FAITH AND REASON

Text: John 8:32. “and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”
Many various. I encourage you to note the references and look at them later if I go too fast. I also request you let me know if I say something incorrect.

Introduction.

1. Paul said, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
2. A misunderstanding of this verse has caused many to come to the conclusion that faith is a belief in something for which there is no proof.
3. Some have even said, “Where there is faith, there can be no knowledge, and where there is knowledge, there can be no faith.”
4. Let us look at the relationship between faith and reason.

Body.

I. HOW DOES THE WORLD DEFINE “FAITH”?

A. Dictionary definitions:
1. Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate: “Belief that does not rest on logical proof or material evidence.”
2. Oxford Illustrated American Dictionary: “Firm belief especially without logical proof.”

B. Some quotes from well known religious men.
1. Swiss theologian Hans Kung wrote, “Even in faith, then, there is no certainty entirely free from doubt. In faith we must commit ourselves to something uncertain.”
2. Popular televangelist, Robert Schuller said, “Faith is a commitment to an improvable assumption…Both the atheist and the theist are making a commitment of faith. The atheist believes in nothing. The theist believes in something. But both are making a commitment to an improvable assumption.”

(Hans Küng (born March 19, 1928 in Sursee, Canton of Lucerne), is a Catholic priest, an eminent Swiss theologian, and a prolific author. Since 1995 he has been President of the Foundation for a Global Ethic (Stiftung Weltethos). Küng remains a Catholic priest, but the Vatican has rescinded his authority to teach Catholic theology mainly because of his rejection of papal infalibility. Though he had to leave the Catholic faculty, he remained at the University as a professor of Ecumenical Theology.

C. So, according to these sources, faith is a belief in something that may or may not be true.
1. All of us have heard the term, “Take a leap of faith.”
2. Or, “You you’ll just have to take it on faith.”
3. The argument is that there is not enough evidence.
4. Therefore, they say, knowledge will get you only so far and after that, you just have to believe.

D. What are the implications of this view?
1. We know Christianity is a religion based on historical fact.
a) It is based on the fact that Jesus really lived.
b) It is based on the fact that He died for our sins.
c) It is based on the fact that He rose again.
2. To say that faith is not based entirely on fact but also on the need to believe undermines the whole system.
a) Do we know God exists or just hope that God exists?
b) Do we know that Jesus was God’s Son or do we just hope that is the case?
c) Do we know that Jesus rose from the grave or do we think He probably did?

E. Fortunately, we are not going to let the world define faith for us.

II. HOW DOES GOD’S WORD DEFINE FAITH?

A. The word in the Greek is pistis.

B. Thayer says, The conviction of the truth of anything, belief.

C. Vine says this word is used as follows: designates Trust, Trustworthiness, Stance
1. Trust (1 Corinthians 2:5). That your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
2. Trustworthiness (Romans 3:3). For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?
3. Used to stand for what is believed (Acts 6:7). Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.
4. Assurance (Acts 17:31). “Because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Of faith it is said It admits of many degrees up to full assurance of faith, in accordance with the evidence on which it rests.

D. Nowhere does the Bible put forth the idea that we are expected to believe anything without adequate evidence.
1. To do so would be irrational.
2. The law of rationality says, “Draw only such conclusions as are warranted by the evidence.”
a) Most of us try to live this way in our everyday lives.
b) If I am hiking through a jungle with a friend and my friend is bitten by a snake and dies… It is rational to conclude that the snake is poisonous.
c) Our court systems work this way. In determining one’s guilt or innocence, we expect the jury to draw only such conclusions as are warranted by the evidence.
3. To be irrational is to draw conclusions for which there is not sufficient evidence.

III. DO WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT GOD WOULD DEMAND OUR OBEDIENCE WITHOUT GIVING US ADEQUATE EVIDENCE THAT HE EXISTS AND THAT THE BIBLE IS HIS WORD?

A. Some think that Jesus is teaching that when he rebuked Thomas (John 20:24-29). Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” 26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” 28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
1. Did Jesus actually rebuke Thomas here?
2. He did not.
3. Thomas wanted evidence before he would believe.
4. When that evidence was provided, he believed. Purely rational.
5. Jesus did not rebuke or chasten him for wanting proof. Rather, He offered His hands and His side as proof.
6. What did Jesus mean by, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
a) Is Jesus saying that He wants people to believe in Him without adequate evidence?
b) Absolutely not!
c) Thomas came to believe that Jesus was resurrected by seeing, hearing, and touching the Savior.
d) Today, we have a different sort of evidence. Credible testimony.
e) We have the recorded words of those who were there to witness the events.
f) Romans 10:17. So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
g) It takes a little more work for us to develop a strong faith.
h) We can’t see or touch Jesus today.

B. God would not demand our obedience without giving us sufficient evidence as to His existence.
1. Romans 1:18-20. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse.
2. Psalm 19:1-3. The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard.

C. Faith and knowledge go hand in hand.
1. The statement mentioned earlier, “Where there is faith there can be no knowledge and where there is knowledge there can be no faith.” Is false.
2. Faith is dependant on knowledge.
3. Apollos used evidence and reasoning to prove that Jesus was the Christ (Acts 18:28). For he vigorously refuted the Jews publicly, showing from the Scriptures that Jesus is the Christ.
4. Jesus encouraged John and his disciples to examine the evidence and draw a conclusion (Matthew 11:3-5). And said to Him, “Are You the Coming One, or do we look for another?” 4Jesus answered and said to them, “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5“The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
5. We are expected to be able to give a reason for our hope (1 Peter 3:15). But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.

D. God expects us to have a strong faith that is based upon our knowledge of the solid evidence.
1. An Example - Acts 17:11. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so.
2. 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22. Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
3. John 8:32. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
4. John 4:42. The woman at the well in Samaria Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.”
5. Witness - John 20:30-31. And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
6. 1 John 5:13. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

E. Faith based on knowledge should lead to obedience.
1. Faith and knowledge without obedience is unbelief (Numbers 20:7-12). Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 8 “Take the rod; you and your brother Aaron gather the congregation together. Speak to the rock before their eyes, and it will yield its water; thus you shall bring water for them out of the rock, and give drink to the congregation and their animals.” 9 So Moses took the rod from before the Lord as He commanded him. 10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock; and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels! Must we bring water for you out of this rock?” 11 Then Moses lifted his hand and struck the rock twice with his rod; and water came out abundantly, and the congregation and their animals drank. 12 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe Me, to hallow Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.”
2. Faith and obedience without knowledge is equally unprofitable (Romans 10:1-3). Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God.

Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
We learn from the New Testament how to be saved. We need to hear the word; believe in Jesus; repent of our sins; we must confess our belief that Jesus is the Son of God; and be baptized for the remission of our sins… If we follow these steps, the Lord adds us to His church.
Perhaps there is someone in the assembly today with the need to be buried with Christ in baptism. If you have never done these things, we urge you to do so today. If anyone has this need or desires the prayers of faithful Christians on their behalf, we encourage them to come forward while we stand and sing.

Taken from brother Thomas Warren’s book, Logic and the Bible.

Credit: Ralph Price