Notes of Faith November 19, 2024
Good Answers
I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
2 Timothy 1:12
Peter Byrom became a confirmed atheist while reading Richard Dawkins’ book The God Delusion. But then he discovered a group of Christian thinkers who presented convincing reasons why believing in God was logical and why faith could be intellectually credible. Cracks began appearing in his atheism. “Intellectually the barriers to belief were coming down and the questions being answered,” he said. When a friend of his became a Christian, Peter saw the changes that happened in his life. Peter’s mind became convinced of the truthfulness of Christianity, and his heart followed.1
Sometimes we have hard questions. That’s okay. God welcomes honest questions that can help us grow in our faith! He has good answers. It’s good to look for answers from knowledgeable sources. But use wisdom with regard to whom you speak. You wouldn’t want to harm another’s faith with your own doubts.
The Lord will strengthen your faith as you sincerely seek Him and His wisdom.
“Don’t be conned.” Faith is not “belief without evidence” as Dawkins says, but is “placing your trust in what the evidence shows you.”
Peter Byrom
1. Gavin Matthews, “Disillusioned With Dawkins: My Journey From Atheism to Christianity,” Solas, February 4, 2019.
Romans chapter 10
Brothers, my heart’s desire and my prayer to God for them is for their salvation. 2 For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For not knowing about the righteousness of God and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the [a]end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
5 For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of law: “The man who does these things shall live by them.” 6 But the righteousness of faith speaks in this way: “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will go up into heaven?’ (that is, to bring Christ down), 7 or ‘Who will go down into the abyss?’ (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead).” 8 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 are preaching, 9 [b]that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, [c]leading to righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, [d]leading to salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes upon Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him, 13 for “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 And how will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim good news of good things!”
16 However, they did not all heed the [e]good news, for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
Mankind cannot respond to God without the Spirit of God working in his heart upon hearing the “truth”, the Word of God!
We pray for God to draw people to Himself, to soften their hardened hearts, to submit to a glory higher than their own, and come in repentance and faith to the holy and righteous Son of God, seeking forgiveness and salvation. This we should pray for all people God creates, and be a further blessing to those God puts within our sphere of influence. Come to Jesus. You will be transformed from death to life, a new creature, one who will escape the judgment of unbelief and enter into the blessing prepared by God for all those who seek His face and His will in their lives. May God grant you an open heart to hear His voice calling your name today!
Pastor Dale