What Faith is For

Romans 1-5 You have been Justified by Faith…Now What

Romans 6:1–4 “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death [it’s about your baptism]? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.”

Romans 6:20–23 “For when you were slaves of sin, you were free in regard to righteousness. But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Letter to the Church in Rome

Series through Romans: What have we learned?

God has a standard that all of us have violated (Romans 1&2). 

Jesus came to show us the way back to the Father (Romans 3). 

Faith in Jesus has made us sons and daughters of God (Romans 4&5). 

…Now What? What is our Faith for?

Why? Why? Why?

When you read Romans, it seems like Paul is in a constant argument with the church…

Romans 3:1 What advantage is this…? 

Romans 3:9 What then?

Romans 4:1 What then shall we say…? 

Romans 6:1 What shall we say then?

Romans 6:15 What then?

Romans 7:7 What then shall we say?

Romans 8:31 What then shall we say to these things?  

Romans 9:30 What shall we say, then?

Romans 11:7 What then?

Anyone else find yourself always asking Why God?

Why do I have to do that?!

Why does he get to but I don’t?!

Why can’t I do it my way God?! [Sounding familiar yet??]

Why did you let that happen God?

Why God, Why…WHY…WHY?!

TRUTH: The enemy will try to keep you locked in endless loops of WHY and keep you from the freedom of your NEW LIFE in Christ.

What Paul is telling us is that at some point you have to bury all the WHYs in your baptism and learn to live by FAITH in the new life Jesus has made possible for you.

The answer to all the WHYs of your life is this: Have faith in God.

There’s a settledness that comes when we say “I don’t know how all this is going to come together…I don’t know how this miracle is possible…BUT I believe God’s word over my life.

Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

All that Jesus has made possible in his resurrection is available to you BY FAITH [say, By Faith]

Faith is the life of God working from the inside out, NOT the outside in.

That’s what it means to be buried in your baptism and made alive in Christ.

When what is on the inside of your spirit takes over the outside of your life, that’s being made Alive in Christ.

What faith is NOT for…

Faith is NOT just a one-way, one-day ticket to heaven.

God’s promises for your life are available to you TODAY (already), and will one day be completely fulfilled at Jesus’ return (not yet).

So, you might still be in the middle of a battle, but you can confidently say “God’s not done yet!”

Philippians 1:6 “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Faith is NOT a just-in-case of emergency hotline to heaven.

Jesus didn’t save you just so you can live from one crisis to the next…from worry to worry…from addiction to addiction…

The spiritual pattern of your life should be from faith to faith…from glory to glory…from death, through burial, and into resurrection!

If you are at the same place, dealing with the same crisis, the same attitudes, the same cycles of sin, then you are trapped in a cycle of slavery to Sin:

Romans 6:17–18 “But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.”

TRUTH: The sins that are traps in your life today, should become the testimonies of your tomorrow!

Faith is NOT for the promise of a comfortable and safe lifestyle.

I know some of you think faith will get you that front row parking space at Target! #BLESSED

Too much of Christianity today sounds like something from the great philosopher Mr. Jiminy Cricket: “When you wish upon a star. makes no difference who you are. Anything your heart desires will come to you.”

TRUTH: You weren’t create for SAFE, you were created for PURPOSE!

Faith is for…

Faith is for giving you a New Life that is not possible without the Holy Spirit.

Never doubt what Jesus has done. You are sacred to the upmost. 

The event will try to steal the seeds of salvation God has planted in your heart…guard them!

Faith is for giving you a New Mind

Why do we need a new mind? Because the battle for living out your salvation begins in the space between your ears. 

Philippians 4:8–9 “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Faith is for healing, deliverance, and Freedom in Christ Jesus. 

Mark 11:22–24 “And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

Faith is for giving you a New Lifestyle that says to the world, Jesus is alive in me. 

[Look at this often quoted verse] Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Faith in Jesus should produce faithfulness in your life. 

Not just eternal life ONE DAY, but resurrection life TODAY!

Faithfulness produces fruitfulness. 

Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Self Control, Gentleness

Stop Living Below your Calling!

I know you don’t want to hear this, but God’s plan for your life means you’re going to have to walk away from some things. You can’t do that anymore! 

I’m not sure who needs to hear this today… (pull up a chair and look me in the eye)

You can’t live the life God has for you, your way. 

All God’s provision, all God’s promises, all God’s good provisions are yours…but it requires a surrendered heart on Monday….

Stop living short of the Promises of God over your life!

James 5:15–16 “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”