"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

Looking at several sources for the definition of faith last week, we saw that it is a conviction of religious truth; a conviction based upon hearing; what is believed; and in the N.T. always of faith in God or Christ, or things spiritual. We saw that faith results from the Scriptures, preaching, and the gospel.

Saving faith comes from the heart and it is a gift of God as Ephesians 2:8 tells us, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God."

We saw also that Scripture speaks of the place of faith in the Christian
life: we are to live by faith; walk by faith; pray in faith; resist evil by faith. Let's now go on to see what the Scriptures tell us of the fruits of faith in our lives.

We have the fruit:
Of the remission of sins,
Christ Jesus sent the Apostle Peter to preach the Good News to the Gentiles, Peter's message in Acts 10:43 is, "To Him (Jesus) all the prophets witness that through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins." Acts 10:43

Of justification,
Here the Apostle Paul is speaking to Jews on the Sabbath, "And by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses." Acts 13:39 (Read the whole of his message that Sabbath Vs. 14-42)

Of freedom from condemnation,
Jesus is witnessing here to Nicodemus,
"He who believes in Him is not condemned, but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." John 3:18 (Read the whole scene with Nicodemus Vs. 1-21)

Of freedom from spiritual death,
Jesus speaking to Martha at the time of Lazarus' death, "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live." John 11:26

Of spiritual light,
Jesus teaching His disciples,
"While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." John 12:36

Of spiritual life:
John 3:15, in Jesus' witnessing to Nicodemus says, "That whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Of adoption into the family of God,
"But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name." John 1:12

Of an inheritance,
Paul speaking before Agrippa relates what Jesus said to him on the road to Damascus, "So I said, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'" Acts 26:15 "I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me."
Vs. 17-18

Of peace and rest,
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Romans 5:1

I close with Paul's admonition to the Corinthians at the end of his letter, "Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong. Let all that you do be done with love." 1 Corinthians 16:13-14

Oh Lord, we thank You for Your grace that through the gift of faith we believe and are saved! How awesomely loving and kind You are, Father.
May our worship this day be all that pleases Your heart! We love and adore You Holy God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit! Amen