What Faith Does For Us.
Galatians Series: Freedom Through Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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· 8 viewsBoth in the OT and in the NT faith is the only basis of salvation. Faith is the means by which God’s grace in Christ, and with him the blessings of salvation, is received. Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith emphasises the centrality of faith in the Christian life.
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Introduction
Introduction
1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Christian Life, Faith In
Telephone-pole climbing is an art. In order to climb, one must have a belt that goes around the pole and wear spiked shoes. The secret is to lean back and depend on the belt so the spikes can dig into the pole. Depending on the belt is hard to learn; often a beginner slides down the splintery pole because he won’t depend on his equipment. It only takes a few such experiences to convince the beginner that it is better to depend on the belt.
In the Christian life, God wants us to climb by depending on him. When we are hurt by splinters, we should recognize that they are reminders that we need to depend on his strength and loving protection.
Telephone-pole climbing is an art. In order to climb, one must have a belt that goes around the pole and wear spiked shoes. The secret is to lean back and depend on the belt so the spikes can dig into the pole. Depending on the belt is hard to learn; often a beginner slides down the splintery pole because he won’t depend on his equipment. It only takes a few such experiences to convince the beginner that it is better to depend on the belt.
In the Christian life, God wants us to climb by depending on him. When we are hurt by splinters, we should recognize that they are reminders that we need to depend on his strength and loving protection.
Some people in the churches of Galatia were spreading a false teaching. They were saying that a person is justified by works and law; that is, that a person becomes acceptable to God by subjecting himself to Christ, but he must also subject himself to the law and do the very best he can. They were saying that, yes, Christ is important; but a commitment to live by the law-a commitment to do the very best one can-is also essential in order to be saved and acceptable to God.
The false teaching sounds good, for a person must not only should, but he must, do the best he can. Actually a person must not only do the best he can in seeking God but in everything he undertakes. However, scripture is very clear: man is not justified by being good and doing good. Man just cannot be good enough nor do enough good to become perfect. God is perfect; therefore , man must become perfect if he is to live with God.
How then can a person become acceptable to God? By faith in Jesus Christ. When a person believes in Jesus Christ, he honors God’s Son, and God honors the person who honors His Son.. How do we know that we are justified by faith and not by the law and doing the best we can? Because of what faith does for us.
Well what does faith do for us?
Faith Makes Us Children of God.
Faith Makes Us Children of God.
How do we know that we are justified by faith instead of by the law and by doing the best we can? Because faith makes us chidren og God.
Jesus Christ brings us face to face with God.
He stirs God to adopt us as children of God.
How? By Faith...
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. 27 For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him:
But the just shall live by his faith.
Galatians 3:26-27
How do we know that we are justified by faith instead of by the law and by doing the best we can? Because faith makes us children of God.
Jesus Christ brings us face to face with God.
He stirs God to adopt us as children of God.
How? By Faith...
Note two crucial points.
Faith causes us to focus upon Christ.
Faith causes us to focus upon Christ.
The person who tries to come acceptable to God by the law and by doing the best he can-the man who focuses upon the law and good works-keeps his mind upon the law and struggles to be good. God is not the center and focus of his thoughts and life; the law and works are.
But the person who has faith in Jesus Christ focuses upon Christ.
Faith clothes us with Christ, with His righteousness & Sonship.
Faith clothes us with Christ, with His righteousness & Sonship.
This tells us we can actually put on Christ.
The phrase to “put-on” is the picture of putting on clothes, of covering ones self. All that Christ is can cover us.
Christ is the very embodiment of righteousness (God sees Him in us and accepts us)
6 And he believed in the Lord; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2 Corinthians 5:21
Christ is the Son of God; therefore, to be clothed with Christ means that we are covered with His Sonship.
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
John
Faith in Christ makes us one: Eliminates all distinctions & prejudices
Faith in Christ makes us one: Eliminates all distinctions & prejudices
Faith in Christ makes us one: Eliminates all distinctions & prejudices
Faith in Christ makes us one: Eliminates all distinctions & prejudices
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
How do we know that we are justified by faith instead of by the law and by doing the best we can?
Galatians 3:
Because faith in christ makes us one, eliminating all distinctions and prejudice.
How do we know that we are justified by faith instead of by the law and by doing the best we can?
This is startling truth: Jesus Christ is the answer to all the prejudice, bitterness, hatred, oppression, and inequalities of the world.
How can He solve the divisions among men?
“For ye are all one in Christ Jesus.”
He makes us one because:
Every believer stands on an equal footing before Jesus Christ.
Every true believer loves and stands in Jesus Christ (we should see Christ in each other).
12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.
If we walk with Christ, we will notice that petty things that divide us will fade away. How is this possible? By the cross. At the foot of the cross, all the ground is level
Faith in Christ makes us heirs of the promise.
Faith in Christ makes us heirs of the promise.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
How do we know that we are justified by faith instead of by the law and by doing the best we can?
Because faith in Christ makes us heirs of the promise.
Remember the promise made to Abraham: the promise of God’s blessing, of God’s presence and leadership, of being accepted by God and given privileged of living forever in the land of Canaan.
Jesus is the heir of Abraham; therefore, if a person is in Christ, then he inherits the promise made to Abraham.
He inherits the promise of God’s acceptance, righteousness, and of living forever.
15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
Romans 8:
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Conclusion
Being “lifted up” is a reference to Jesus Christ’s death on the cross; The necessity of outward confession, as evidence of personal faith in Jesus Christ.
Doubt sees the obstacles.
See also ; ; ; ; ; ;
Faith sees the way!
Salvation is for all who believe
Salvation is for all who believe
Doubt sees the darkest night,
Faith sees the day!
Jesus Christ is the “end of the law”, in the sense that he brings it to its goal and fulfilment, and accomplishes its intentions.
See also ;
Doubt dreads to take a step.
Faith soars on high!
Salvation is for those who persevere in their faith
Salvation is for those who persevere in their faith
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled 22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight: 23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
Doubt questions, “Who believes?”
See also ;
Faith answers, “I!”
Saving faith shows itself in action
Saving faith shows itself in action
14 What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?
Blessings of salvation received through faith
Blessings of salvation received through faith
Justification and peace with God
Justification and peace with God
See also ; ;
Forgiveness
Forgiveness
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Victory over death
Victory over death
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 27 She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.
Adoption into God’s family
Adoption into God’s family
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The gift of the Holy Spirit
The gift of the Holy Spirit
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Jesus Christ in the heart
Jesus Christ in the heart
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Protection through God’s power
Protection through God’s power
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Access to God
Access to God
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Sanctification
Sanctification
17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
New life
New life
20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Eternal life
Eternal life
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