The Object of Our Faith
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION
We are in a series titled, “The Foundation of Our Faith.” As we walk by faith and not by sight, we need to learn the Biblical definitions and descriptions in order to accomplish our theme verse.
Last time we looked at “The Source of Our Faith.” We saw a brief description of faith that it was evidence, assurance, and conviction about what the Bible says about the past, present, and future. We also saw that we gave a great resource for faith in the faithfulness and power of God.
Now let’s look at the object of faith. We have sourced our faith from what the Bible says and who God is, now how do we walk by it? Where is it leading us? What is our goal or object?
Today we will see that faith has a definite path, which we must choose, and has a clear destination.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
1. Faith Requires a Decision
1. Faith Requires a Decision
“…must believe that he is...”
The decision - to believe in Him. Faith’s object is a person, God.
On August 7th, 1961, 26 year old Major German Titov (sp.) the second Soviet cosmonaut to orbit the earth and return safely . . . that's a long time ago . . . '61. Climaxing a monumental feat for mankind--he orbited the earth. Sometime later, speaking at the world's fair, he recounted his experience--a very unique experience, (not too many have it). In a rather interesting pronouncement, on a triumphalist note this is what he said, "In my excursion into space, I did not see God." Now, he was an atheist, right? A Russian communist atheist, and he wanted to make it clear that he had been around the earth and he didn't see God. Upon hearing of this exuberant argument from silence, someone quipped, "Had he stepped out of his space suit, he would have."
The word faith is not offensive. Common phrases you’ll hear today are ‘people of faith’, the ‘faith community’, etc. The problem is these tend to be very nebulous groups and identities. It’s really nothing more than faith in faith.
But the Bible says here that true faith requires an object - a place to put that faith in and that place is the person of Almighty God as revealed in Scripture.
So let’s note a couple things about believing in God.
A. God’s Assumed Existence
A. God’s Assumed Existence
Scripture assumes this first truth. It assumes God’s existence and doesn’t explain.
1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Here we are dealing with the first truth – knowledge that is intuitive – knowing something without having to be told.
This intuition of the existence of God is 1) Universal – religious nature of man; 2) Necessary – the mind of man is compelled by its nature to recognize a God; 3) Prime – basic – not broken down to other forms or facts.
Intuition continued – it is natural for man to believe that there is a God.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
“All the evidence points to the conclusive fact that this universal faith in the existence of God is innate in man, and comes from rational intuition.”
— William Evans
B. The Designer God
B. The Designer God
Design and designer – life must come from life. Design demands a designer.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.
4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God.
Our world is full of complexity. And within that complexity we find incredible order. Logic tells us that order and design in the universe point us to a designer.
"Random action could never have produced the highly integrated organization which we observe in the world."
— Ryrie
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Consider a pack of toothpicks. They lay in order within the box. Suppose I place a firecracker in the box and set it off. What is the probability that that explosion will create a toothpick bridge? ZERO! Order does not result from chaos.
C. The Concept of God
C. The Concept of God
Why do the vast majority of cultures have a concept of God and morality?
22 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.
23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.
How do we account for the inherent knowledge of God? Some have suggested that this vast knowledge of God is due to a "God-shaped vacuum" in the human heart. The Apostle Paul would say that this is true because God as revealed Himself to us
18 And knowest his will, and approvest the things that are more excellent, being instructed out of the law;
19 And art confident that thou thyself art a guide of the blind, a light of them which are in darkness,
20 An instructor of the foolish, a teacher of babes, which hast the form of knowledge and of the truth in the law.
21 Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal?
22 Thou that sayest a man should not commit adultery, dost thou commit adultery? thou that abhorrest idols, dost thou commit sacrilege?
The ideas of law, order, justice, right, wrong, wisdom, foolishness, light, darkness, give a common origin in a concept that God has put in us.
D. The Effect of God
D. The Effect of God
Observing the world confirms the effect of God. Reason would demand a cause. An omnipotent Creator is the first cause. One absolute scientific reality is that everything comes from something.
“If something now exist [the cosmos] then it either came from nothing or it came from something that pre-existed.”
— Ryrie
24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
Maybe a picture can clarify this argument.
Cause Effect
Option one: Nothing the world
Option two: Something the world
Incidentally, which of those two options requires more faith? If we use observable science as our standard of proof then we must conclude that everything we see in the natural world indicates that everything has an antecedent. And God is the ultimate something that precedes everything.
To walk by faith requires a decision - where are you going to place your faith? You have to place it somewhere - yourself? man’s scientific capabilities? or God? Faith must have an object and true faith makes God that object.
2. Faith Pursues a Direction
2. Faith Pursues a Direction
“…cometh to God…them that diligently seek him...”
The direction - to seek him. Faith’s object is a path, a path that leads to God. We believe in Him, we’ve decided this - and now we must pursue a path that brings us close to Him.
A. A Path of Nearness
A. A Path of Nearness
“…cometh to God...”
16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
Draw near - meaning to approach God in worship and prayer.
“diligently seek him”
To pursue earnestly - to beat a path under foot. You ever been somewhere that people took a shortcut between two sidewalks and beat down a path through the grass? This the idea - we should seek God so often that we beat a path to him - Cole.
After you’ve put your faith in him, believed in him, now you are to seek him, to pursue him. The goal is to seek God, not his blessings, or benefits.
20 And the LORD spake unto Aaron, Thou shalt have no inheritance in their land, neither shalt thou have any part among them: I am thy part and thine inheritance among the children of Israel.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
So we must draw near to him, go on this path of nearness in order to be close to him, but then see,
B. A Path of Reward
B. A Path of Reward
Truly seeking God is a path that is rewarded! With what? Well,....Him! His presence! His love, mercy, and grace.
Seek him for the blessing of salvation!
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Don’t trust religion, ceremonies, or vows but believe on his son Jesus Christ.
Seek him for His work in you.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
By drawing close to him and dwelling with him, you allow the Spirit of Christ to work in you! What a great reward to see God working in your life!!
We can only boast in the Lord
Seek him for eternal blessings.
24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;
25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;
26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Moses looked ahead to the eternal rewards in heaven!
3. Faith Exhibits a Desire
3. Faith Exhibits a Desire
“…to please him...”
The desire - to please him. Faith’s object is to please God - the person we believe in, the direction that we are pursuing. What purpose is there in believing in God or pursuing God, if not for the ultimate goal of pleasing Him?
Don’t believe me? Not sure that pleasing God is the object of our faith…look at verse 5.
5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
A. Stop Trying to Please Man
A. Stop Trying to Please Man
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
"Menpleasers” describes one who tries to make an impression on others. He acts merely to please men. He sacrifices principle to please someone of superior authority. In short, he's a people-pleaser.
22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
A retired man became interested in the construction of an addition to a shopping mall. Observing the activity regularly, he was especially impressed by the conscientious operator of a large piece of equipment. The day finally came when my friend had a chance to tell this man how much he’d enjoyed watching his scrupulous work. Looking astonished, the operator replied, “You’re not the supervisor?” (Howard A. Stein in Reader’s Digest)
There are so many that are only doing service or living right when men are watching - it’s an obedience to save appearances or to gain undeserved favor.
The only thing that matters is if God is pleased with our life.
B. Faith Equals Pleasing God
B. Faith Equals Pleasing God
Yes it’s that simple. We are to behave in a manner that causes another to be satisfied.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
Imagine if you went to the grocery store and after scanning the groceries you took out some monopoly money to pay? Or rocks? or confederate money? They wouldn’t be happy with that.
Some of you are still trying to walk by sight! You’re going to God saying to God, ‘look at my works’, ‘look at what they’re doing, I’m not that bad,’ ‘look at my baptism,’ ‘look at my Bible reading this week.’
No! There’s only one thing God accepts, only one thing that pleases him - faith!
“If you please God, it doesn’t really matter whom you displease. And, if you displease God, it really doesn’t matter whom you please.”
So how do I know if I’m walking by faith and not by sight? Simple, is what you’re doing pleasing God. Not, isn’t a good financial decision, not do other people like it, not it looks good to me…but does it please God.
If faith is required to please God, then pleasing God is a life of faith!
CONCLUSION
The object of faith? Well first it’s God! You must make a decision about Him.
Next it’s a path - pursue Him, not the blessings of God, but God. We the people of God need to seek Him.
Finally, it’s a life of pleasing Him.
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