Continuing in Faith

Upon profession of faith, believers must learn to continue in faith and to be strengthened and established in it. Though not exhaustive, the scriptures presented provide encouragement and instruction to continue in the faith.

Continuing in the Faith

Professing believers are instructed to continue in the faith.

Acts 14:21-22 KJV - "21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

1 John 2:24 KJV - "Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father."

1 Timothy 4:16 KJV - "Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee."

2 Timothy 3:14 KJV - "But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;"

Galatians 2:5 KJV - "To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you."

Hebrews 6:1-2 KJV - "1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment."

Demonstrations of Faith

Believers can learn from testimonials of faith shown in scriptures. The following are a few examples:

Hebrews 11:1-2 KJV - "1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report."

Hebrews 11:3 KJV - "Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."

Hebrews 11:4 KJV - "By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh."

Hebrews 11:5 KJV - "By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God."

Hebrews 11:7 KJV - "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith."

Hebrews 11:8 KJV - "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went."

Hebrews 11:9-10 KJV - "9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."

Hebrews 11:17-19 KJV - "17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 18 Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 19 Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure."

Hebrews 11:11-12 KJV - "11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable."

Hebrews 11:13-16 KJV - "13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city."

Hebrews 11:20 KJV - "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come."

Hebrews 11:21 KJV - "By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff."

Hebrews 11:22 KJV - "By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones."

Hebrews 11:23-28 KJV - "23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. 24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. 28 Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."

Hebrews 11:29 KJV - "By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned."

Hebrews 11:30-31 KJV - "30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. 31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace."

Those who continue in faith will continue in praise, obedience, learning, serving, fellowship, and prayer.

Psalm 35:27 KJV - "Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

1 Samuel 12:14 KJV - "If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:"

John 8:31 KJV - "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;"

Acts 2:46 KJV - "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,"

Romans 12:12 KJV - "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;"

James 1:25 KJV - "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Implications of Faith

God will preserve, save, prosper, and bless those who continue in the faith.

Daniel 6:16 KJV - "Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee." (see also Daniel 6:19-22)

Isaiah 64:4-5 KJV - "4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him. 5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved."

Hosea 6:3 KJV - "Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth."

Romans 2:7 KJV - "To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:"

Romans 9:33 KJV - "As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

Romans 10:11 KJV - "For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed."

James 1:25 KJV - "But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

Those who do not continue in the faith do not have true faith or else they would have continued in the faith.

1 John 2:19 KJV - "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us."

Colossians 1:21-23 KJV - "21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;"

Romans 11:18-22 KJV - "18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off."