Faith in God not man
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· 8 viewsPaul declares to a troubled church that there is only One with the answer and that is the Lord.
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Transcript
Handout
Introduction
We come this morning standing at the cross roads of the cross. A decision must and will be made today. There is no room for indifference at the foot of the cross. One either responds positively by a repentant faith in Christ Jesus or they respond negatively by refusing to accept and embrace the love of the Father and the sacrifice of the Son. What will be your response? You will either accept the blood of Christ or reject the blood of Christ but there is no middle ground. The middle ground belongs to the devil, which you are not, but without a biblical and positive response in acceptation of Christ, you will find yourself in the same eternal resting place as he.
Focus Passage
1 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
3 I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling,
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.
Outline
The right approach (vv.1-2)
1 And when I came to you, brothers and sisters, I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom, as I proclaimed to you the testimony of God.
2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.
The right approach is that of an ambassador and not a Christian salesman - ‘…And when I cam to you, brothers and sisters...’
Paul, when approaching the believer at Corinth, came to them with their culture in mind. This should be our practice here. He knew they were from a society that was big on sophistication and eloquence. He was coming to them they way they expected him to come. He came with one approach and purpose, to honor the One that sent him and to preach His message. Paul then, and us now, must remember that we are ambassadors to the world for Christ.
20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
We do not come preaching our own message, but the message of the Gospel. We are not selling anything. We are sharing the good news of Christ. We are not trying to convince anyone of anything. We are pleading for one to take faith in Jesus Christ. Years ago, I assisted a fellow pastor with his used car dealership. He told me a tactic that all used car salesman use. He said, “If you can just get them in the seat and envision themselves driving down the road in that car/truck, the percentage of the individual buying the car grows exponentially.” Many pastors try this same tactic. They want to try to convince you to “try” Jesus out. You may even bite and go through the motions of accepting Christ. However, the reality is you were not saved. You can go through the motions and never be truly satisfied.
Continuing with the used car salesman metaphor, how many of us have purchased a new vehicle and then we find ourselves with buyers remorse. We wished we had never purchased that vehicle. This is where many find themselves in the church. They went through the motions, liked it for a time, but now find themselves with a remorseful attitude. They say something like, there is just something missing. It is not like it once was. May I declare do you, if you have went through motions and never truly accepted Christ, you will never satisfied. However, if you have truly been saved, you will never thirst again (spiritually speaking).
14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.”
If you find yourself spiritually thirsty, there is only one of two reasons: 1) You are not saved, or 2) You are in a defunct relationship with God (i.e. something does not add up).
Just as Paul, I am not here to talk you into believing in Christ, because if I can talk you into believe in Christ, someone else can talk you out of it. I am however pleading with you to accept Christ as your Lord and Savior. I do this for the self same reasons that Paul did. The love of Christ compels me to do so (2 Co 5:14) and the fear of the Lord compels me to do so...
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive compensation for his deeds done through the body, in accordance with what he has done, whether good or bad.
11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people, but we are well known to God; and I hope that we are also well known in your consciences.
Not only did Paul realize that the right approach of sharing the Gospel was an ambassador, meaning he brought his King’s message not his own, he also realized that the right approach keeps Christ at the center of focus.
The right approach keeps Christ at the center of focus and not self - ‘…I did not come as someone superior in speaking ability or wisdom...’
You must understand that you and I are nothing. We are absolutely nothing without Christ. Christ is to be at the center of it all. He is to be the preeminent one. As Paul wrote to the church at Colosse...
18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything.
The KJV version reads
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
While attending Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, they would remind their students that pulpit within chapel was centered on the cross of the windows at the entrance to the seminary and that that cross was centered on the center cross of the three crosses in the lawn of Bellevue Baptist Church. Colossians 1:18, was the theme verse for Mid-America. They wanted to make sure that each of their students knew who was to be at the center of everything she would do and that they should do. Brothers and sisters, it is still this same way today. We are of no importance and Christ is of utmost importance. We must keep Christ at the center of everything we do. Central Baptist Church will never grow, be sustained, and/or make an impact in Bald Knob and surrounding areas unless Jesus is at the center of everything we do.
We are not winning souls for CBC or self, we are winning souls for Christ. We are in a war for snatching souls from hell and showing them the pathway to heaven. That pathway leads straight through the cross of Calvary not self. May we remember to keep the focus on the one that makes all the difference, Christ.
We must also realize, we are not here to boost our ego or boost self. We are here to glorify God. He is the one worthy of all praise.
The right approach glorifies God and not self - ‘…I proclaimed to you the testimony of God...’
There is no room for pride within the economy of God. We are not here to puff up self. We are not here to build CBC. We are not here to build our ministries. We are here to build up, honor, and glorify an audience of One, God almighty. Everything we do should be to bring Him honor. Bring Him glory. As the twenty-four elders, in the book of Revelation sing out, let us sing praises to His name as well...
11 “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
And as the angels exalted the Lamb of God...
11 Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels around the throne and the living creatures and the elders; and the number of them was myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, “Worthy is the Lamb that was slaughtered to receive power, wealth, wisdom, might, honor, glory, and blessing.”
Let us proclaim honor and glory to the King of kings and Lord of lords to the highest of the heavens. Let all that have breath praise His holy name. May all that we say and do, may all that we practice, may all of our ministry and service here at CBC bring all glory, honor, and praise to the One that it is due, the Lord Jesus Christ, God almighty!
We are not to only have the right approach, but we must also have...
The right attitude (vv.3-4)
3 I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling,
4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
The right attitude is one of humility - ‘…I also was with you in weakness and fear, and in great trembling...’
The people of Corinth were use to charlatans and religious leaders that were boastful, philosophical, and pampas. However, this was not the Spirit of God and this was not Paul. Paul came to them just as he was. He came with humility. He realized and we must realize, that we are nothing without Jesus Christ. We can save no one. The only one that can save and sanctify is Jesus Christ. It is by his blood and by his stripes that we are healed. It’s not about how educated we are. It’s not about how skilled of an orator we are. It is about Christ and Him crucified. It is about I am nothing without Christ. I come to you, not with a message of self, but a message from the King of kings. I come to you with humility, realizing the only difference between me and you is that I know Jesus as Lord and Savior and want you to know Him in this intimate way too.
We must not come with pride, ego, and self piaety (Holier than thou attitudes). We must come with the realization that we were just as lost as the person we are trying to share the gospel with at one time. As Paul boldly stated to the believers of Ephesus...
11 Therefore remember that previously you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called “Uncircumcision” by the so-called “Circumcision” which is performed in the flesh by human hands—
12 remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the people of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of the promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus you who previously were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
An attitude of pride and self righteousness has no place in the kingdom of God. We must come with humility and love letting those around us know they need Jesus just like we do.
Not only does the right attitude require humility, it requires dependence.
The right attitude is one of dependence on the Spirit - ‘…my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power...’
Understand, none of us can change the heart of one man or woman, boy or girl. This task is reserved for He, the Holy Spirit of God.
8 And He, when He comes, will convict the world regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment:
9 regarding sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 and regarding righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you no longer are going to see Me;
11 and regarding judgment, because the ruler of this world has been judged.
If you are under conviction tonight of the need for repentance and salvation in Christ, it is not because of my words, but it because of the Spirit of God has revealed this to you. When one shares the Gospel and wins one to Christ, it is not they who have done anything. It is the Spirit of God working in and through them that does this. We must understand our academia, our experiences do not save the soul from hell. It is the empowerment of and convicting of the Holy Spirit that does this thing.
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and Samaria, and as far as the remotest part of the earth.”
We must only be as the Puritan pastor, Richard Baxter, who stated after a near death experience in the early part of his ministry, I will only be as a preach as a dying man preaching to dying men. May we be forever mindful of time is running out and the only thing we are responsible for is sharing the Gospel. It must be the Holy Spirit of God that convicts the wayward soul. However, without you and I sharing the Gospel, how will they ever hear (Rom. 10:14). We must be faithful to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ. For in it and it alone is the power of God to salvation.
We must plant the seed and we must water the seed, but it most definitely will be the Father above, through the working of the Holy Spirit that brings the growth (1 Co. 3:6).
As Paul wrote previously in his letter to the believers at Corinth...
26 For consider your calling, brothers and sisters, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble;
27 but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong,
One must have the right approach. One must have the right attitude and one must have...
The right aim (v.5)
5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of mankind, but on the power of God.
The right aim points people in the direction of the cross
Paul wrote, For the word of the cross is foolishness to those that are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Co 1:18). Brother and sisters it may seem foolishness to you, but I will always point people to the cross. Let you faith never be placed in man, but in God. Let you salvation rest not in the works of man, including yourselves, but rather let it rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. When Jesus stated, It is finished, while he hung on the cross, that is exactly what he meant. One cannot earn their way into heaven. The Bible does not show any form of works based salvation. In fact, it states quite opposite.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
5 He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we did in righteousness, but in accordance with His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
Every step of one’s salvation is dependent upon the working of the Holy Spirit...
We are drawn by the Father to the Son (Jn 6:44)
We are only able to call upon the Son, because the Father has afforded the invitation already through the lifting of His Son (Jn 12:32)
We are only able to recognize our sin because of the Holy Spirit (Jn 16:8-9)
We are only able to repent of our sin due to the grace of the Holy Spirit (1 Jn 1:9)
We are only freed from the power of sin through the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom 8:12-13)
We are only able to cry out Abba, Father, because of His Holy Spirit testifying to our spirit that we are His (Rom 8:15-16)
We are sealed until the day of redemption through the Holy Spirit (Eph 1:13-14)
The right aim points people to a faith in the power of God and not the wisdom of man
Let us never put our faith in man. The only hope we have for salvation is Christ in us, the hope of glory. The only hope we have for revival, is Christ in us the hope of glory. The only hope that any of us have, that CBC has, that Bald Knob has, is Christ in us the hope of glory.
With man and his wisdom, nothing is possible. Oh, but how God changes everything. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians believers, do not put your faith in me, but put your faith in the one that matters, God almighty. Put your faith in Christ alone. For it is the power of that changes things not the wisdom of man. It is the power of God that saves, not the wisdom of man. As the song, In Christ Alone by Keith and Kristen Getty states...
In Christ alone my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My comforter, my all in all
Here in the love of Christ I stand
In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones He came to save
'Til on that cross as Jesus died
The wrath of God was satisfied
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live
There in the ground, His body lay
Light of the world, by darkness slain
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave, He rose again
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me
For I am His and He is mine
Bought with the precious blood of Christ
No guilt in life, no fear in death
This is the power of Christ in me
From life's first cry to final breath
Jesus commands my destiny
No pow'r of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand
'Til He returns or calls me home
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand
Conclusion
I close with this truth presented before you. We all have sinned. The Bible is clear about this. The Apostle Paul wrote, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23), and there is none righteous, no not one (Rom 3:10). The Bible has also told us there is penalty for that sin, death. For the wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23a). However, God has payed that penalty if you will accept His payment. But the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom 6:23b). Will you accept the payment that has been paid in full for you, or will continue to rebel against our Lord and deny His free gift of salvation?
As Timothy K. Beougher writes in his book on evangelism, Justice and love meet at the cross; we see true justice and yet sacrificial love.
Timothy K. Beougher, Invitation to Evangelism: Sharing the Gospel with Compassion and Conviction, (Grand Rapids: Kregel Academic, 2021), 108.
26 for the demonstration, that is, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
How will you respond? See there is no option but to respond. At the cross there is always a crisis of decision. You will either respond biblically, through repentance and faith in Christ or you will respond as the world and continue to live a life of sin, destined for a devil’s hell. What is your response?
18 “Come now, and let us debate your case,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, They shall become as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.
