2 Corinthians 5:7 - Living by faith or by sight?
2 Corinthians 5:7 - Living by faith or by sight?
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) We live by faith, not by sight.
2 Corinthians 5:7 (NCV) We live by what we believe, not by what
we can see.
A distinguishing quality of a person of faith is that he has a
stronger attachment to God than to his environment; in other words, he
finds his reason for living in God rather than in his surroundings.
[Megiddo Message Magazine]
The beginning point of faith is believing in God's character --
he is who he says he is. The end point is believing in God's
promises -- he will do what he says he will do..... This confidence in the
realities that are unseen allows believers to persevere in this faith,
regardless of persecution, opposition, or temptation. (Life Application
Commentary)
The Word becomes real to us when we act on it. Genuine belief
results in corresponding action. (Jam.2:22; Pro.16:3; Joh.20:29;
2Co.5:7) [SS Quarterly 1/27/04]
Good works strengthens faith? Sinful works weaken faith!
(Jam.2:22; Pro.16:3; Joh.20:29; 2Co.5:7) [SS Quarterly 1/27/04]
Doubts need to be confronted with words of faith and action.
Take God at His word. Do what the Bible says, and faith will come.
(Jam.2:22; Pro.16:3; Joh.20:29; 2Co.5:7) [SS Quarterly 1/27/04]
Faith and feeling are as distinct as the east is from the west....
(Letter 7, 1892).
EXAMPLES
The "Elijah complex" can rob you of power and joy, so beware!
Elijah went from victory to defeat because he started walking by sight
and not by faith (v. 3). He believed the queen's words but not God's
word, and he forgot how God had cared for him for three and a half
years. Fear replaced faith, and he ran for his life.We need to obey
these words: "Do not be afraid; only believe" (Mark 5:36). [Chapter by
Chapter Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe re 1Ki.19]
Caleb was one of the spies whom Moses sent to explore the
Promised Land. Upon returning, only he and Joshua reported that the
Israelites should obey God and enter the land. The other spies insisted
that such a mission would be too dangerous, and the people sided with
them. That entire generation died in the wilderness (see Numbers
13-14, March 9-10). Only Caleb and Joshua were allowed to live and
eventually enter the land.
What was the secret to Caleb's faith? He persevered. Caleb
refused to go with the majority opinion when it contradicted what he
knew to be God's will. Because of his faithfulness to the will and
purposes of God, Caleb never lost his spiritual edge. He had to endure
forty years of desert wandering before he could enter the Promised
Land, yet he never doubted God's ability to carry through on his
promise.
You've begun a spiritual walk with the Lord that will last
the rest of your life. You will face "desert" times that might cause
you to doubt God's promises. Like Caleb, stand for God's truth, no
matter what the rest of the crowd says. Like Caleb, trust God to carry
through on his promises. [The One Year Bible for New Believers re Jos.
14:6-14]
God had told the people to enter and possess the land, but
they preferred to spy it out just to see if God was really telling
the truth! Well, He was - it was a rich land, a beautiful land, and
a fruitful land. But there were giants! "We are not able to
overcome!" This was the majority report.
The minority report came from Caleb and Joshua, and Moses
agreed with them: "We are well able to overcome it!" This is the Old
Testament version of Romans 8:31: "If God be for us, who can be against
us?" The majority saw the obstacles, and they were bigger than their
God. The minority saw God, and the obstacles disappeared!
Unbelief always cries and complains. It plays the same tune:
"We are not able!" The nation had the promises of God to lean on
and the presence of God to depend on, but they preferred to walk by
sight. It cost them forty years in the wilderness, the world's longest
funeral march!
Christians do not fight for victory; we fight from victory.
Jesus said, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good
cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). John said, "This is
the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 Jo.5:4).
Either we are overcomers - or overcome. Warren Wiersbe; [Time
with God SB]
ILLUSTRATION
One day a 6 year old girl was sitting in a classroom. The
Teacher was explaining evolution to the children. The Teacher asked a
little boy: Tommy do you see the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Tommy, do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
TEACHER: Go outside and look up and see if you can see the sky.
TOMMY: Okay. (He returned a few minutes later) Yes, I saw the
sky.
TEACHER: Did you see GOD?
TOMMY: No.
TEACHER: That's my point. We can't see GOD because HE isn't
there. HE just doesn't exist.
A little girl spoke up wanting to ask the boy some questions.
The Teacher agreed, the little girl asked the boy: Tommy, do you see
the tree outside?
TOMMY: Yes.
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy do you see the grass outside?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Did you see the sky?
TOMMY: Yessssss!
LITTLE GIRL: Tommy, do you see the Teacher?
TOMMY: Yes
LITTLE GIRL: Do you see her brain?
TOMMY: No
LITTLE GIRL: Then according to what we were taught today, she
doesn't have one! [multiple internet sources]
CLOSING THOUGHTS
What we see, "facts," isn't always correct. For instance, we
look at matter and see it as solid; yet, in reality, matter is almost
all empty space. We look at the ground and judge it to be unmoving,
even though it is moving very quickly through space. We can be in a
closed, empty room and hear nothing, even though the air in the room is
filled with radio waves carrying all sorts of sounds that we, left to
ourselves, can't hear. What we see certainly is far from the whole picture.
[SS Lesson 10/8/2010]
Faith is for this world, and sight is for the other world. It is
our duty, and it will be our interest, to walk by faith, till we
live by sight. [Matthew Henry Commentary]
It is our privilege to carry with us the credentials of our
faith, --love, joy, and peace. ML14
CROSS REFERENCES
Habakkuk 2:4 (KJV) Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not
upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.
Romans 1:17 (KJV) For therein is the righteousness of God
revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by
faith.
Galatians 3:11 (KJV) But that no man is justified by the law in
the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Hebrews 10:38 (KJV) Now the just shall live by faith: but if any
man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
EXCELLENT VIDEO SERIES ON EXPERIENCING GOD:
http://sda.biggytv.com/watch/Revive!_-_Dwight_Nelson:_Experiencing_Gods_Grace/revive/
LINK FOR BIBLE STUDIES
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