Faith

FAITH

Introduction:  Romans 3:21-28.  Six times in this passage Paul says it is our faith that saves us.  Martin Luther was so impressed by what Paul taught about faith in Romans that he tried to reform the Roman Catholic Church.  When they didn't want to be reformed, he started a church that tried to practice NT Christianity.  Unfortunately, they evolved into the Lutheran Church.  But Luther was right; faith is what saves us, not works.  However, faith must be properly understood.  It means much more than just saying you believe something.  In fact, faith has at least five parts.  

I. Intellectual acceptance

     A. Hebrews 11:1, 6

     B. This is in the mind

     C. You logically come to conclusions about these things.   There is no logical explanation for the creation apart from God

     D. There are many things you cannot see, but you have evidence for its existence

     1. Love

     2. Anger

     E. So faith means trying to understand about the world and being forced to the conclusion that God exists

II. Emotional acceptance

     A. Being touched in your heart by God's love (moved, emotional stirred)

     B. II Corinthians 5:14   Christ's love compels us

          1. Urges us on - NRSV, controls, guides, constrains

          2. Just like the mother who is forced out of bed in the middle of the night by a crying baby because she loves it, so we are forced to respond to Jesus because of our love

III. Commitment

      A. Saying you are going to do something, then doing it, no matter what

      B. Marriage commitment means keeping your vows, even when it isn't easy

     C. Commitment to Jesus means never giving up

          1. Steadfastness Hebrews 10:39; I Corinthians 15:58

          2. Colossians 1:22a-23

              a. edraiÍoj - strictly sedentary, seated; hence steadfast, firm, settled in one's thinking or belief

              b. From hedra - a seat

IV. Trust

     A. Taking God at his word, believing the promises

     B. Learning to depend on Him

     C. Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight.

     D. We like to take care of ourselves.  We save God for emergencies.  But He wants to take care of us all the time.  It is hard to let him

V. Action

     A. You can talk all you want, but if you don't do something it isn't real

     B.  You can say, "I'm gonna be baptized," but if you never get it done, you have no faith.

     C.  James 2:14-26

Conclusion:  Do you have faith?  Have you responded to your acceptance of Jesus?