Topical Bible: Faith: Produces Christ is Precious to Those Having

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Faith, within the Christian tradition, is a fundamental virtue and a cornerstone of the believer's relationship with God. It is through faith that individuals come to recognize the preciousness of Christ, a recognition that transforms their lives and aligns them with the divine will. The Bible, particularly the New Testament, emphasizes the significance of faith in understanding and valuing the person and work of Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Peter, in his first epistle, articulates the preciousness of Christ to those who believe. In 1 Peter 2:7 , he writes, "To you who believe, then, this stone is precious. But to those who do not believe, 'The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.'" This passage highlights the dichotomy between believers and non-believers in their perception of Christ. For those with faith, Christ is not merely a historical figure or a moral teacher but the cornerstone of their spiritual lives, the foundation upon which their hope and salvation rest.

Faith, as described in Hebrews 11:1 , is "the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see." This assurance and certainty enable believers to perceive the true value of Christ, which is often hidden from the eyes of the world. The chapter goes on to recount the faith of the patriarchs and prophets, illustrating how their trust in God's promises led them to act in ways that demonstrated their belief in the unseen reality of God's kingdom.

The preciousness of Christ is further underscored in the writings of the Apostle Paul. In Philippians 3:8 , Paul declares, "More than that, I count all things as loss compared to the surpassing excellence of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." Here, Paul expresses the supreme value he places on his relationship with Christ, a value that surpasses all earthly gains and achievements. This perspective is born out of a deep faith that recognizes Christ as the ultimate treasure.

Faith also produces a love for Christ that is evident in the lives of believers. In Ephesians 3:17-19 , Paul prays that Christ may dwell in the hearts of believers through faith, so that they, "being rooted and grounded in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." This passage illustrates how faith not only acknowledges the preciousness of Christ but also deepens the believer's experience of His love.

Moreover, faith is instrumental in the believer's sanctification, a process by which they are conformed to the image of Christ. In 2 Peter 1:5-7 , believers are encouraged to "make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." This progression of virtues, beginning with faith, reflects the transformative power of recognizing Christ's preciousness.

In summary, faith is the lens through which believers perceive the true worth of Christ. It is through faith that Christ becomes precious, leading to a life marked by love, sacrifice, and a deepening relationship with God. The Scriptures consistently affirm that to those who have faith, Christ is not only a Savior but the most cherished and invaluable treasure.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

1 Peter 2:7
To you therefore which believe he is precious: but to them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

1 Timothy i. 7-May
... points out the truth, and a sincere faith produces love, which ... set God at defiance,
to overlook Christ hungering ... Talk not of the precious spices of India, Arabia ...
/.../homily ii 1 timothy i.htm

The Indwelling Christ
... without any work at all; you keep Him there by a faith which produces holiness ... And
the last point is the gifts of this indwelling Christ,"'ye being,' or ...
/.../expositions of holy scripture ephesians peter/the indwelling christ.htm

The Obedience of Faith
... Lord are like fine gold, pure, precious, and weighty ... obeys, and dares all things
for Christ's sake"where ... The obedience which faith produces must be continuous ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 37 1891/the obedience of faith.htm

So Likewise Ye, when Ye Shall have done all those Things
... in the promise must be added; and this faith produces sure hope ... need the mercy of
God, that by faith we are ... that we obtain eternal life through Christ by faith ...
/.../melanchthon/the apology of the augsburg confession/part 10 so likewise ye.htm

The Law Established through Faith
... with such a faith as, working by love, produces all obedience ... to God, but under the
law to Christ," yet from ... way of making void the law through faith, has not ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 35 the law established.htm

Knowing that a Man is not Justified by the Work of the Law, but by ...
... holiness, so far as it goes and produces holiness of ... The apostle says, "Being justified
by faith, we have peace ... If you have not believed in Christ, if you have ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/knowing that a man is.htm

Justification by Faith --Illustrated by Abram's Righteousness
... That faith, if true, always produces holiness of life ... an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ, the righteous ... This justifying faith was faith which dealt with a ...
/.../justification by faithillustrated by abrams.htm

Suffering with Christ, a Condition of Glory with Christ
... the one cause"union with the Lord"produces both the ... The inheritance is sure because
Christ possesses it now. ... it would be destructive to all faith in God's ...
/.../suffering with christ a condition.htm

Go in Peace
... if you, dear friends, have a faith that never works for Christ, I beg ... but, nevertheless,
the faith which saves is not a barren faith; it produces the good ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 48 1902/go in peace.htm

1 Timothy i. 18, 19
... out everything by reasoning; for reasoning produces shipwreck, while ... any one falls
away from the faith, he has ... day of our salvation when Christ was sacrificed. ...
/.../homily v 1 timothy i.htm