The Importance of Faith

Without faith, you can not be saved. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. Without faith, you can not make it. Faith is what got you started on this journey, and you will need faith to continue on and reach the desired end. Faith is important.

We are saved by faith. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Ephesians 2:8

We live by faith. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Hebrews 10:38

We are kept by faith. Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
1 Peter 1:5

We are healed by faith. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.
James 5:15

We can not please God without faith. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:6

We overcome by faith. Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
Ephesians 6:16

Faith

According to Webster's dictionary faith is:

1. Belief and trust in and loyalty to God
2. Belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion
3. Firm belief in something for which there is no proof
4. Complete trust
5. Something that is believed especially with strong conviction

Hebrews 11:1 puts it this way:

NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Hebrews 11:1 AMP

The Word of God can increase your faith. Faith indeed comes by the Word of God:

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 10:17

Faith comes, enters your heart, your very being, through the hearing of the Word of God. There are several ways we can receive the Word of God:

Preaching - But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;
Romans 10:8

Through the written Word - Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scriptures,
Luke 24:45

In times of prayer - Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.
Jeremiah 33:3

A word of exhortation by another believer - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
Colossians 3:16

In dreams or visions - By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
Hebrews 11:5-6

Audible Voice of God - And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
Acts 9:4-6

Justification

Because man rebelled against God and entered into sin, there is a separation between man and God. We are all sinners by nature and are therefore condemned by a just, holy and righteous God.

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Romans 3:10-12

The only way for us to be reconciled back to God is for Him to transfer our guilt upon Himself. The death of Jesus Christ made this transfer, forgiveness and reconciliation a possibility.

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

We receive justification by the grace of God (Romans 3:24, Titus 3:7), through the blood of Jesus Christ (Romans 5:9, Hebrews 9:22), and by faith (Romans 5:1-2, Galatians 2:16).

Justification results in the following:

Removal of the penalty of sin:
Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Romans 4:7

Removal of condemnation:
There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Romans 8:1

Peace with God:
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:1

The righteousness of Jesus Christ is ours:
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21

What's in it for Me?

Repentance provides JUSTIFICATION; right standing with God. Who doesn't want that?

From Webster's Dictionary:
Justify: a : to administer justice to
b archaic : absolve
c : to judge, regard, or treat as righteous and worthy of salvation

When God justifies a person, He acquits them; not on the grounds of the person's innocence, but of His own love and grace.

Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 3:20-26

Justification therefore, is a change in man's standing before or relation to God. It is an act of God that frees repentant sinners from guilt and the penalty of sin.

That's what's in repentance for us.

Repentance

One major hindrance to true repentance will be self-confidence. While self-confidence is an excellent trait to have for life in general, it can get in the way when it comes to repentance before God. True repentance calls for a renunciation of self-confidence and it will initiate a God-confidence; being confident in God to meet all your needs and fulfill all your desires, believing then, that His Way is the only way.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:6

Our own way will lead us astray. Following our own ideas, desires and direction will lead us away from the Power needed to live a victorious life in Christ. Following our own way will put us in a place void of God's protection and blessing. We need God in order to make it. We need to follow His Way to stay with Him. Repentance is where that all starts.

And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day. And they put away the strange gods from among them, and served the LORD: and his soul was grieved for the misery of Israel.
Judges 10:15-16

If we follow the example of the Israelites in this scripture, we see three things which are necessary for repentance.

First, we see confession. Confession is self-explanatory. You must say, with your mouth, what you have done wrong. Confess your sin before God. Yes, He knows what you did - or didn't do, but you must confess it to Him. There is so much power in the spoken word. We will look at this another time.

Secondly, we see a turning away from sin. If you are truly repentant, you will make every effort to not continue in sin; especially the same sin. In most 12-step programs for addiction recovery, there is a common teaching that gives instruction on how to effect true change in your life.

Change people, places and things.

There may be certain people, places or things that you need to change in your life in order to bring about the change that you really desire in order to bring about and demonstrate true repentance.

Third, they chose to serve God. This is where you start new habits, make new friends, take up new responsibilities. All of this shows a placing of real confidence in God and discarding your own self-confidence.

The Bible says that we must repent and turn towards God (Acts 26:19-20). We must turn from our idols and serve God. (1 Thessalonians 1:8-9)

Repentance

Hebrews 6:1&2 mentions two very basic and foundational truths; repentance (from dead works) and faith (towards God).

Repentance is the first step in building a successful foundation in your new life as a believer. Faith towards God is what the Christian walk is all about.

First, God commands that man repent. There are no 'if's 'and's or 'but's about it.

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 17:30

Repentance and Faith are both gifts given to us by God so that we may turn from our ways and follow His Way. Repentance and Faith are not one time deals, either. they are something that we practice throughout our Christian walk. You may have repented before God when you were saved. You will need to repent again. You may have had faith to receive Christ when you were saved. you will need faith to believe on Him again. Repentance and Faith work actively throughout your walk and sanctification.

Repentance means a "change of mind"; a change of heart or attitude. It means to have a radical change in one's own heart toward sin and the things of God. It involves a conscious moral decision to forsake sin and enter into fellowship with God.

Repentance is commanded by God (Acts 17:30)
Repentance is essential for salvation (Mark 1:15)

It is a gift from God.

He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it],
2 Timothy 2:25 AMP

God desires it for all men.

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9