The Giant of Doubt

This giant of doubt is actually not a singular giant but rather a group of giants that fight using the same tactic. These giants will present themselves in many disguises.

They can cause us to doubt our salvation, doubt our faith, doubt our Bible, doubt our church, doubt our God, and many more.

These giants defeats us through sneaky tactics that cause us to simply give up in the fight.

Battle with the Giants of doubt takes place not on a battle field that can be seen but rather within our own minds.

Many children of God have been defeated simply because they laid down their sword and shield.

This week I’m sure you are aware that Russia has invaded the Ukraine. The president of Ukraine has not folded in fear but rather has armored himself and called his people to action.

This spirit is the mindset needed within the house of God. We will not lay down while the enemy walks over us but rather we will stand up and fight.

The first Giant that must be defeated is the giant of salvations doubt.

1. Salvation

The doubt of salvation has caused many christians to sit idly by while the warfare rages all around them.

It is this doubt that stunts any growth. How can maturity transpire while the foundation isn’t stable?

God knew that the battle for salvation would transpire and as a result He provided the resources necessary to conquer this fear.

1 John 5:1–13 NKJV

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God? This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one. If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.

From this passage we see there are several assurances given for those who believe in Jesus.

A love for the church. v1

A desire to obey God. v2

A genuine faith in Jesus. v12

You can have complete assurance of your salvation when you realize that salvation is not something that you do. Neither is it something that can be obtained through our own endeavors.

It is a gift of God. There is nothing that we can do other than believe and place our faith in Him.

Do you believe that Jesus is the Son of God?

Have you placed all of your faith in Him? (Do you recognize that there is no salvation apart from Jesus?)

Do you love the body of Christ?

Does sin bother you?

If you can answer yes to these questions then you can be confident that you are a child of God.

2. The Word of God.

I will not spend a great deal of time here on this subject this morning but I will say that the Bible we hold is the Word of God.

Logically, what God could create the world, speak through men, and yet not be able to preserve His word?

The Bible is not a singular book but rather a collection of 66 books. There is more evidence for Jesus than there is for Alexander the Great.

Psalm 119:89 NKJV

Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.

Psalm 100:5 NKJV

For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations.

Take the New Testament for example. It consist of books and letters written by men of varying backgrounds and cultures. It would seem impossible for them to write an inerrant cohesive book. Yet, that is exactly what we have. This lends proof to the fact that Scriptures were inspired by God.

There are several terms used in theology to explain the status of the Bible. To name a few;

1. Inerrancy— The Bible was written perfect in its original text. This includes text in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.

2. Inspiration—The Bible is not mans record but rather God’d holy, divine words that he used man to deliver.

This was not necessarily forced as a scribe would give for dictation but rather God used man and his linguistic culture to deliver Gods message

3. Preservation— The Word of God, although it has been translated, re-translated, copied, and critiqued, contains the message exactly as God intended it to be delivered. There may be language variances but the truth has not changed.

3. The Church

There is a trend among evangelicals to view church as a commodity. This is dangerous because this is not the same view that Christ holds.

Ephesians 5:25 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,

The church is essential because it provides a source of education, the means of tithing, encouragement, accountability, and a differing of gifts. It is unlikely that any one believer possesses all of the spiritual gifts and therefore without the church we are at a great disadvantage in fulfilling the Great Commission.

Hebrews 10:25 KJV 1900

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

We are commanded not to turn our back on the church.