A True and Better Faith

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INTRODUCTION

There is a problem with faith today. Let me try to explain. Much of what passes for faith in our day is a kind of blind hopefulness that when inspected is really nothing more that a kind of self determination cloaked in spiritual language. Ex. “I have faith that this will work out.” “ I have faith that I can beat this disease.” In many cases, the phrase “All we need is faith” is nothing more than a blind substanceless hope that is produces no real fruit in our lives. This of course is why the concept of faith in the Prosperity Gospel is so problematic. It turns faith in to self determinism!

The Bible’s teaching on faith is quite the opposite. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the reality (assurance/substance) of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. -- Hebrews 11:1 (CSB). This is helpful because true faith brings true assurance not superfluous assurance or hope. It assures us of the things that are unseen yet revealed faithfully since the Garden.

True faith is rooted in the revelatory work of God through out generations that culminates in the visible person and work of Christ granting us a living hope in our present and future.

SERMON SUMMARY

The right kind of faith is that which finds its object in hearing and receiving the word of Christ and continually grows in it.

GOAL:

Identify the wrong objects of faith

Identify the right objects of faith

CONTEXT

Let’s dig into the backstory briefly:

Jesus and his disciples have just spent 2 days in Samaria and the fruit of that gospel campaign highly successful.

The most notable aspect about it was that there was no visible miracles performed by Jesus. He spoke of this living water but simply told them that he was that living water and their believe. They believed his word and saw him as he truly was.

This is stark contrast to those had believed in Judea and in Jesus’ first campaign in Galilee. They had believed but Jesus had notable problems with their unbelief, and in John 2:23, he would not trust himself to them because he knew what was in them.

This leads us into v.43-45 (READ) & our first point

SERMON OUTLINE

THE WRONG OBJECT OF FAITH [vv.43-45]

Explain

V.43 - Jesus finally gets back to Galilee which was his aim since leaving Judea (4:3). V.44 tells us why. “For (because)…a Prophet has no honor in his hometown.”

This was not a deterent for Jesus but a motivation. this is not new to Jesus’ ministry (1:11 - “He came to his own and his own did not know him.”)

In a sense, this is the very heart of Jesus’ ministry that John wants us to see: (1) to bring the Good News to his own people and show them that they don’t get it (2) to bring the Gospel to those who presumably not his own yet they do get…simply by receiving his word NOT by miracles, signs and wonders .

The very nature of the Good News is a message the goes into the heart of opposition of man’s heart!

V.44 - Explains the meat of what we seeing: “They welcomed him…BECAUSE…they had seen everything he did in Jerusalem during the festival. “

What John wants us to see is clearly the wrong object of faith that tends to be at the center of the Jew’s lives when they encountered Christ!

There is a kind of faith that does not have its object being Christ but the benefits of Christ.

Tends to use Jesus - Shows up when you are sick or in need.

This is why Jesus would not entrust himself to them and couldn’t trust this kind of welcome from the Galileans

The works of Jesus take centerstage above the person of Jesus.

Problem is that Jesus is Son of God, the 2nd person of the Godhead and is to be infinitely more prized than his mere works.

Apply - Where does this impulse show up in our lives?

Reducing Jesus & the Gospel to being a wise teacher (ethical shaman)

Pride of attachment to someone special - (Galileans: “He’s one of us!”)

We can do this in Pride in certain evangelical tribal movements, styles etc

Reducing Jesus & the Gospel to a social ministry

Jesus unreservedly cared for the poor, the estranged, the forgotten & oppressed. To say that was not important is simply to not the Gospels at all!

But in every one of those engagements of care, his primary aim was to do good for their soul…their eternal needs!

We are “BOTH/AND” Church because Jesus was a BOTH/AND Savior but if we ever allow our social impulse to displace our spiritual impulse we have ceased to be a Gospel church.

Reducing Jesus & the Gospel to achieving our Best life now

Sense of Entitlement - If I do “X” then He will give me “Y”

“He owes me” -

Reducing Jesus and the Gospel to familiarity

Shows us when we are so familiar with Jesus, the Bible that we just don’t think he will do anything at all. It turns the Gospel into folklore or legend rather than Spirit Driven reality.

TO SUM UP: All of this is simply reducing Jesus to a transactional relationship!

All of this is in the background when this royal official comes to Jesus…READ v.46-54

THE RIGHT OBJECT OF FAITH [vv.46-54]

A Faith that Comes By Hearing

Explain -

V.47: We are told that this official is pleading with Jesus to coming heal his son. We don’t know the details of his son’s condition but that it is dire. So dire, that he didn’t send a representative but came himself to Jesus.

V.48: Jesus response seems abrupt, even harsh to this anxious father. But let’s look closer.

The “you” in the passage seems to include this man in with the rest of the crowd and their misdirected belief in Jesus.

But I agree with John Piper when he notes that this is test for Jesus. He is simply looking at this man and asking him if he going to be just another one of the crowd with superfluous faith or is he going to trust Jesus for who he is?

V.49: “Sir, come down before my son dies.”

In other words, “I’m not interested in religious fanfare, I just want to save my son.”

V.50: Because of the Father’s simple response, Jesus extends grace! “Go, you son will live”

There is not comment on his sincerity but rather his belief in Jesus’ word!

This man didn’t push back. He didn’t insist on seeing Jesus perform a miracle in his eyes. He just trusted his Word!

Not a peep of reservation! This testifies to a truly regenerative work that happened in his heart!

There was more than one person saved this day! Not just his son, but also his father!

Faith is the assurance of things hoped for and things unseen!

Apply

Friends, we must be a people who’s faith is driven by God’s revealed word alone! In fact, Jesus is the very Word made flesh and dwells among us! (John 1:14)

For many professing believers, the sufficiency of God’s Word is not enough. They need more…they need see more spectacular works:

Big crowds in growing churches and programs

Big works of the Spirit

Big changes in their everyday life

But true faith is receiving the word Christ and returning home in steady trust the Jesus is who he says he is!

A Faith that Continues to Grow

Explain

V.51-52“When he was still going, his servant met him saying that his boy was still alive”

When did he start improve? “Yesterday at about 1pm!”

One of the most astounding reasons we know this man’s faith was real is that he didn’t just run home (probably a half day’s journey at 15 miles)

He can imagine that if he was so concerned about his son’s welfare, he would be rushing back to be by his side

But he left Jesus with peace in his heart and trust that what Jesus said was true!

V.53 - “So he believed along with his whole household.”

Not only did this man believe initially but he grew in his belief to the point that what was secondary in his home was his son’s condition but that ALL OF HIS HOUSEHOLD BELIEVED!

Apply - What does this mean for us?

People of faith continue to grow in the word of Christ

There is a new impulse to place oneself under the word of God

Proper preaching and teaching to be sure

But daily routine of meditating on the Word and praying the Word!

There is an impulse to share the word with those around us

We have noted this in our study of the Samaritan woman but worth noting again!

Changed people change people!

CONCLUSION: Two challenges and we are done:

As we approach the Table, are you a changing person as a result of your discipline of being under the word of God daily and even more weekly as we gather with God’s people for Word and Sacrament?

That is the heart of the Table of Christ!

Are people changing around you as you are changing in Christ?

Your family

Your friends, co-workers neighbors