Six expressions of faith
Doctrinal — the faith delivered to the saints, an objective statement of belief. Saving — an act of the will based on knowledge, with emotional expression…
Lesson 7 · Course 59
Learning Faith
Faith is a confident relationship with God that leads to obedience and action — not mere awareness or feeling.
At a glance
Summary
Faith is a confident relationship with God that leads to obedience and action — not mere awareness or feeling. Faith is more than mental awareness or emotion. It is a confident relationship with God that leads to obedience and action.
Auto-graded 10/10 (100%) on attempt 1. Essays not graded yet. Attempts used: 1 of 3. Quiz has 10 true/false items plus 3 essays.
Big ideas
What to teach and remember
- Faith is more than mental awareness or emotion. It is a confident relationship with God that leads to obedience and action.
- Faith grows through Scripture, prayer, trust, obedience, and opportunities to act. It is biblical to pray for faith.
- Doubt commonly comes from ignorance, fear, or rebellion.
- Love is shown by giving and sacrifice. Hope comes through Christ’s presence, God’s providence, Heaven, and Christ’s return.
- Six expressions: doctrinal, saving, justifying, indwelling, sanctifying, and the gift of faith. They are not all the same.
- Three views of the gift of faith: instrumental, insight, and interventional. Interventional faith goes beyond the normal tools God gives.
Key terms
People, places, and words that matter
eight conclusions about growing and using faith
Faith is a primary influence on ministry. Growing faith and growing ministries travel together. Leaders can grow ministries through the gift of faith and can…
Faith
Faith is more than mental awareness or emotion
Love
Love is shown by giving and sacrifice
Structure
Outline / timeline
- List and discuss the six expressions of faith.
- Discuss the three different understandings and explanations of the gift of faith.
- Discuss the eight conclusions about growing and using faith.
Must remember
Facts to keep straight
| Quiz score | 100% (1 attempt) |
|---|---|
| Key claim | Faith is more than mental awareness or emotion. It is a confident relationship with God that leads to obedience and action. |
| Key claim | Faith grows through Scripture, prayer, trust, obedience, and opportunities to act. It is biblical to pray for faith. |
| Key claim | Doubt commonly comes from ignorance, fear, or rebellion. |
Compare
Side-by-side contrasts
Six expressions
- doctrinal
- saving
- justifying
- indwelling
- sanctifying
- and the gift of faith
Three views of the gift of faith
- instrumental
- insight
- and interventional
For the pulpit
Sermon hooks
- Faith is more than mental awareness or emotion. It is a confident relationship with God that leads to obedience and action.
- Faith grows through Scripture, prayer, trust, obedience, and opportunities to act. It is biblical to pray for faith.
- Love is shown by giving and sacrifice. Hope comes through Christ’s presence, God’s providence, Heaven, and Christ’s return.
Quiz drill
Quiz drill / review · open to practice · 10 items
Quiz score: 100% · 1 attempt
1. Bill Bright was co-founder of Thomas Road Baptist Church with Jerry Falwell.
FalseBright founded Campus Crusade (Cru), not Thomas Road with Falwell.
2. There are three views of the gift of faith: instrumental, insight, and intervention.
TrueMoodle wording kept (“intervention”). The three views: instrumental, insight, interventional.
3. Saving faith and justifying faith are both non-experiential.
FalseJustifying faith is God’s non-experiential act. Saving faith involves knowledge, will, and emotion.
4. Indwelling faith and doctrinal faith are the same.
FalseDoctrinal faith is the objective faith delivered to the saints. Indwelling faith is Christ’s faith in us.
5. Developing faith involves the mind, will, and emotions.
TrueGrowing faith is whole-person: mind, will, and heart.
6. It is never biblical to pray for faith.
FalseThe disciples asked, “Increase our faith.” It is biblical to pray for it.
7. Interventional faith grows out of using faith as a vision and uses faith as an instrument.
TrueIt grows from vision-faith and still uses faith as an instrument.
8. Interventional faith goes beyond the normal tools God gives to serve Him.
TrueBeyond ordinary methods — divine certainty for a biblical purpose.
9. Interventional faith is not based on the person having exact biblical knowledge or mature doctrine.
TrueGod’s power, not the person’s doctrinal maturity, is the ground of it.
10. Interventional faith is more than living by faith.
TrueLiving by faith is sanctifying faith. Interventional faith is more than that.
Essay themes
If you preach or review
List and discuss the six expressions of faith.
Doctrinal — the faith delivered to the saints, an objective statement of belief. Saving — an act of the will based on knowledge, with emotional expression. Justifying — God’s non-experiential act of declaring us righteous. Indwelling — Christ’s faith in us, leading to a deeper-life experience. Sanctifying — living by the principles of the Bible. Gift of faith — an ability God gives a believer to do His work.
Discuss the three different understandings and explanations of the gift of faith.
Instrumental — God is source, vision, and power; available to all. Insight — also from God with His power, but a particular vision for ministry; for chosen people. Interventional — the person’s initiative and vision, God supplies power and accomplishment; for chosen people; beyond normal tools; divine certainty for a biblical purpose. God is the source, the person is the vehicle, results are supernatural.
Discuss the eight conclusions about growing and using faith.
Faith is a primary influence on ministry. Growing faith and growing ministries travel together. Leaders can grow ministries through the gift of faith and can develop that gift. Those without the gift can still use other means God provides and work with people who have it. Leaders can increase a gift’s effectiveness. Ministry grows as the leader goes from faith to faith. The gift can intervene in church crises or remove growth-hindering problems. Leaders need not express faith the same way to influence the church.