How to build Faith--Part 2
The Power of Faith • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 28 viewsNotes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction:
1. Why is building faith so important to the Christian?
A. Because without it it is impossible to please God.
6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
B. It is for this reason that we must give all diligence to build our faith.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
2. So how do we build our faith?
A. First we must understand what it is—Heb 11:1.
B. Second we must understand what faith does for us—Heb. 11:2
C. Thirdly we must start understanding how to build it—Rom. 10:17
Body:
1. First we must understand what it is.
1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
A. Faith is the substance of things hoped for.
1. What is the substance of our hope?
A. The substance of our hope is the fact that God never lies.
1 Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began,
1. This means when God says he will do something He will always do it.
2. It also means when He has made a promise He will always make it good.
19 “God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good?
B. What is the evidence of things not seen?
1. God has shown us the evidence of things not seen in two ways.
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them.
A. He has shown Himself to us through His creation.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
B. He has shown Himself to us through the truth.
2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2. Secondly we must understand what faith does for us.
2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.
A. Faith does many things for us that allow us to have a good testimony.
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. 16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. 17 And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, 18 who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some.
1. Faith allows us to be approved of by God—2 Tim. 2:15a.
2. Faith allows us to not be ashamed—2 Tim. 2:15b.
3. Faith allows us to rightly divide the word of truth—2 Tim. 2:15c.
4. Faith allows us to shun profane and idle babbling—2 Tim. 2:16a.
5. Faith allows us to decrease ungodliness and keeps their message from spreading like a cancer—2 Tim. 2:16b-17.
6. Faith keeps people from straying from the truth—2 Tim 2:18.
3. Thirdly we must begin to understand how to build it.
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
A. Faith is something that we must continue to build our entire life.
5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.
1. If we will build our faith through these things we will never be barren nor unfruitful.
8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2. But if we are lacking in these things we are shortsighted and blind.
9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
Conclusion:
1. It is through faith we make our election sure.
A. Therefore we must be diligent in the building of our faith.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
