How To Have A Rock Solid Faith

How To Have A Rock Solid Faith [Romans 5:1-5]

I. INTRODUCTION:

(RA-2054, Program: 0517, Air date: 1.29.17)

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; 4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

I INTRODUCTION

A. Many Christians seem to flounder through life’s storms and circumstances. We have doubts and worries and sometimes we are just plain confused. Sometimes you can listen to and watch people and determine what level of faith they have. There is a difference between strong faith and knowing God faith.

B. But rather than being weak, God desires that we stand strong on a sure foundation.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

C. God is not finished with us once we become Christians.

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

ii God desires to build into us character.

God desires to build into us character.

Reputation is what others think about us; character is what God knows about us.

D. Scripture gives four ways in which God builds into us a rock-solid faith.

Romans 5:1-5 1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

II CONVERSION BRINGS CONFLICT ()

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

A As Christians, we can expect to experience both peace and tribulation.

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

A. As Christians, we can expect to experience both peace and tribulation. ,

5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

1. The word “tribulation” in this passage means “conflict” or “pressure.”

a. This word was used when grapes were crushed to make wine and when olives were crushed to make oil.

2. God wants to build into our character the wine and oil of His strength and His love.

B. God allows pressure or tribulation into our lives in order to strengthen our faith.

Where does this pressure come from?

1. Pressure will come from the world.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

b When we come to Jesus, the world will bring pressure upon us to try to squeeze us into its mold.

When we come to Jesus, the world will bring pressure upon us to try to squeeze us into its mold.

2. Pressure will come from the flesh.

17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

b Once we’re saved, we are given by God a new nature. But the old sin nature remains in us.

Once we’re saved, we are given by God a new nature. But the old sin nature remains in us.

There remains in us a proclivity to sin.

3. Pressure will come from the devil himself.

If we do not have any difficulty with the devil, if we are not in collision with the devil, it is because we are going in the same direction as the devil.

Satan came against Jesus.

Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. 2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. 3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. 4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. 5 Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple, 6 And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 7 Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. 8 Again, the devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and sheweth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; 9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. 10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve. 11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.

4 Pressure may also come from God.

4. Pressure may also come from God.

6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

b Any pressure that comes from God is not to make us stumble, but to help us stand.

Any pressure that comes from God is not to make us stumble, but to help us stand.

God desires that we be holy.

III. CONFLICT TEACHES CONSTANCY v3

3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

A The word “patience” in this Scripture means “constancy,” “consistency,” “endurance.”

A. The word “patience” in this Scripture means “constancy,” “consistency,” “endurance.”

B. When a crisis comes, it reveals our character. Do we fall apart or do we “keep our cool”?

C. People typically respond to conflict in one of four ways:

Retreat - some run away from conflict, either physically or emotionally.

Resent - others become cynical and hold a grudge against God.

Resign - some give up and give in to discouragement and despondency.

Resolve - we can resolve by faith to follow Jesus.

1. Faith is shown more in patience and constancy[being constant] than in any other way.

2. If we have faith when trouble comes, we will endure.

D. Faith is not receiving the things from God that we want nearly as much as it is accepting from God the things that He gives.

E. Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: But I will maintain mine own ways before him.

15 Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him:

This is one of the greatest declarations of faith found anywhere in Scripture, but it must be understood in its context. Job is saying, “I will take my case directly to God and prove my integrity. I know I am taking my life in my hands in approaching God, because He is able to slay me. But if He doesn’t slay me, it is proof that I am not the hypocrite you say I am.”

But I will maintain mine own ways before him.

IV CONSTANCY DEVELOPS CHARACTER ()

This is one of the greatest declarations of faith found anywhere in Scripture, but it must be understood in its context. Job is saying, “I will take my case directly to God and prove my integrity. I know I am taking my life in my hands in approaching God, because He is able to slay me. But if He doesn’t slay me, it is proof that I am not the hypocrite you say I am.”

IV. CONSTANCY DEVELOPS CHARACTER ()

IV. CONSTANCY[Being Constant] DEVELOPS CHARACTER v4

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

A The word “experience” was used in the Bible to refer to gold that was tried in the fire and purified.

A. The word “experience” was used in the Bible to refer to gold that was tried in the fire and purified.

B. God allows us to go through the fire of affliction to test us.

Faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted.

It is in affliction that we learn how much dross there may be in our lives.

C. God is in the transformation business.

When we go through difficulty, we often wish for God to remove the difficulty or pain.

1 We desire health instead of sickness.

2 We want God to give us wealth instead of poverty.

3 We desire God to give us friendship rather than loneliness.

But God’s method is transformation rather than substitution.

1. God did not stop the crucifixion; He gave us Easter.

2. God took Paul’s weakness and transformed it into strength.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in znecessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

3

3. But he knoweth the way that I take: When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

10 But he knoweth the way that I take:

Gold does not fear the fire. The furnace can only make the gold purer and brighter.

V. CHARACTER WILL GIVE CONFIDENCE ()

When he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Gold does not fear the fire. The furnace can only make the gold purer and brighter.

V. CHARACTER WILL GIVE CONFIDENCE ()

V. CHARACTER WILL GIVE CONFIDENCE v4-5

A “Hope” in the Bible does not mean “maybe so.” It refers to a certainty.

4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope: 5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

A. “Hope” in the Bible does not mean “maybe so.” It refers to a certainty.

13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

B.

B. This is not a promise with conditions attached: “If you do this, God will do that.” This security in Christ is an established fact, and we claim it for ourselves because we are in Christ. Nothing can separate you from His love! Believe it—and rejoice in it!

This is not a promise with conditions attached: “If you do this, God will do that.” This security in Christ is an established fact, and we claim it for ourselves because we are in Christ. Nothing can separate you from His love! Believe it—and rejoice in it!

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor tpowers, nor things wpresent, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. Hope is faith in the future tense.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

C. Hope is faith in the future tense.

It believes God not only for the present, but also for the future.

D. This hope will never disappoint.

E. Jesus Christ will never fail, and we will never be disappointed in Him.

VI. CONCLUSION

A. It is said that when gold is in the refiner’s fire, the refiner knows it is pure when he can see his face reflected in it.

B. God desires to see His character, His likeness, reflected in our lives.

C The apostle Paul spoke of those who did not know God as being alienated from the life of God without hope in this world.

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the dblindness of their heart:

D Do you have hope in Christ? Do you know Jesus?

D. Do you have hope in Christ? Do you know Jesus?

E. Call upon Jesus today. Repent (turn) from your sins, and turn to Jesus. Ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and acknowledge Him as Lord of your life.

F. 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

G.

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

G. :13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

How To Have A Rock Solid Faith

How To Have A Rock Solid Faith

I INTRODUCTION:

II. CONVERSION BRINGS CONFLICT ()

A. As Christians, we can expect to experience both peace and tribulation. ,