The Gospel Project: Faith in the Messiah

Introduction

Welcome!

Watch doctrine video.

Ask: What are some highlights from the video?

Essential Doctrine: Faith

Biblical faith is having confidence-trusting-in Christ alone for salvation (see John 3:16-21). More than a mental agreement with historical facts, genuine faith is one’s complete conviction and conversion of the truth of the gospel (see 1 John 4:13-16). Biblical faith is not blind because it rests on the historical life, death, and resurrection of Christ and the transformational power of Christ in peoples’ lives throughout history.

Essential Connection

In this unit we’ve seen how Jesus was received by some and rejected by others. Those who put their faith in Jesus receive the free gifts of forgiveness of sins and eternal life in Him.

Main Point: We receive everything required to live for Christ by faith.

Three things through faith...

Righteousness from God through faith

Romans 5:1–2 (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.

Ask: How does this passage connect with the idea of “righteousness?”

Justified = righteousness

The picture: a judge

“Not guilty” through faith

Faith makes us look like Jesus

”Peace”

Justified for righteousness = standing in grace

Ask: Why is it important to remember that faith is the vehicle through which we receive righteousness?

Not from works

Separates us from every other religion

Faith = applying Jesus death to your life

Main Point: We receive everything required to live for Christ by faith.

Three things through faith...

Righteousness from God through faith

Relationship with God through faith

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.

Get a volunteer to come and sit in the stool

Ask: What did he/she just demonstrate? How?

Unreasonable to not trust chair

Unreasonable to not trust God

Ask: What does this have to do with “relationship”?

Abel and Enoch

“Pleasing God” through faith

“Drawing near” to god

“Reward” = relationship

Main Point: We receive everything required to live for Christ by faith.

Three things through faith...

Righteousness from God through faith

Relationship with God through faith

Responsibilities from God through faith

James 2:14–26 ESV

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! 20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? 21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; 23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. 24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.

Salvation not from works; through faith

But faith is proved through works

Two extremes: legalism and creedalism (easy believism)

It doesn’t make sense to have faith without works

Ask: Why do we tend to bounce between two extremes?

People = works based

People = sinful

Ask: How can a more accurate understanding of what faith is help us meet in the middle?

The God that we have faith in is moral/loving

“Inner faith in the God of love results in outer actions of love toward others.”

People walking:

hearts beating

lungs breathing

brains functioning

Outer actions show inner functions

Treated with love: inner faith in God

Christ Connection:

Salvation is a free gift of God that comes only through faith in Christ. Through His sinless life, His death, and His resurrection, Jesus did all that is needed to provide salvation for all who place faith in Him.

Head: How do our actions demonstrate our faith? What are some ways we might show our faith through action?

What we believe about God = how we obey

“Our loving obedience to God shows that our beliefs about Him are right.”

Heart: How could believing God is a gracious giver change our prayers?

God saved us; won’t hold back anything else

Access to continual grace

“When our hearts are aligned with His will, God will withhold nothing we need when we ask in faith.”

Hands: God serves and cares for the needy. What should followers of Christ do?

Throughout entire Bible

Meeting needs

Live your life through the vehicle through which you received salvation.

PRAY