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Teaching That Produces Faith


“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Ephesians 1:2).

There are many ways of teaching both truth and falsehood. One of the most effective ways comes under at least three different names: memorization, grammar, and catechizing.

Even when this effective way is used with the truth of the gospel, the teaching may not cause faith. When it does not cause faith, it is because some things are missing, generally in the teacher. These things are: 1) the power of the Holy Spirit, 2) love for the student, 3) preaching boldly, 4) preaching in the name of Jesus Christ, and 5) fear.

“But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘LORD, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:16-17).

“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers…that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ” (Ephesians 4:11, 14-15).

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience” (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).

It is much easier to just teach truth than it is to preach it in the name of Christ, in love, in the power of the Holy Spirit, in boldness, and in fear.

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