{"id":17033,"date":"2021-08-05T12:20:52","date_gmt":"2021-08-05T19:20:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/gospel-express\/2021-criminal-copy\/"},"modified":"2021-08-05T12:32:22","modified_gmt":"2021-08-05T19:32:22","slug":"2021-biblicalfaith","status":"publish","type":"portfolio","link":"https:\/\/ocbf.ca\/2019\/gospel-express\/2021-biblicalfaith\/","title":{"rendered":"What is Biblical Faith ?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Israel Institute of Biblical Studies<\/p>\n

Did you know that the words \u201cfaith\u201d and \u201cfaithful\u201d are different? To \u201chave faith\u201d is to trust God. Faith is a spiritual feeling that resides in your heart. To \u201cbe faithful\u201d is to harness this spirit to act for good in the world. Do you know who the Bible points to as a model of faithfulness?<\/p>\n

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Moses the Faithful Lawgiver<\/h3>\n

According to the Book of Hebrews, \u201cMoses was faithful in all God\u2019s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken later\u201d (Heb. 3:5). What does it mean that Moses was faithful? Moses didn\u2019t just lead the Israelites, delivering them from slavery.\u00a0He faithfully authored the Torah<\/strong> (the first five books of the Bible), accurately writing the Hebrew words revealed to him by the Lord on Mount Sinai.<\/p>\n

The Underpinnings of the House<\/h3>\n

The accuracy of the Hebrew in the Torah is a sign of Moses\u2019 fidelity. These words are not just ancient stories in an ancient language. They \u201ctestify to the things that would be spoken later\u201d \u2013providing prophecies which point to the Messiah.\u00a0The Old Testament is the rock-solid foundation upon which \u201cGod\u2019s house,\u201d the grand edifice of the New Testament sits. You cannot fully appreciate the ministry of Jesus without understanding the Hebrew Scriptures.<\/p>\n

Appreciate the beauty of \u201cGod\u2019s house\u201d<\/h3>\n

We are told that like Moses before him,\u00a0\u201cChrist was faithful over God\u2019s house\u201d\u00a0(Heb. 3:6). Like Moses, Jesus was supremely concerned with fidelity to the Word of God and devoted to authenticity.<\/p>\n

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The biblical Book of Psalms is full of deeply expressive language that offers us solace in times of trouble. Perhaps no verse better captures the central idea of the Psalms than, “Be still and know that I am God (Psalms 46:10).\u201d These words, however, are only partially understood in their translation. In order to fully understand them, you need to read them in their original Hebrew…<\/p>\n

Having Faith\uff0cwhat does it mean in Hebrew\uff1f<\/p>\n

Faith, in One Word<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of all the uplifting verses in the Book of Psalms, perhaps none better expresses a true life of faith than, \u201cBe still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations; I will be exalted in the earth!\u201d (Psalms 46:10). The most fascinating words here are \u201cbe still\u201d because they are the core of trust.\u00a0Although the translation \u201cbe still\u201d is acceptable, it does not reveal the true meaning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hebrew Reveals the True Meaning<\/strong><\/p>\n

In the original Hebrew of this psalm, the word is\u00a0harpu,<\/em>\u00a0from the verb RFH\u00a0\u05e8\u05e4\u05d4 meaning\u00a0\u201cto let go, to release\u201d<\/strong>. A more literal translation of\u00a0harpu<\/em>\u00a0would be “cause yourselves to let go”. The implication here is significant. Rather than merely being passive,\u00a0we should actively let go in order to know that God is in control.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let Go of Translations<\/h3>\n

This is precisely the same idea expressed by Moses moments before the children of Israel entered the divided waters of the Red Sea, \u201cThe Lord will fight for you, and you only have to be silent (Exodus 14:14).\u201d Be Still and Have Faith!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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