"THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF BEING A CHRISTIAN"
Living By Faith
“faith" is the underlying principle of all the Christian's
conduct...
a. It is fundamental to our salvation in Christ
“For I am not ashamed of
the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one
that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the
righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just
shall live by faith.”
b. It is central to the life we now live in Christ
“I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved
me, and have himself for me.”
** We believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross for our sins,
knowing this, we accept Him into our life, and abide with Him through Faith and
not just works alone. People misconceive the word that say I do good works, I will
go to heaven. No, the Lord speaks against that. We must have faith first, and
with that faith we will produce good works for our Lord Jesus Christ with our
heart. **
Ephesians 2:8-9
“For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves: it
is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead in sin, live any longer therein?”
3. Yet the nature of
faith and its importance in the life of
Christians...
a. Are often
misunderstood
b. Are often neglected
I. THE MEANING OF
FAITH
A. INVOLVES THE IDEA OF
BELIEF...
1. The certainty or
conviction that one has in some truth or
proposition
2. E.g., believing in
things concerning Jesus and His kingdom
“But when they believed
Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of
Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.”
3. Such faith, or
conviction, comes from the Word of God
Romans 10:17
“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.”
B. INVOLVES THE IDEA OF
CONFIDENCE...
1. The willingness to
place one's trust and reliance on someone
else
2. E.g., placing our trust
in God, that He is reliable
“He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong
in faith, giving the glory of God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had
promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for
righteousness.”
C. INVOLVES THE IDEA OF
FIDELITY...
1. That one is loyal,
committed, and can be trusted
2. E.g., a faithful steward
is one who is reliable
“Moreover it is required
in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”
[A faithful Christian,
then, is one who believes in the Word of God, he
has confidence in the
Person of God, and is himself loyal and
trustworthy in the
service of God. Now let's take a look at
what can
be said about...]
II. THE LIFE OF FAITH
A. INVOLVES CONFESSING
OUR FAITH...
1. I.e., acknowledging
our belief in Jesus Christ before others
2. Something we must do
as a condition of salvation
“That if thou shalt
confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that
God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man
believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto
Salvation.”
B. INVOLVES LIVING BY
FAITH...
1. I.e., conducting
one's life with trust in Jesus Christ
2. Trusting in the works
of Jesus, not our own; that His death
was truly for our sins
“Moreover, brethren, I declare
unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you,
unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that
which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the
scriptures;”
3. Trusting in the words
of Jesus, and living accordingly
“But seek ye first the
kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto
you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take
thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.”
-- The life of faith is
one that seeks to live in harmony with
the teaching of Jesus
C. INVOLVES BENEFITING
BY FAITH...
Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can
receive such
blessings
“Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your
requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all
understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ.”
-- The life of faith
does not go unrewarded in this life, even
though its primary
concern is the life to come
D. INVOLVES MAINTAINING
OUR FAITH...
1. I.e., remaining
steadfast in the faith we have in Christ
2. There is a need to
stand fast, for faith can turn into
unbelief
“Take heed, brethren,
lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living
God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you
be hardened through the deceitful of sin. For we are made partakers for Christ,
if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; While it is
said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the
provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that
came out of Egypt by Moses. But with whom was he greieved forty years? Was it
not whose carcases fell in the wilderness? And to whom sware he that they
should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? So we see that
they could not enter in because of unbelief.”
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