Faith Doesn't Come by Sight

INTRO:

Show Picture of Force meter

Does anyone know what this is?

Does anyone carry one of these with them?

How did you know the chair you are sitting in was going to hold you up today? or any chair you sit in?

Everything is temporary

Eventually these chairs will break

Yet you didn’t test it out, you trusted blindly on what is man made

You had faith that this chair would hold you

You had faith that this chair would hold you

Yet you didn’t test it out, you trusted blindly on what is man made

Same faith we have in what is eternal

1 Peter 1:4–6 ESV

4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials,

1 Peter 1:

H

Believers rejoice because they have, even in difficult times, because they are temporary and our hope is in the eternal

Faith in Christ

Trials we face are used to test our faith

Help us examine our faith

grows us in sanctification

lead us into worship of God

1 Peter 1:8–9 ESV

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

1 Peter 1:8-9

The whole premise of Christianity is faith

So many people want the evidence of the force meter

“If I could just see God then I would believe”

If I could just see God then I would believe

The problem with that - the Bible

Israel saw God’s works and didn’t believe

Jesus’ own disciple refused to believe at first

John 20:25–29 ESV

25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Doubting Thomas -

John 20:25-

Vs. 8-9

Through the Gospel we obtain the outcome of our faith…which is?

salvation of your soul

1 Peter 1:10–12 ESV

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

1 Peter 1:10-

Peter giving us renewed clarity in the Gospel

The things you have now through Christ the old prophets searched hard for them

The angels are curious about the salvation that we have

Faith in Christ is what holds us,

Romans 10:17 ESV

17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

Faith isn’t what we hold or see

It is a trust in the one whom we can’t see yet still love, who we can’t touch but still know

our faith is rooted in Christ

Has your faith been based on only what can be seen, or are you trusting in the Word of God?

How is the Gospel shaping you as you face trials and difficulties? Do you focus on the Temporal or on the Eternal?