Faith is a common theme throughout the Bible. We may not find the word faith on every page, however, in nearly every description of what God expects of His people, there is at least an indication of faith. In this lesson we take a close look at what faith is!

In the Gospel accounts of Jesus' baptism, we see John the Baptist offer words of warning that lead us back to the question “what gives you hope?” John warned the Pharisees sternly that no family, tradition, or outward practice is sufficient to pay for the consequences of sin. It is only by accepting the grace of God received through faith and repentance that we are saved. That is good news and John the Baptist preached that news!

This weekend we read how Jesus was born and dedicated! God had promised the birth of His son, the coming of a Savior. When Simeon and Anna saw Baby Jesus, they knew he was the Messiah, the Savior. We can trust Jesus to save us from our sins and just like Simeon and Anna - we can tell other people the good news!

In Jeremiah 31, there is a phrase that is repeated by the Lord to the hearer of these words. The phrase "The LORD's declaration" occurs 10 times in these 40 verses. These words even appear at times in the middle of a thought or sentence, uniquely placed to garner attention. The message is repeated to ensure a message is known: that God can be trusted.

Jesus’ death and resurrection are what we celebrate during Easter. We celebrate because Jesus helped humanity’s broken relationship with God, and His actions created a way to mend that broken relationship. He became our Savior, taking the penalty of our sins upon Himself. However, we don’t just serve a Savior who willingly died for us - but also rose from the dead! Hallelujah!