Faith of our Fathers
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
What happens when hippies raise kids?
Who does it appear that the world is collapsing around us?
People being attacked for the color of their skin.
a Government quick to blame the other, but not willing to take any responsibility.
Protests turning into violent protests.
The people who serve to protect the populous are being
People living in fear.
The greatest nation, the USA seems toe be unraveling before our very eyes: Why?
What I believe we are witnessing before us is a world that has placed their faith in something other than the God of the universe.
Miroslav Volf, A Public Faith
Christians and their place in the public world, discusses The Real American Dream by Andrew Delbanco. He discusses the decline of America and where American’s place their hope:
A glance at the book’s table of contents reveals the main point of his analysis. The chapter headings read: “God,” “Nation,” “Self.” The infinite God and the eternal life of enjoying God and one’s neighbors (at least some of them!) was the hope of the Puritans who founded America. American nationalists of the nineteenth century, notably Abraham Lincoln, transformed this Christian imagery, in which God was at the center, into “the symbol of a redeemer nation.” In the process, they created a “new symbol of hope.”[93] The scope of hope was significantly reduced,[94] and yet there still remained something of immense importance to hope for—the prospering of the nation which itself was a “chosen people,” called upon to “bear the ark of the Liberties of the world,” as Melville put it.[95] But then, in the aftermath of the 1960s and 1980s, as a result of the combined hippy and yuppie revolutions, “instant gratification” became “the hallmark of the good life.” It is only a minor exaggeration to say that hope was reduced “to the scale of self-pampering.”[96] Moving from the vastness of God down to the ideal of a redeemer nation, hope has narrowed, argues Delbanco, “to the vanishing point of the self alone.”[
Volf, Miroslav. A Public Faith, How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good (pp. 60-61). Baker Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
HIs point here is that the world places its hope, and its faith closely related, into people and things that are not GOD.
But, our verse today speaks directly to Christians about their faith. Calling them to be faithful. What does it mean to be faithful?
Word Study:
Used over 240 times in the NT - Pistis - Faith; Trust; belief in; confidence or assurance in:, etc . . . most of those mean faith or faithfulness
This greek word is used 32 times in the LXX Septuagint (Greek OT) to mean trust; faith
Faithfulness, means here to be filled with faith. It, again is a quality of being faithful.
What is Faithfulness?
A quality that an individual can lack?
Warning
Mt 23:23
Seven Woes to the Scribes and Pharisees
Jewish religious sects of Jesus time who focused on keeping the Law of Moses
Jesus came to introduce the world to salvation through faith in him and not the law
Jesus speaks to the crowd and disciples to show that these religious men were not “walking the walk”
3 so do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.
Jesus lists the examples of their hypocrisy
Woe - warning; exclamation; attention grabber
Seven woes - a sign of perfection (seven often connotes perfection) Seven lamp stands; seven churches; etc . . .
English Standard Version Chapter 23
23 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. 24 You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!
Gave out of duty or obligation
Focused on the small things and made them big things
Jesus saw more importance in law: justice and mercy and faithfulness
These motivations are important to Jesus
This is because they placed their faith in the law instead of God and now HIs Son Jesus
So, faithfulness is something that can be missing in the life of an individual.
And, in this sense it should not surprise us when we se people act they do, as they are, because their misplaced faith has left them empty and left with only the violence of their heart.
A quality that God shares with his children
1 Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? 2 Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. 3 What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? 4 By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written,
“That you may be justified in your words,
and prevail when you are judged.”
God is faithful
Even when man is not
Our definition of faithfulness must begin with God
God is faithful
All of Scripture shows us this, in the life of Israel, but ultimately in Jesus Christ
God produces faithfulness in us
First for our salvation
WCF CH XIV
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter XIV. Of Saving Faith
THE grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts,b and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the word: by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.d
“Principle acts of saving faith are, accepting, receiving and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification and eternal life . . .”
“Different in degrees, weak or strong”
“but gets the victory; growing up in many ways to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ.”
Secondly, for living in this life
Gal 5:22
Another fruit of the Spirit so that we may “walk in the Spirit.”
WCF XVI
Good Works
The Westminster Confession of Faith: Edinburgh Edition Chapter XVI. Of Good Works
These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness;d strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren,f adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries,h and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto;k that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end eternal life.
A quality that Christians exhibit
Christ Like Behaviors
Paul uses this same word in these verses:
4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
Something we rely on in our persecution and affliction
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
Something we seek after
22 So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.
Something we have in common
10 not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.
Something we do opposite the world
Greyfriar’s Bobby - Skye Terrior in the late 1800’s who sat at his owners grave for 14 years after his death.
- Christians faithfully await their Masters return
- They faithfully live this life as they wait
- Faithfully desire to be in the Master’s presence
Application:
How do we exhibit our faithfulness?
Worship - Church attendance; inviting people to church;
Weekly Growth (Discipleship) - Reading God’s Word, study, mind of Christ 2 Cor 10:5
Witness - Servant of those around us
All of these things are actions motivated by the faith within us, this is faithfulness.