and without faith it is impossible to please God