Keep the Faith

Introduction:

The past two weeks we have looked at Gospel 101. We have been studying where we’ve come from and what we looked like before we came to know Christ. We also saw what Christ has done for us this week. Tonight we will look at what we need to do in light of all the Christ has done.

How can we keep the faith? That’s the question tonight that we want to examine.

1. Continue in the Faith

John 15:4 ESV

Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

:4To continue in the faith means growth and an abiding relationship with JesusThe word for continue here means - to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty1 1 Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 662.You WILL drift if you do not actively pursue your faithIllustration: People fall out of faith like they fall out of love. They don’t cultivate their relationship with God. They don’t read their Bible. They don’t pray. They don’t attend worship with God’s people. Pretty soon, God becomes a stranger. AND, you can also drift while still doing these things, because you are doing them out of religious obligation, and not because you love God. It’s like having to take your wife on a date. Having to hug her and kiss her. Having to do things together. You feel forced and you don’t grow in love.

To continue in the faith means growth and an abiding relationship with Jesus.

The word for continue here means - to continue to do something with intense effort, with the possible implication of despite difficulty. (Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 662.)

You WILL drift if you do not actively pursue your faith

Illustration: People fall out of faith like they fall out of love. They don’t cultivate their relationship with God. They don’t read their Bible. They don’t pray. They don’t attend worship with God’s people. Pretty soon, God becomes a stranger. AND, you can also drift while still doing these things, because you are doing them out of religious obligation, and not because you love God. It’s like having to take your wife on a date. Having to hug her and kiss her. Having to do things together. You feel forced and you don’t grow in love.

2. Grow in the Faith

Learn the objections to your faith and answers to those objections

1 Peter 3:15 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,

Christianity can take questions. Realize that Science has changed its answers over and over.words mean to take root. Grow deep. We should not remain shallow in our faith. Continuing on with basic bible stories and not wrestling with deeper truths leads to anemic Christians. It’s like only eating frosted icing instead of having a real meal. ;

Christianity can handle your questions. Realize that Science has changed its answers over and over again.

The words to remain stable and steadfast mean to take root. Grow deep. We should not remain shallow in our faith. Continuing on with basic bible stories and not wrestling with deeper truths leads to anemic Christians. It’s like only eating frosted icing instead of having a real meal.

Hebrews 5:12–13 ESV

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child.

Hebrews 6:1 ESV

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,

Hebrews

3. Don’t Shift from the Faith

What is the gospel? Can you explain it in a short sentence or two?The gospel is the good news that:

We are sinners separated from God.

God sent Jesus to take our sin upon Himself and make peace with God.

We must believe, confess, and repent.

Sadly churches have left this teaching. They are preaching man-centered messages. They are using programs and entertainment to draw crowds. They are trying to use terms and phrases that don’t offend and hiring “communicators” to give “talks” rather than preach a sermon with unction and fire of the Holy Spirit.

The result is that the church is losing its foundation. The crumbling of the church is happening all around us. Paul reminds the Colossians that the hope of the gospel is what is producing results all around the world (v.23) and is what produced their own faith (v.5b-7a)

Colossians 1:5–7 ESV

because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf

Conclusion:

Tonight as we consider where we’ve come from, what Christ did for us, and what we are called to do, I hope that your resolve will be to develop your walk with Christ more intently. Make a commitment to get into the Word. Read your Bible every day seeking to grow in your faith and challenge yourself. Don’t just casually read, but really study the Bible.

God deeper and ask questions about your faith and learn to defend it. You will grow in your knowledge and assurance of what you believe.

Finally spend time in prayer talking to God and pursuing His presence. Don’t just be a religious person. Be committed in your walk with Christ and watch what the Lord will do in you.