Faith that Saves

Exercising Faith • Read two extended stories from 1 or 2 Kings. • Mark how God’s Word is the governor for how Judah or Israel should interpret their experience, reasonings, or testimony of others. Summary • • • What is faith? Faith is rest based on sufficient evidence. What types of claims does God want us to put faith in? • • Personal, subjective claims? Universal, objective claims? What lens should we use to examine the evidence? The Bible Saving Faith Part Three Possessing Saving Faith 1. Content of the gospel claims • The person of Jesus JESUS IS GOD INCARNATE In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.…And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:1, 14 JESUS IS THE PROMISED MESSIAH Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him. 1 John 5:1 Possessing Saving Faith 1. Content of the gospel claims • • The person of Jesus The work of Jesus JESUS DIED, WAS BURIED, AND WAS RAISED …Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 1 Corinthians 15:3–5 Possessing Saving Faith 1. Content of the gospel claims • • The person of Jesus The work of Jesus 2. Agreement to the truthfulness of the claims THE CLAIMS OF THE GOSPEL ARE TRUE …believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead… Romans 10:9 JESUS’S LIFE AND WORK PROVIDES SALVATION For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! James 2:19 Possessing Saving Faith 1. Content of the gospel claims • • The person of Jesus The work of Jesus 2. Agreement to the truthfulness of the claims 3. Personal rest that the gospel is for you Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:14–15 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life… Romans 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. John 3:36 Possessing Saving Faith Results in… • • Love for God and his people (1 John 2:10–11; 4:7) Good works (James 2:14–17; Ephesians 2:10) Sharing Saving Faith 1. The Challenge: What are you up against? DEAD IN SINS And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind Ephesians 2:1–3 BLINDED BY SATAN In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 WILLFULLY OPPOSED TO GOD For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. Romans 1:18–20 Sharing Saving Faith 1. The Challenge: What are you up against? 2. The Motive: Why should you bother? LOVE FOR OTHERS And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:15 LOVE FOR GOD “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.” Revelation 4:11 Sharing Saving Faith 1. The Challenge: What are you up against? 2. The Motive: Why should you bother? 3. The Method: How should you tell? WITH MERCY But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; (Jude 1:20–22) Jude 22 WITH INTEGRITY But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God’s word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:2 WITH BOLDNESS And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness… Acts 4:29 Sharing Saving Faith 1. The Challenge: What are you up against? 2. The Motive: Why should you bother? 3. The Method: How should you tell? 4. The Message: What should you tell? PROCLAIM THE LAW For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. James 2:10 PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles… 1 Corinthians 1:21–23 Argument itself will not be enough; God must intervene. Thus, prayer is the ultimate apologetic weapon. John Frame Exercising Faith • • Take 20 minutes to talk with God about your salvation. Pray for and pursue a gospel conversation with one person. Saving Faith Part Three