From Faith to Faith
From Faith to Faith
We begin this lesson with a trivial puzzle, simply to direct your attention to the theme of this lesson.
What common word in the English language has eight letters, but only one vowel?
See end of lesson for answer
The answer to the puzzle above expresses what should be a characteristic of your faith. In this lesson we think of the expression "from faith to faith" (Rom 1:15-17) as it relates to the development from a weak faith to a faith that is strong.
In the Greek, there is a word "asthenees". This word means "weakness" although more literally we could render it "unstrength" if there were such a word in English. In the Greek there is even a double negative "being not unstrong in faith..." (Rom 4:19-20) . Starting with that verse, we are going to look at the nine instances where "asthenees" (in various forms) is used in Romans. It is instructive to look at these nine instances in the order they occur, and grouping them under three headings.
"And not being weak in faith... Abraham did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God"
We are to walk in the steps of the faith which Abraham had. He is the spiritual father of all who believe in Jesus Christ, and who are "unstrong" in that faith (Rom 4:12,16, Gal 3:7,29) .
"When we were without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly".
Without the death of Christ, we would be unable to stand justified before God. We were wretched and weak. But the "power of God for salvation" came through the gospel of the crucified Christ, enabling us, in our weakness, to be made strong (Rom 1:16-17).
"the weakness of your flesh"
It takes time to overcome our lack of strength. But the power of Christ's sacrifice enables us to bring our bodies into subjection to him, and to present our bodies a living sacrifice pleasing to God (Rom 12:1-2) . When Paul saw his own wretchedness, he asked, "Who shall deliver me from this body of death?" The answer was Christ our Lord.
"...what the law could not do because it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending his own Son..."
The law said, "He who does these things shall live by them" (Rom 10:5) . That sounds like a blessing, but it turns out to be a curse. For what happens when, through weakness, one forgets or fails to do one of those things? He becomes a transgressor, and he dies, for "the wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23) . Thus, "by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified" and one must be "justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law" (Rom 3:20,28).
"...the Spirit helps our weaknesses..."
In Romans 8:34, Paul tells us of "Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." As if that were not enough, Paul has already said (in verse 26) that "the Spirit also helps our weaknesses... the Spirit himself makes intercession for us..." It's an overwhelmingly wonderful thing, isn't it, that, in our weakness, both Jesus and the Holy Spirit intercede for us?
[Answer to puzzle: STRENGTH]
Lesson continued