The Just Shall Live By Faith, The Letter “V” (sermon)

The Just Shall Live By Faith, The Letter “V” (sermon, 12/5/21) (Originally used for Man Church 11/23/21 – Open discussion) Habakkuk 2:1-4 Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 2 Corinthians 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? The Just Shall Live By Faith – How is our Faith displayed? Let’s look at it just in regard to words that start with the letter “V”. 1. Victory– 1 Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. o Victory means - A conquest, to win a battle o In Christ, in whom our faith is, is victory over death o 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. § Have you been born of GOD? § Have you been Born Again? § Are YOU living the victorious Christian Life? 2. Virginity– 2 Corinthians 11:2 For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. o Almost always associated with women having no carnal knowledge of man o The word “Chaste” refers to keeping oneself pure in regard to sexual relations o One’s virginity should be kept and protected until it can be given to the husband or wife of our youth. o After the wedding we are to remain “Chaste”, that is sexually pure; One flesh, devoted to one another. § Are you a chaste and pure person, living by faith, ready to meet the returning Saviour? 3. Violence– Matthew 11:12 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violenttake it by force. o Physical force – Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. Revelation 18:21. o Moral force – how people attack the Gospel message o Outrage – both John the Baptist and Jesus (who preached the Kingdom of God) were violently killed. o Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. § Are you able to stand fast, and live by faith, in the face of violence against what you believe? 4. Virtue– 2 Peter 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; o Virtue means - Moral goodness, (as well as Bravery / valor, and strength) § So, “in this run to the devil world”, how’s your morality; how’s your virtue holding up? § Is your virtue keeping up with your walk by faith? 5. Vision– Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. o Biblical Vision is - A revelation from God o To have vision means - Something imagined to be seen § What is your vison for tomorrow? Is it filled with hope in Christ as you walk by faith? 6. Vigilance– 1 Timothy 3:2 A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; o Vigilance means - Forbearance of sleep o Vigilance also means – to Guard; watch § As far as vigilance goes, are you? § Are you vigilant in your watching for the return of our Saviour? § As you live by faith, do you watch your step as you walk in the Spirit? 7. Verity– Psalm 111:7 The works of his hands are verityand judgment; all his commandments are sure. o Verity means – Truth, A true assertion, or Moral truth. o The just shall live by faith means we live in and by TRUTH, with all verity! § Jesus said, “I am the Truth” § How about you, are you living by the Truth of the word of God? § The truth says you’ve been set free from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13). · Are you living like a free person? 8. Vesture– Genesis 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; No longer viewed as a Hebrew. o A Garment § What we wear matters on some level. (No one wants their lawyer showing up looking like a homeless person, or their bride dressed like a prostitute. o In the story of the prodigal son, “the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:” Luke 15:22. o Each of us, (not just a few of us) represents the Prodigal Child, and the Vesture we wear is the Righteousness of God - 2 Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. o The vesture you wear, is it one of Righteousness or one of Unrighteousness? § READ Romans 6:18-23 (Then I’ll close). The Just Shall Live By Faith – If our faith is in Jesus Christ as the living Lamb of God… (expound upon that as the Spirit leads) then we bear the righteousness of GOD and shall spend eternity in His presence. THAT IS THE FAITH WE LIVE BY! HEAD BOWED, EYES CLOSED, HEART AND EARS OPEN.

The Letter “G” works too:

· Gratitude

· Generosity

· Grace

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