Chapter # 8 Paragraph # 5 Study # 2
April 19, 2009
Lincolnton, N.C.
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<520> Thesis:   All legitimate "faith" begins with the answer to the "Who?" question. Introduction:   We have made the argument many times that "faith" absolutely requires a divinely given content in terms of a verbal commitment from God to him/her who is to "believe". This is simply non-negotiable. If God has not said anything that addresses a given situation, there is nothing to "believe" in that situation. In this regard, however, it is not that God has not addressed all of our situations with words of commitment; it is either that we do not know what He has said, or that we do not intend to allow what He has said to alter what we intend to do. Thus, "unbelief" is either a matter of ignorance or rebellion, not a matter of divine silence. As "believers" we can deal with these two problems: we can be diligent in growing in the knowledge of God and His revelation (Colossians 1:10); and we can humble ourselves under the hand of God so that rebellion dissipates (1 Peter 5:6). The greater difficulty with "unbelief" is the identification of the commitments of God as opposed to faux "promises" that only "look like" they come from Him. Obviously, if "faith" requires divinely given content, it must also require a way to tell what is divine and what is deceit. This greater difficulty is the focus of our consideration of Luke's record of Jesus' activity in Luke 8:22-25 this morning.