Faith

12/3/2014

Lesson 12

Basic Beliefs – Jack P. Lewis

Preceding Lessons

1. Belief in God2. The Doctrine of Creation3. Revelation4. The One God5. Belief in Scripture6. Biblical Interpretation7. The Nature of People8. The Obligation of Obedience9. The Concept of Sin10. Grace (Parts 1 & 2)

For God so love the world

John 3:16 (ESV)

(16) For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.

Why be concerned?

Hebrews 3: 13-14 (ESV)

(13) But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. (14) For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.

Concern continued

Hebrews 4: 11-13 (ESV)

(11) Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. (12) For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (13) And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

The Full Assurance of Faith

Please turn with me to Hebrews 10: 19-39

Hebrews 11: 1-3 (ESV)

(1) Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the convictions of things not seen. (2) For by it the people of old received their commendation. (3) By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.

Hebrews 11 – By faith …

(4) Abel, (5) Enoch, (7) Noah, (8-10, 12, 17-19) Abraham, (11) Sarah, (20) Isaac, (21) Jacob, (22) Joseph, (23-28) Moses, (29) crossed the Red Sea, (30) walls of Jericho fell, (31) Rahab, (32-40) Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jepthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets

Died in Faith – Hebrews 11:13-16

(13) These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (14) For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. (15) If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. (16) But as it is, they desire a better county, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

And without faith … (Hebrews 11:6)

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

Jesus, Founder & Perfecter of our Faith

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

(1) Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance that race that is set before us, (2) looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Why did Paul preach to the Romans?

Romans 1:4-6 (ESV)

(4) And was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, (5) through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of His name among all the nations, (6) including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

Paul’s prayer for the Colossians

Colossians 1:3-5a (ESV)

(3) We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, (4) since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints (5) because of the hope laid up for you in heaven.

Thessalonians’ Faith & Example

I Thessalonians 1:2-3 (ESV)

(2) We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning your in our prayers, (3) remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul’s constant prayer for the Thessalonians

I Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)

(13) And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Paul’s continued prayer for the Thessalonians

II Thessalonians 1:3-4 (ESV)

(3) We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. (4) Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and the in the afflictions that you are enduring.

Some will Depart from the Faith

I Timothy 4:1-3 (ESV)

(1) Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, (2) through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, (3) who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth.

Fight the Good Fight of Faith

I Timothy 6:11-12 (ESV)

(11) But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. (12) Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.

Guard the Deposit Entrusted to You

II Timothy 1:5, 13-14 (ESV)

(5) I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. (13) Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. (14) By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted in you.

Testing of your faith

James 1:2-3 (ESV)

(2) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.

Pray in Faith – James 1:6

(6) But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind

Faith without works is dead

James 2:21-23 (ESV)

(21) Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? (22) You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; (23) and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness” – and he was called a friend of God.

Make every effort …

II Peter 1:5-7 (ESV)

(5) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement you faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, (6) and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, (7) and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

I want to share with you again the last part of the Journal entry of Veletia Tatom – January 3, 2014

My spirit is well, my love for

My God is strong, my eye sight

On my home in Heaven is bright.

The Holy Spirit keeps my heart good.

The Lord Jesus Christ walks with me.

He will be with me all the way home.

My spirit is well, my love for

My God is strong, my eye sight

On my home in Heaven is bright.

The Holy Spirit keeps my heart good.

The Lord Jesus Christ walks with me.

He will be with me all the way home.

My question to each of us as we reflect upon our life is ~ Does our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ allow us to make the same statement as my Mother?