Introduction
We give thanks to the Eternal and Almighty God for His grace and mercy, which allows us to be exposed to His word. This capacity does not come from man, but is divine work. No human being has the natural tendency to seek God; it is He who works spiritually to call both men and women, revealing His purpose through their lives upon the face of the earth.
This is not merely about a ministerial purpose behind the pulpit, but about a purpose of life and existence, so that all may know through the testimony of God’s people how He continues operating in our times.
We begin a new series of teachings about faith with two fundamental purposes: first, to purify the concepts we have about this topic, for many—perhaps 99%—faith means simply believing in God. However, we will discover that it transcends this basic definition. Second, to establish a biblical and spiritual definition so that we may be firm men and women who walk according to God’s will.
If a person who confesses Christ Jesus as their Lord does not walk by faith, under no circumstances are they walking under God’s will. The life of faith does not consist only of avoiding sin, but of walking according to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, which is the divine will.
Spiritual Foundation of Faith
Faith is spiritual and belongs to God, being regulated by Him through spiritual precepts. If the believer does not know these precepts, they cannot exercise faith nor walk according to divine will. Many people are unaware of what God has for their lives precisely because of the absence of genuine faith.
The man who understands faith and its regulatory precepts knows what God has and desires for his life. Therefore, we will study four precepts—unbreakable spiritual regulations—that God has established for us to walk in them with the assurance that we walk according to His will.
First Precept: Faith Is Not for Everyone
This first precept may be shocking, for we have believed that everyone possesses faith in different measures. However, in 2 Thessalonians 3:2, the apostle Paul clearly establishes that “faith is not for everyone.”
Why is it not universal? Because humans cannot produce faith; women cannot generate faith. Faith is spiritual and belongs to God; therefore, not everyone can possess it.
In Hebrews 4:2 we read: “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” Paul refers to the Jewish people—who received the law, knew the God who freed them from Egypt, witnessed miracles and supernatural manifestations for generations—but it profited them nothing because they did not walk by faith.
Philippians 1:15-16 reveals another reality: “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely.” Being in a Christian community does not guarantee salvation nor walking by faith. Many participate by imitation, childhood habit, obligation, or even envy.
Matthew 13:10-15 confirms this truth when Jesus explains why He speaks in parables: “because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” Some see without seeing, hear without hearing or understanding.
Romans 9:16 definitively establishes: “So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.” Therefore, our first prayer for others should not be for provision or good works, but that God would have mercy on them, for faith belongs to those on whom God has mercy.
Many are exposed to the word from childhood, but it does not produce faith because they have not approached with genuine repentance before the Lord’s presence. The gospel is not merely a change of conduct or behavioral moderation. Although there will be changes when a person repents, if there is no true repentance from the past way of living, what was not repented of will eventually resurface.
The people of Israel exemplify this: they left Egypt, but never took Egypt out of their hearts, continually longing for their past life. Repentance means completely removing the love and attachment to the past way of living. Without repentance, there can be no impact from God’s Spirit through His word to develop faith.
Second Precept: Faith Is Spiritual—God Gives and Delivers It
We must correct a widespread erroneous concept: there are not two types of faith—one spiritual and another human. Ephesians confirms: “one Lord, one faith, one baptism.” There is one faith, and it is spiritual, belonging exclusively to God.
Although Romans 10:17 declares that “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” this does not mean that automatic exposure to the word generates faith. We cannot produce faith by reading multiple chapters daily, for faith is not human production but a spiritual virtue that God grants according to His will.
The only way to grow in faith is by humbling ourselves before the Lord’s presence, walking under Christ’s lordship. The parable of the talents in Matthew 25 clearly illustrates this: the servant who received one talent produced nothing due to his pride. He himself confessed: “Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown.” He knew his master but didn’t care, did not humble himself recognizing his position as a servant.
How many believers act the same way? “I know God commands me this, I know God asks me that, but I don’t feel like doing it.” This is pure pride.
Luke 24:45, referring to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, says: “Then He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.” These disciples, barely three days after hearing Jesus, did not recognize Him either by His appearance or His voice, although He had said: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” It was not until Jesus opened their understanding that they comprehended.
Romans 12:3,6 confirms that God distributes faith by measure: “according to the measure of faith God has dealt to each one” and “having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith.”
Why do some receive more faith than others? The answer is the arrogance that governs the human heart. Let us remember the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector: one gave thanks for his works, the other beat his chest saying: “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” The tax collector went down to his house justified rather than the other.
When was the last time we prostrated ourselves before God saying: “Have mercy on me, for despite the time I have been walking in the gospel, I have not attained faith that moves mountains”? As Hebrews 5 says: “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God.”
David had a heart after God’s own because, although he incurred grave sins, he never hid nor evaded responsibility, but presented himself before God saying: “Here I am.”
Third Precept: Faith Is Believing God, Not Believing In God
Let us carefully examine the Scriptures. Romans 4:3: “For what does the Scripture say? ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” Romans 4:17: “before Him whom he believed—God.” Galatians 3:6: “just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’” James 2:23: “And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’”
Notice the precision: it does not say “believed in God” but “believed God.” This distinction is crucial. Faith is not believing in God; faith is believing God.
Many—I dare say 100%—believe in God, but they do not believe God. Even James confirms this: “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!” (James 2:19). Demons believe in God but receive no benefits from it.
The rich young ruler perfectly illustrates this difference. He came to Jesus asking: “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” When Jesus cited the commandments, he responded: “All these things I have kept from my youth.” Jesus told him: “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor.” The young man went away sorrowful.
This young man believed in God, but did not believe God. There are many believers who know Scripture by memory, sing choruses, quote verses, but do not believe God. If they believed Him, they would not be spiritually stagnant; they would be growing and advancing.
How many people, for benefits like Esau, deny God’s word? Many say: “I knew God was calling me, I knew He was asking me this, but I didn’t do it.” What does this mean? That you don’t believe God.
One of the great evils is seeking a second opinion when God has already spoken. Is God not truthful? Does He need confirmation? Numbers 23:19, ironically pronounced by Balaam—who sold his ministry for riches—declares: “God is not a man, that He should lie, nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?”
The life of faith consists of believing what God told you and walking according to it. What good is it to attend church multiple times per week if, when the time comes to act according to what God has told you, you seek a second opinion? That is not faith.
Fourth Precept: Faith Is the Activation of the Kingdom of Heaven
This fourth precept summarizes everything previous: faith is the activation of the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Let us remember the model prayer in Matthew 6: “Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
If there is no faith, there is no Kingdom of Heaven operating. You may be in the best congregation, in the best Christian environment, but you will not be within the Kingdom of Heaven.
Hebrews 11:6 is categorical: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” If we are not pleasing God, we are not within the Kingdom of Heaven.
Cain and Abel exemplify this: each brought his offering, but Cain’s did not please God. What happened? Cain was cast out from God’s presence. In an environment where there is no faith, there is no Kingdom of Heaven.
Many efforts are wasted because living by faith is not taught. In many ecclesiastical environments, people are taught to live by human capacities, by their own efforts: “if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.” People develop their capabilities but do not trust the Lord nor depend on Him. Human effort has not produced spiritual advancement.
When the Kingdom of Heaven is established on earth through faith, Romans 4:17 tells us that God “gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” Things that do not exist come to life.
Faith is not merely believing or self-suggestion (“I believe, I believe”). Faith activates the Kingdom of Heaven so that things which do not exist come to life and are established in our lives, experiences, environments, and surroundings.
Conclusion and Personal Application
These four precepts demand a profound personal examination:
- Faith is not for everyone: Many in congregations are there by imitation, imposition, or habit, without genuine faith.
- Faith is spiritual: God delivers it by measure when we humble ourselves before His presence, without pride, vanity, or arrogance.
- Faith is believing God: It is not enough to believe in His existence; we must believe Him and walk according to His word.
- Faith activates the Kingdom of Heaven: Without faith, there is no Kingdom operating, regardless of the religious environment.
Many of us do not walk according to biblical faith but by human philosophies, secularism, or apostasy infiltrated in congregations. What is crucial is to examine ourselves and come in humiliation before the Lord so that He may have mercy.
It is “not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy” (Romans 9:16). Let us not run in our own effort, wisdom, or intelligence. Let us cry out: “Have mercy on me, Lord, let Your mercy reach me.” Then we will have the assurance that He gives us abundantly and without measure, allowing us to walk according to His will wherever we may be.
The peace of the Lord be with you, and His grace and mercy reach you and your generation. Amen.
