The Shield of Faith
second chapter
After nearly 30 years of Christianity, I realized I had been misinterpreting my faith. My original profession is mechanic, and that influences my thinking. It's important to me that the "gears" connect; if one rotates left, the other must rotate right....
The shield of Grace can protect everyone from temptation, even amidst the most corrupting influences. Through firm principles and unwavering trust in God, their character can radiate light, and despite the evil attacking them, their integrity need not be defiled. This reasoning is biblical because I build my faith on the Bible. The following Bible quotes are from the Hungarian Károli Gáspár Bible translation. As I am Hungarian, that's the version I use. When compiling this book, I consulted English and other language Bible translations. While there are differences, the core message remains consistent. In many cases, the English translations read virtually the same as the Hungarian. Therefore, I chose to remain with the Hungarian translation. Regardless of the language in which you study the Bible, comparing translations will be a blessing.
Eph. 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
Rom. 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom. 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
Rom. 1:4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.
Rome 1:5 Through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,
I learned that faith can be our shield of protection, enabling us to triumph. Apart from faith in the Lord of Hosts and obedience to His commands, everything else is powerless and hopeless. When I realized this, things started to click. Have I ever truly been protected from temptations?
Didn't I learn that Christianity is just a series of stumbles and face-plants?
Are my principles not solid enough?
Do I lack unwavering trust in God?
What if I were to believe?
Would I truly be protected?
I TRIED IT, AND IT WORKS!
Here's your chance to try it too. Read the teachings and give it a shot! Reflect on these testimonies and consider what they mean for you. With the naivety of a child, lean on the promises, start practicing, and ask Jesus for what seems impossible! Take God at His word! Jesus conquered through obedience and faith in God. Therefore, submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Acts 26:15 And I said, 'Who are you, My Lord?' And he said, 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.'
Acts 26:16 'But get up and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and a witness not only of these things which you have seen, but also of the things in which I will appear to you;'
Acts 26:17 'rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you,'
Acts 26:18 'to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.'
The first step is acknowledging Sin. Knowledge of Sin comes through the Law. For a sinful person to recognize their sinfulness, they must measure their character against God's standard. The Law is a mirror that reveals the perfection of true character. Accepting the Law enables a human to see the flaws in their own character. A sinner who contemplates the Law must repent of their Sin before God, whose Law they have transgressed. The sinner must believe in Christ and His atoning Sacrifice. Through being born again, the heart comes into harmony With God and His Law.
1 Pet. 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Pet. 5:9 Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.
Acts 15:8 And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit, just as he did to us,
Acts 15:9 and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.
The heart is evil. The source of the heart must be cleansed so that the water flowing from it is pure. Anyone who tries to enter Heaven by their own power, through good deeds, and by keeping the law, is attempting the impossible. The Christian life isn't a modification or improvement of the old way of life, but a transformation of human nature. A person dies to Sin and to self, and becomes entirely new. When a person renounces evil deeds, Love replaces anger and discord. Divine blessing comes when the Soul submits to God's will in Faith. Then, Divine power creates a new being in God's image.
Ephesians 3:16: That He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man,
Ephesians 3:17: That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
Galatians 5:6: For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.
If we nurture our fellowship with God by studying the Word, our soul is transformed in the atmosphere of holy thoughts.
1 Timothy 1:5: The aim of our instruction is love that comes from a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith.
Our prayers will be more pleasing to God because they will be filled with Faith and Love. Our prayers and requests will become more and more meaningful. Our trust in Jesus will grow.
Jack. 5:14: Is anyone among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the congregation to pray over them, anointing them with oil in the Lord's name.
Jack. 5:15: And the prayer offered in Faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have committed Sin, they will be forgiven.
Jack. 5:16: Therefore, confess your Sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Rome 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Rome 1:17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
If we test God's word, The Lord will honor us for our trust. Jesus wants all our goals to be aligned with His. If this happens, God can bless us because we will not take the glory for ourselves, but will always glorify God in everything.
And finally, some beautiful verses to help you strengthen, persevere, and fight.
Rome. 16:25 Now to him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages,
Rome. 16:26 but now has been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
Act. 3:15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from death. We are witnesses of this.
Act. 3:16 And his name, through faith in his name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all.
Rome. 4:16 Therefore, it is by faith that it might be by grace, so that the promise might be guaranteed to all the descendants—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.
Heb. 11:1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
Revelation 14:12 This calls for patient endurance on the part of the saints who keep God’s commandments and remain faithful to Jesus.
Philippians 3:8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing My Lord Jesus Christ, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.
Heb. 6:11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to make your hope sure until the end.
Heb. 6:12 so that you do not become lazy, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised.
Gal. 2:16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by...
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