Romans 1:8-17 Moffatt
First of all, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because the report of your faith is over all the world. God is my witness, the God whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, how unceasingly I always mention you in my prayers, asking if I may at last be sped upon my way to you by God’s will. For I do yearn to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift for your strengthening – or, in other words, that I may be encouraged by meeting you, I by your faith and you by mine. Brothers, I would like you to understand that I have often purposed to come to you (though up till now I have been prevented so as to have some results among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. To Greeks and to barbarians, to wise and to foolish alike, I owe a duty. Hence my eagerness to preach the gospel to you in Rome as well. For I am proud of the gospel; it is God’s saving power for everyone that has faith, for the Jew first and for the Greek as well. God’s righteousness is revealed in it by faith and for faith – as it is written, Now by faith shall the righteous live.
Who is encouraged by your faith?
What is the reputation of your church?
Characteristics of the Church in Rome:
- Reputation of Faith over all the world
- Needed prayer
- Attractive to those who had faith
- Needed additional strength
- Provide encouragement
- Owed duty
- A good place to preach
- Shared pride of the Gospel
- Shared power for everyone with faith
- God’s righteousness is revealed them.
Put into order? In a Christians walk. All as nouns.
Belief
Faith
Trust
Hope
Define a number of words.
Belief
A the state of mind in which a person thinks something to be the case, with or without there being empirical evidence to prove that something is the case with factual certainty.
- It is a conviction, “I am convinced”
- Confidence in the truth or existence of something not immediately susceptible to rigorous proof
Faith
- Is confidence or trust in a person or thing; or the observance of an obligation from loyalty; or fidelity to a person, promise, engagement.
- belief in God or in the doctrines or teachings of religion.
Difference between Faith and Belief: Belief + Action + Confidence
Trust 33 times in NT. Confident expectation of something
Difference between faith and trust: Trust is an assured reliance on the character, ability, strength or truth of someone or something. Faith is an allegiance to duty or person: loyalty, fidelity to one’s promises
Hope is an optimistic attitude of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes related to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large.[1] As a verb, its definitions include: “expect with confidence” and “to cherish a desire with anticipation”
Faith : taking complete confidence in something or someone [Matthew 17:20] Believe : agreeing that something is true [Exodus 4:30-31] Belief : something you think is true [2 Thessalonians 2:13] Trust : relying on [Deuteronomy 1:31-33] Hope : wanting/expecting something to happen [Job 6:10-12]
The reputation of a Church is created not by the corporate body. It is made up of the individuals that live by their faithfulness.
The question is in looking at yourselves as individuals, what kind of faith do you have? Is it a faith that people see in you? Is it a faith that people talk about to one another? Do people talk about it at your work? Do they talk about it in your neighborhood? Do they talk about it in our church?
You see if people are not talking about the faith they see in us then maybe it is for a reason. There may be nothing for them to see and talk about.
We need as Christians to always have our faith out in front of us. If we put it out there people will notice it. If they notice it then they may be encouraged by it. If they are encouraged by it then God can use that to either bring someone to faith or help another Christian grow and mature in their own faith.
That faith that people see, the Bible calls our light – (Ephesians 5:8) 8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.
We are the light – (Mathew 5:16) 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Be a light for God! Don’t hide it and don’t be ashamed of it, but put it right out in front of you.
Hope can disappoint, Faith does not