How Faith Grows
Laning explores how Christian faith grows through the work of the Holy Spirit, emphasizing the central role of gospel preaching as the means by which believers learn God's promises and develop trust in Christ. He argues that trials become spiritually profitable when believers meditate on God's Word and cling to His promises, illustrating how the Spirit uses afflictions to deepen faith and sanctify the saints.
Inspired by the Spirit, Paul told the church in Thessalonica that their "faith groweth exceedingly" (2 Thess. 1:3). How did that happen? What must have been taking place in a church where the faith of the saints was growing like that? Some might answer by making reference to trials. In the context there are references to this. In the very next verse the apostle thanks God for their "patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure" (2 Thess. 1:4). God certainly does...
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