< STRONG By hearing the word of God. (Biblical)
Rom 10:17: So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
When we listen to the word of Christ, it develops faith within us. Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see (Heb 11:1); in other words, being fully persuaded, not wavering, not hesitating, not doubting. The more we hear God's word, the more it gets down within us and develops faith inside of us.
< By obeying Jesus' commandments. (Biblical)
Below, the apostles asked for more faith, and Jesus told them to follow his commandments. If you notice, the servants didn't say "I have faith in the master" and yet disobey. That would be contradictory. So, to have more faith, Christians would need to obey.
Luke 17:5: The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
Luke 17:6: And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.
Luke 17:7: "Will any one of you who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and recline at table'?
Luke 17:8: Will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare supper for me, and dress properly, and serve me while I eat and drink, and afterward you will eat and drink'?
Luke 17:9: Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded?
Luke 17:10: So you also, when you have done all that you were commanded, say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'"
Now it does sound weird that Jesus commanded us to say "we are unworthy servants." But that is besides the point... the point is that right after the apostles asked for faith, Jesus gave this story.
< STRONG This parable wasn't about how to gain faith. The verses instead show that it's not about how much faith you have, but whether you use it. (Biblical)
The parable Jesus gave wasn't about how to increase faith. In fact, Jesus was saying how it's not about how much faith they have, but whether they exercise it. For if you have just a small amount of faith, it can move mountains, or in this case, a mulberry tree (Luke 17:6). The rest of the parable is about doing our duty, serving God. We shouldn't expect thanks for doing what we are supposed to do (Luke 17:9,10).
We know that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6), AND that faith without works is dead (James 2:26), therefore, we must exercise our faith. Jesus was telling the disciples that it was a matter of using their faith which was important.
-JM
< By obeying Jesus, He'll manifest Himself, thus increasing faith. (Biblical)
John 14:21: Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."
< How does this tie into faith?
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