Something About Faith (The Eye Of Faith)

Introduction- The Eye Of Faith

Jarena Lee (February 11, 1783 – February 3, 1864) was the first woman preacher in the African Methodist Episcopal Church(AME).

Born into a free Black family, in New Jersey, Lee asked the founder of the AME church, Richard Allen, to be a preacher.

In 1836, Lee became the first African American woman to publish her autobiography.

Lee, Jarena. Religious Experience and Journal of Mrs. Jarena Lee (AmazonClassics Edition) (p. 14). AmazonClassics. Kindle Edition.

O how careful ought we to be, lest through oar by-laws of church government and discipline, we bring into disrepute even the word of life. For as unseemly as it may appear now-a-days for a woman to preach, it should be remembered that nothing is impossible with God. And why should it be thought impossible, heterodox, or improper for a woman to preach I seeing the Saviour died for the woman as well as for the man.

At a certain time, I was beset with the idea, that soon or late I should fall from grace and lose my soul at last,

I was frequently called to the throne of grace about this matter, but found no relief; the temptation pursued me still. Being more and more effected with it, till at a certain time, when the spirit strongly impressed it oh my mind to enter into my closet and carry my case once more to the Lord; the Lord enabled me to draw nigh to him, and to his mercy seat, at this time, in an extraordinary manner; for while I wrestled with him for the victory over this disposition to doubt whether I should persevere, there appeared a form of fire, about the side of a man’s hand, as I was on my knees;

at the same moment there appeared to the eye of faith a man robed in a white garment, from the shoulders down to the feet; from him a voice proceeded, saying: “Thou shalt never return from the cross. Since that time I have never doubted, but believe that God will keep me until the day of redemption.

Since that time, 1807, until the present, 1883, I have not ever doubted the power and goodness of God to keep me front falling, through the sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth.

Transition To Body- Paul’s Eye Of Faith

Our Universal Need For A Savior

Your Faith Proclaimed In The World

Romans 1:8 ESV

8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is proclaimed in all the world.

Mutual Encouragement of Faith

Romans 1:12 ESV

12 that is, that we may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Righteous Shall Live By Faith

Romans 1:16–17 ESV

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

Our God of No Partiality

Romans 2:11 ESV

11 For God shows no partiality.

Paul has been dealing with unrighteousness

Romans 3:9–20 ESV

9 What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin, 10 as it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one; 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one.” 13 “Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.” “The venom of asps is under their lips.” 14 “Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 in their paths are ruin and misery, 17 and the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

Body- The Eye of Faith In Jesus Christ We See

Through Faith In Jesus Christ- Righteousness Of God is Received (v21-22a)

Romans 3:21–22 ESV

21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:

IN VERSES 21–22A, Paul reveals the very heart of the good news: God’s righteousness is available to all who put their faith in Jesus Christ.

WHY DOES GOD’S righteousness need to be available for “all who believe”?

Romans 3:20 ESV

20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.

By Faith In Jesus Christ- Graciousness of God is Gained (v22b-25a)

Romans 3:22–25 ESV

22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.

The Backdrop of Universal Sinfulness (3:22b–23)

Justified Through Redeeming Grace (3:24)

Justified by the redemption that is in Christ

propitiation- Who God put forward as the means for our redemption by his blood

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 40.12 ἱλασμός, οῦ; ἱλαστήριον, ου

the means by which sins are forgiven—‘the means of forgiveness, expiation.’

To be received by faith

Grace- graciousness, attractiveness, charm, winsomeness; favor, grace, gracious care/help, goodwill; (a sign of) favor, gracious deed/gift, benefaction; favor.; thanks, gratitude

Illustration: You must receive what one gives in order to get it, appreciate it?

God gives grace, but we must receive it by faith

Agent- a means or instrument by which a guiding intelligence achieves a result

For Those Having Faith In Jesus Christ- Virtuousness of God is Vindicated (v25b-26)

God passed over former sins

Romans 3:25–26 ESV

25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Virtuousness-

having or exhibiting virtue

: morally excellent : RIGHTEOUS

Virtue-

conformity to a standard of right : MORALITY

: a particular moral excellence

Importance of Virtues

Virtue and Psychology: Pursuing Excellence in Ordinary Practices issues a clarion call for psychologists and other mental health professionals to recognize the reality of virtue in social interaction. Virtues are character strengths—such as generosity, loyalty, and honesty—that make it possible for people to pursue worthwhile goals.

According to the Psychology Today article Why Virtue Matters Today

A case against blowing it all up.

Posted December 21, 2022

Examining virtues, examining the underlying values that constitute one’s morality, whether implicit or explicit, shows that meaning exists. Even within a culture’s timeframe, dominant themes preserve the historical threads from which virtues grow. Hope, fairness, concern, and well-being are implicit emotional threads of subtle prominence.

Virtue is a mindset of character excellence, making people better than they already are.

His Divine Forbearance

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 12.1 θεός, οῦ

the one supreme supernatural being as creator and sustainer of the universe—‘God.’

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 25.171 ἀνέχομαι; ἀνοχή, ῆς

to be patient with, in the sense of enduring possible difficulty—‘to be patient with, to have patience, patience.’

He Had Passed Over

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 30.49 ὑπεροράω; πάρεσις, εως

to intentionally not regard or be concerned about certain objects or events—‘to overlook, to purposely pay no attention to, disregard.

Just-

pertaining to being in accordance with what God requires—‘righteous, just.’

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996) 743.

Justifier-

Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament based on Semantic Domains 34.46 δικαιόω; δικαίωσις, εως; δικαιοσύνη, ης

to cause someone to be in a proper or right relation with someone else—‘to put right with, to cause to be in a right relationship with.’

Christ’s Sacrifice Vindicates God’s Justice (3:25–26)

Transition To Close- Something About Faith

Timothy Brindle’s 2093 album “The Great Awakening album by”

contains a guest appearance by hip-artist Shai Linn titled

“Saved by Grace”

the Chorus changes slightly throughout the song but contains some form of the following

Ayo Shai we blazed it ace Yo relax kid we just some sinners saved by grace (Rom. 3:27) Oh yeah what’s grace? Grace is unmerited favor our inheritance major (Titus 3:7) Cause we cherish the Savior Yo Timothy we raised the stakes But you just said we some sinners saved by grace (Rom. 4:2) Oh define grace Our redemption price immense (1 Peter 1:18-19) Grace stands for God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense (2x)

because on one Friday, he died…

John 3:16 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

2 Peter 3:9–11 ESV

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness,

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

1 Peter 3:18–19 ESV

18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison,

Peace with God Through Faith

Romans 5:1–9 ESV

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die— 8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Close- Jesus does not abolish the law

Matthew 5:17–20 ESV

17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Wages of Sin

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 11:1–6 ESV

1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 4 By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, through which he was commended as righteous, God commending him by accepting his gifts. And through his faith, though he died, he still speaks. 5 By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death, and he was not found, because God had taken him. Now before he was taken he was commended as having pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

We walk by faith, not by sight

2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

7 for we walk by faith, not by sight.