You Can Have TRUE FAITH

"Faith Follows the Thing Heard"

It is not enough, however, simply to have a Bible or even to believe that it is inspired.   "Faith," writes the apostle Paul,  "follows the thing heard."  (Romans 10:17)  Hearing the Bible,  not just having  a Bible, is what builds faith.  You "hear" what God has to say by reading and studying his Word.  Even young ones can do this.  Paul says that "from infancy"  Timothy was taught "the holy writings" by his mother and grandmother.  Does this suggest that some king of brainwashing was involved?  No!  Timothy was not manipulated or deceived in any way. He was "persuaded to believe"   what was heard and read. -2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14, 15.

Sarah Jayne became persuaded in the same way.  Like the first-century Beroeans, she "received the word [from her parents and other teachers] with the greatest eagerness of mind."  As a little child, she no doubt put instinctive trust in what her parents told her.  Later, as she grew up, she did not just blindly or passively accept everything she was taught.  She 'carefully examined the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.' -Acts 17:11.

Next time: You Can Build True Faith

Watchtower, 2001