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FaithFaith
““And without faith And without faith it is it is impossibleimpossible to please Him, to please Him,
for he who comes to God must for he who comes to God must believe that He isbelieve that He is
and that and that He is a rewarderHe is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” of those who seek Him.”
Heb 11:6Heb 11:6
What is Biblical Faith? What is Biblical Faith?
““Now faith is the Now faith is the assuranceassurance of of things things hoped forhoped for, ,
the the convictionconviction
of things of things not seennot seen.”.” ((Heb 11:1)Heb 11:1)
Three Biblical examples of Three Biblical examples of DefectiveDefective Faith: Faith:
What is What is wrongwrong with it? with it?
What are some What are some contemporarycontemporary examples? examples?
What is the What is the antidoteantidote for it? for it?
Ex.#1: James 2:19Ex.#1: James 2:19
““You believe that God is one. You believe that God is one. You do well; You do well;
the demons also believe, the demons also believe, and shudder.”and shudder.”
(Jas 2:19)(Jas 2:19)
If demons believe, If demons believe, why can’t they be saved?why can’t they be saved?
Why Why not?not?
Faith has to have a basis Faith has to have a basis
Faith in itself is not effective,Faith in itself is not effective,
The The objectobject of the faith of the faith
must be trustworthymust be trustworthy
Safety does Safety does not depend on not depend on
the the faithfaith you you have tohave to
skateskate
but on thebut on the
thicknessthickness
of the ice.of the ice.
How is Faith able to How is Faith able to save?save?
Not:Not: based on based on strengthstrength of faith of faith
But:But: based on based on objectobject of faith of faith
What is the basis of our What is the basis of our faith?faith?
REASONREASON
BuddhismBuddhism
HinduismHinduism
TaoismTaoism
ConfucianConfucian
REVELATIONREVELATION
JudaismJudaism
ChristianityChristianity
IslamIslam
MormonMormon
How does God reveal How does God reveal Himself? Himself?
CreationCreation EternityEternity in our hearts in our heartsWord Word JesusJesus Holy SpiritHoly Spirit Christ in othersChrist in others
In the beginning was the In the beginning was the Word and the Word was Word and the Word was God.God.
For the word of God is For the word of God is livingliving and and activeactive and and sharpersharper
than any two-edged sword, than any two-edged sword,
and and piercingpiercing as far as the as far as the division of soul and spirit, of division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and both joints and marrow, and able to judgeable to judge the thoughts the thoughts and intentions of the heart. and intentions of the heart.
(Heb 4:12)(Heb 4:12)
How do we know How do we know God’s love?God’s love?
By how we are being treated?By how we are being treated?
““By this the By this the love of God was manifestedlove of God was manifested in in us, that God has sent His only begotten us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” through Him.” (1Jn 4:9)(1Jn 4:9)
““But But God demonstrates His own loveGod demonstrates His own love toward toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) (Rom 5:8)
Antidote for anorexic Antidote for anorexic faith:faith:
View Bible as essential goodView Bible as essential good
Eat nourishing WordEat nourishing Word
Eat regularlyEat regularly
Avoid junk foodAvoid junk food
Base your faith on: WordBase your faith on: Word
““But the Word of the Lord But the Word of the Lord
endures endures foreverforever." ." (1Pt 1:25)(1Pt 1:25)
““like newborn babies, long for the like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to it you may grow in respect to
salvationsalvation,” ,” 1Pt 2:21Pt 2:2
For though by this time you ought to beFor though by this time you ought to beteachers, …you have come to need milk andteachers, …you have come to need milk andnot not solid food.solid food.
For everyone who partakes For everyone who partakes onlyonly of milk is not of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousnessaccustomed to the word of righteousness, , for he is an infant. But solid food is for thefor he is an infant. But solid food is for themature, who because of mature, who because of practicepractice have their have theirsenses trained senses trained to discern good and evilto discern good and evil..
(Heb 5:12-13) (Heb 5:12-13)
What is solid food?What is solid food?
Practice in Practice in righteousnessrighteousness
ObedienceObedience
Avoid Defective Faith Avoid Defective Faith without basis:without basis:
Don’t be an Don’t be an anorexicanorexic Christian. Christian.
Be nourished & strengthened by the Be nourished & strengthened by the WordWord
Become a Become a Woman of theWoman of the WordWord
Ex.#2: Luke 6:46-49Ex.#2: Luke 6:46-49
"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,’"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,’
and do not do what I say?” and do not do what I say?”
(Luke 6:46)(Luke 6:46)
Faith without obedience Faith without obedience is a house without a is a house without a foundationfoundation
FaithFaith without obedience without obedience
≠≠ Faith Faith
(it’s just theoretical)(it’s just theoretical)
Reasons for not obeying:Reasons for not obeying:
1. 1. Don’t believe it is importantDon’t believe it is important
2. Lazy2. Lazy
3. Don’t want to, don’t agree3. Don’t want to, don’t agree
How do we fall into these How do we fall into these errors today?errors today?
““I don’t have to be obey commandments to I don’t have to be obey commandments to be a follower”be a follower”
““God loves me just the way I am, I don’t God loves me just the way I am, I don’t have to perform or do works to be saved”have to perform or do works to be saved”
““I will only obey when I agree with it”I will only obey when I agree with it”
Obedience ≠ Obedience ≠ AgreementAgreement
““Although He was a Son, Although He was a Son,
He He learned obediencelearned obedience from from
the things which He suffered.”the things which He suffered.”
(Heb 5:8) (Heb 5:8)
Why are some women Why are some women weak?weak?
““For among them are those who enter For among them are those who enter into households and captivate into households and captivate
weak womenweak women weighed down with weighed down with sinssins, , led on by led on by various impulsesvarious impulses, ,
always learning and never able always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truthto come to the knowledge of the truth.” .”
(2Tim 3:6-7)(2Tim 3:6-7)
What is the surefire way What is the surefire way to grow as a Christian?to grow as a Christian?
"He who has"He who has My commandments and keeps themMy commandments and keeps them
is the one who loves Me; is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me and he who loves Me
will be loved by My Father, and will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and I will love him and
will disclose Myself to him."will disclose Myself to him."
(John (John 14:2114:21))
The Word is The Word is notnot given to you given to you
to make you to make you smartersmarter, ,
but to make you but to make you holierholier..
How have I applied this?How have I applied this? Submission: unnaturalSubmission: unnatural
Cultural vs Biblical submissionCultural vs Biblical submission
Submission ≠ AgreementSubmission ≠ Agreement
Put on your seatbeltPut on your seatbelt
Honor vs dishonoring WordHonor vs dishonoring Word
Top 10 Top 10 Submissive Submissive WaysWays
10.10.She doesn’t complain when I bring people home She doesn’t complain when I bring people home for dinner or staying over without prior notice.for dinner or staying over without prior notice.9. She lets me smoke cigars in the home9. She lets me smoke cigars in the home8. She never insists I have to spend time w/ her family. 8. She never insists I have to spend time w/ her family. 7. She tries not to comment about my driving. 7. She tries not to comment about my driving. 6. She trusts me with our investments including home 6. She trusts me with our investments including home
ownership decisions. ownership decisions. 5. She supported my desire to attend seminary and 5. She supported my desire to attend seminary and
move the family to Hong Kong.move the family to Hong Kong.4. She always asks me about her career decisions. 4. She always asks me about her career decisions. 3. She defers to me in decisions re: raising the kids.3. She defers to me in decisions re: raising the kids.2. She tries not to disagree with me/belittle me in public. 2. She tries not to disagree with me/belittle me in public. 1. She is very attentive to my needs over her own.1. She is very attentive to my needs over her own.
Antidote to defective Antidote to defective faith without obedience:faith without obedience:
Never read or study the Bible without intending Never read or study the Bible without intending to obey what you read.to obey what you read.
Beware of ignoring commands you don’t like or Beware of ignoring commands you don’t like or agree with.agree with.
Avoid Defective Faith Avoid Defective Faith without Obedience:without Obedience:
Strive for a heart for obedienceStrive for a heart for obedience
““Work out” for the Lord Work out” for the Lord
(don’t be obese)(don’t be obese)
What is defective about What is defective about this faith?this faith?
Two other specific Biblical examples: Two other specific Biblical examples:
OT ex: Num 14 OT ex: Num 14
NT ex: Acts 5 NT ex: Acts 5
Faith that is manipulative Faith that is manipulative
≠≠ Faith Faith
Obedience on their own termsObedience on their own terms
Manipulation of obedience: Manipulation of obedience: PresumptionPresumption
“ “For certain persons have crept in For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons condemnation, ungodly persons
who who turn the grace of our God into turn the grace of our God into licentiousnesslicentiousness and and deny our only deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus ChristMaster and Lord, Jesus Christ.” .”
(Jude 1:4) (Jude 1:4)
How do we turn grace of How do we turn grace of God into licentiousness?God into licentiousness? By ignoring God’s commands under the By ignoring God’s commands under the
guise of grace.guise of grace.
““I know I shouldn’t do it, but I also know I know I shouldn’t do it, but I also know He will forgive me.”He will forgive me.”
““I am sure God is not the kind of God who I am sure God is not the kind of God who would want me to suffer or not be happy.”would want me to suffer or not be happy.”
For example:For example:
God’s forgiveness covers God’s forgiveness covers my willful disobedience to:my willful disobedience to:
Marry an unbelieverMarry an unbeliever Be promiscuousBe promiscuous Commit adulteryCommit adultery Get divorcedGet divorced
The battle cry is:The battle cry is:
““God wants me to be happy.”God wants me to be happy.”
He wants you to be holy, He wants you to be holy,
which will make you happiestwhich will make you happiest
(in eternity).(in eternity).
Does God ever ask you to do Does God ever ask you to do something you cannot do?something you cannot do?
God puts me in an impossible situation. God puts me in an impossible situation.
I can’t keep His standards. I can’t keep His standards.
God knows IGod knows I
can’t keep Hiscan’t keep His
standards andstandards and
He doesn’t He doesn’t expect me to.expect me to.
I relate to God on the basis of I relate to God on the basis of grace & not law, so I don’t have to grace & not law, so I don’t have to concern myself w/ keeping NT concern myself w/ keeping NT
commandments.commandments.
““No one in heaven will sayNo one in heaven will say
that they are glad that they are glad
they did not do they did not do
what God commanded.”what God commanded.” ~ Walter A. Henrichsen~ Walter A. Henrichsen
Antidote to Antidote to Presumptuous Faith:Presumptuous Faith:
Fierce commitment to obedience to Fierce commitment to obedience to WordWord (in spite of culture or sensibilities or (in spite of culture or sensibilities or contemporary traditions)contemporary traditions)
““God gives God gives
ill-definedill-defined commandments commandments
to help you maintain to help you maintain
a spirit of a spirit of dependencedependence, ,
just as He gives just as He gives
seemingly illogicalseemingly illogical commandments commandments
to to test your faithtest your faith.”.”
How have I applied this?How have I applied this?
I take submission seriously (1 Pt3)I take submission seriously (1 Pt3)
Male headship in home and church Male headship in home and church
(Eph 5:22-33, 1 Tim 2-3)(Eph 5:22-33, 1 Tim 2-3)
It is a time for strong faith and It is a time for strong faith and
strong obedience to the Word of God.strong obedience to the Word of God.
Christianity has always been Christianity has always been
counter-cultural. Today is no different.counter-cultural. Today is no different.
Three Biblical examples of Three Biblical examples of DefectiveDefective Faith: Faith:
1. Baseless faith1. Baseless faith
2. Theoretical faith2. Theoretical faith
3. Manipulative faith3. Manipulative faith
How can I make sure that I have How can I make sure that I have Effective and not Defective Faith?Effective and not Defective Faith?
What areas in my life do I need to What areas in my life do I need to change?change?
FaithFaith
““And without faith And without faith it is it is impossibleimpossible to please Him, to please Him,
for he who comes to God must for he who comes to God must believe that He isbelieve that He is
and that and that He is a rewarderHe is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” of those who seek Him.”
Heb 11:6Heb 11:6
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