Why Is Faith So Important?

David W Palmer

(Matthew 21:18–19 NKJV) Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. {19} And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

In today’s reading, we see that Jesus’s apprentices had a very important lesson to learn. He was coming to the last days of his time with them, as they had known it. They were already equipped and competent in so many areas, but after receiving the assessments: “no faith,” “because of your unbelief,” and then, “little faith,” they obviously still needed some more training about faith:

(Matthew 21:20–21 NKJV) And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” {21} So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done.”

Why is faith so important?

We are saved by faith:

(John 3:16 NKJV) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

(Romans 10:9–10 NKJV) That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. {10} For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

God calls us to walk by faith:

(2 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV) For we walk by faith, not by sight.

God Purifies our hearts by faith:

(Acts 15:9 NKJV) “and made no distinction between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.”

We are justified by faith:

(Romans 3:28 NKJV) Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law.

We have access to God by faith:

(Ephesians 3:12 NKJV) in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.

We have access to grace by faith:

(Romans 5:2 NKJV) Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

We are Sanctified by Faith:

(Acts 26:18 NKJV) “… they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”

We Stand by Faith:

(Romans 11:20 NKJV) Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear.

(2 Corinthians 1:24 NKJV) Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand.

We Live by faith in the Son of God:

(Galatians 2:20 NKJV) “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

We wait for the hope of righteousness by faith:

(Galatians 5:5 NKJV) For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.

We are the righteousness of God by faith:

(Philippians 3:9 NKJV) and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

(Romans 10:10 NKJV) For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

By Faith We Understand:

(Hebrews 11:3 NKJV) By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

We Are Encouraged by Faith:

(Romans 1:12 NKJV) that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me.

We Receive the Holy Spirit by Faith:

(Galatians 3:2, 5 NKJV) This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? ... {5} Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

We have our prayers answered by faith:

(Mark 11:24 NKJV) “Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”

We can move mountains by faith:

(Mark 11:22–23 NKJV) So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. {23} “For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says.”

(Mark 11:22 Aramaic) … “Let there be in you the faith of God.”

We can receive healing by faith:

(Mark 5:34 NKJV) And He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction.”

(James 5:15 NKJV) And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

We are shielded from Enemy Attacks by Faith:

(Ephesians 6:16 NKJV) Above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.

We can be made whole by faith:

(Luke 17:19 AKJV) And he said to him, Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole.

We receive forgiveness by faith:

(Matthew 9:2 NKJV) Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

We Prophesy in proportion to our Faith:

(Romans 12:6 NKJV) 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.

Other Reasons to Learn about Faith:

All things are Possible if You Can Believe:

(Mark 9:23 NKJV) Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

According to your Faith … no limits:

(Matthew 9:29 KJV 2000) Then touched he their eyes, saying, “According to your faith be it unto you.”

Remember:

(Romans 10:17 NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

This is either true, or the integrity of God’s word is called into question. God cannot lie, so it is absolutely true that faith always comes when you hear from God. And when God speaks to you—either by his Spirit, in his word, or through a leader, parent, or prophet—he will always watch over his word to perform it (Jer. 1:12 ESV).

(Psalm 119:89 NKJV) Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven.

Today, in view of all of the reasons to be competent in faith, I encourage you to again renew your commitment to grow your faith from mustard-seed size to mountain-moving strength. How can you do this and remove all the doubt from your heart? Feed your faith every day with God’s word, exercise your faith in every available opportunity, and fight the good fight of faith continuously. Faith is the labour that God wants from us:

(John 6:28–29 NKJV) Then they said to Him, “What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” {29} Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in Him whom He sent.”