Ten Dimensions of Faith

The Ten Dimensions of Faith

Faith is what we believe. It is the relationship we have with God through Jesus because of Jesus' death, Crucifixion and Resurrection.

First to understand faith you need to understand God's love for you - Agape love. This love is 100% unconditional. It is a sacrificial infinite love that God has for us.

Imagine the best father - child relationship you can think of - father to son or father to daughter. The father loves the child 100% unconditionally. Remember when you become a Christian, you become a child of God.

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 1 John 3:1

But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. John 1:12

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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. John 3:16-17

The original Greek translation says in John 3:16 that whoever "pisteuo" in Him... Pisteuo is Greek for the word faitheth - to have faith in. The exact translation is that whoever Faitheth in Jesus should not perish but have everlasting life. The word faitheth got dropped out of middle English hundreds of years ago and became replaced by believeth.

The bottom line is whoever faitheth in Jesus has salvation. Believeth = faitheth = to have faith in. Whoever has faith goes to heaven.

1) Love - The most important dimension of faith is love. All Jesus wants is for you to love Him and to have a personal relationship with Him

We love Him because He first loved us. 1 John 4:19

All a father really wants from his child is for that child to love him. He doesn't care if the child is a sinner or makes mistakes. All the father wants is for the child to do things with him, to talk to to him, and to be involved in his life.

Jesus wants this relationship with us. Jesus wants to "know" us. We as Christians are, in fact, considered the bride of Christ. The believers in Christ are the true church, not a building or denomination.

The relationship that Christ has with us is as a husband has with a bride. It is that close of a relationship.

All Jesus wants is for the believer to love Him, and love is a decision of the heart. God gave us free will as a gift; we are not robots. Jesus can not make a human love Him. It is our decision to have a personal relationship with Him or not. It is the most important decision you will ever make in your life.

In the Goslpel of Luke, Jesus is talking to His disciples. Then one of the disciples asks Him:

"Lord, are there few who are saved?" And He said to them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the Master of the house has risen up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, "Lord, Lord, open for us,' and He will answer and say to you, "I do not know you, where you are from,' then you will begin to say, "We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets.' But He will say, "I tell you I do not know you, where you are from. Depart from Me." Luke 13:23-27

The word "know" in the original Greek has the meaning as a husband "knows" his bride. It is that close a relationship. Greek is a much more exact language than English. The New Testament was written in Greek by the disciples of Jesus and later translated into English.

Here, Jesus is describing the door to heaven. Only those people who Jesus knows are in heaven. My question to any person is, "Does Jesus know you?" I hope the answer is yes. In your lifetime, hopefully today, make sure Jesus knows you. Have a personal relationship with Him; want Him in your life and need Him in your life.

My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. John 10:27-28

Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith - the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:7-9

God is love.1 John 4:16

"'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27

2) Commitment - is extremely important. When you become a Christian you make a commitment to Christ. In love you commit your heart to someone. In Christianity, you commit your heart to Christ and give your heart over to Christ. As a Christian and a believer, your life is now committed to Christ.

Again, in the most perfect father - child relationship, the child is committed to the father and the father is committed to the child 100% unconditionally.

3) Acceptance - When you become a Christian, you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior.

But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach): 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. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For "whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved."Romans 10:8-13

You need to accept Jesus into your heart. James, the brother of Jesus, also talks about acceptance. Our relationship with Christ is more than just belief. Even demons and Satan believe that Jesus is who He is. They just refuse to accept Him as their Lord and Savior. They refuse to accept Him into their lives.

You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble! James 2:19

Remember you are accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. First, you are making Him Lord. Letting Him rule and guide your life - turning your

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