This is the second sermon it the “Renewal of the Church” series. We need to cooperate with the Father God, so that the church might bear much fruit.
John 15:1-2 NIV “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.
What we believe is basic to the renewal of the church. If we are to be equipped for ministry today, we must not only know what we stand for and what we stand against, but also what we stand on!
There are four questions about what you believe that must be answered.
Is your faith really your faith?
Is your faith working?
Is your faith, saving faith and "the faith"
Is your faith Christ centered?
Scripture Reading:
Ephesians 4:4-6, 11-16 NIV There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Text:
Ephesians 4:5, NIV “one Lord, one faith, one baptism;13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Introduction
What we believe is basic to the renewal of the church. If we are to be equipped for ministry today, we must not only know what we stand for and what we stand against, but also what we stand on!
What we believe will ultimately determine what we do.
The Bible speaks of a general faith. General faith is the belief in the natural order of things, like gravity, or faith or trust if you sit on that pew it will hold you and you won't fall, and even a belief that there is a god. Everybody, even Satan and demons, have general faith.
James 2:19 NIV You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
This kind of “faith” is intellectual. That is, the demons have no doubt that Jesus is the Son of the living God, but they rebelliously choose to serve a different master. And their master, Satan, is crystal clear on the fact that Jesus died and rose from the dead. As a matter of fact, Satan’s theology is probably better than yours or mine. But knowing all the answers and possessing a right theology doesn’t save you.
What saves you is the fact that Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for you that is what saves you.
Let’s say that a person with just general faith feeds the hungry, treats the sick, and educates children. We all have to agree that these are good things but if they are done by a person with only general faith their ultimate purpose for doing them is in something other than God. They do it because it makes them feel good, which is pride, or they do it to get a tax deduction, or they do it so that they can say that they did something good, but the motivation was something other than the love of God. If the motivation is something other than God this means everything they do is motivated by idolatry.
And the scripture at Hebrews 11:6 NIV says
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.
I know that’s hard but it’s true.
However the bible also speaks of a saving faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
And it also speaks of “the faith,” that is, the truths that have been revealed through Jesus Christ and God’s Word, which we have accepted.
Hebrews 11:1 NIV Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
Saving faith and "the faith" are not just intellectually grasped; they are personally and spiritually received.
1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
Jude 3 says we have to contend for this "saving and true faith".
Jude 1:3 NIV Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people.
To contend means to affirm, profess, assert, so, what we believe really matters.
There are four questions about what you believe that must be answered.
Is your faith really your faith?
Is your faith working?
Is your faith, saving faith and "the faith"
Is your faith Christ centered?
I. Is your faith really “your” faith?
Is your faith yours or your parents’? Is it yours or your friends’? Is it your faith or just a doctrine of the church? Has “the faith” really become yours, or is it like a sign in a bookstore window that reads Secondhand Theology for Sale? We don’t need a second hand theology; we need a first edition! This faith must become ours by personal experience. It is not enough to say, “I know the truth.” We must say, “The truth is mine!”
If we are growing in Christ, the truths of God’s Word become real and enlightened in our minds by the Holy Spirit. I'm sure that each one of us has had an experience where the Holy Spirit has done a work in your heart that caused you to have personal knowledge of Jesus' love for you personally. Mine was many years ago. I believed in Jesus' death burial and resurrection, and I knew that I was saved but I came to know it in a profoundly personal way one day, on the patio of the apartment where I lived. It wasn't with visions or audible voice but I knew in my spirit that Christ died for and saved me and it was personal
It's hard to explain but if you have had that kind of experience, you know what I mean. If you haven't had it pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal it to you and then your faith will without a doubt be your faith.
II. Is your faith working?
What is your faith accomplishing? Does it have power in your life?
A. A real faith will meet your personal needs.
Faith determines how we live, where we stand, and what we do. It provides a foundation that can withstand the storms of life.
Matthew 7:24-27 NIV “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Trust in God and His promises which is what faith is can enable you to stand no matter what comes at you.
Ephesians 6:13-18 NIV Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
B. A real faith will give you something to share. When we truly believe, we witness to him whom we believe,
2 Timothy 1:12 NIV That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
People everywhere need help. People are lost to God, to their families, to the church, and to themselves.
Do you have a word for them?
Yes you do:
John 3:16 NIV For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 1:11-13 NIV He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.
Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.
Do you know how to tell someone to be saved?
Romans 10:8-10, 13 NIV But what does it say? “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Do you know Scripture verses for sharing this truth?
I just gave you some.
Romans 10:17 NIV Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.
Do you have in your mind your own testimony of salvation?
We all have our own testimony. Your faith allows you to share it boldly.
What you believe matters!
III. Is your faith saving faith "the faith"?
The distinction between an opinion and a conviction is that an opinion is something you hold while a conviction is something that holds you. How many convictions do you have? Saving faith "the faith" is composed of convictions.
A. Saving faith "the faith" consists of beliefs that really matter.
What you believe about Jesus Christ and how he relates to salvation, victory, and destiny matters. What you believe about the Bible matters. Do you truly believe that it is God’s Word?
2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Peter 1:20-21 NIV Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
What you believe about the Holy Spirit matters. What you believe about salvation and the church and all of the basic doctrines of the Bible matters.
B. A basic faith is personal. What do you believe?
What do you believe about God, the Trinity, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, witnessing, stewardship, and the many basic truths of the Scriptures?
All these things matter. We've talked about all these things over the past couple of years.
Be strengthened in what you believe. Don't let anything or anyone shake that belief.
Matthew 7:24-25 NIV “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
C. I hope that nobody here is ever in this position but Saving faith "the faith" basic faith is one worth dying for.
Would you die for what you believe? Many have, such as Stephen, Paul, Peter and others long ago, many missionaries and even today in many parts of the world Christians die for what they believe. Most of us will remember the Columbine High School mass shooting years ago, when one of the killers asked
Cassie René Bernall whether or not she believed in God, and she said "Yes", before being shot during the massacre.
Think about it. What do you believe that you would hold at any cost?
What you believe matters.
IV. And finally, your faith is Christ-centered?
The foundation of our faith is Jesus Christ. The disciples stood firm on Jesus’ testimony of who he was. They had the Old Testament, but their walk of faith really started with an encounter with Jesus Christ. They met him and followed him, and he changed their lives!
Matthew 16:15-16 NIV “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
John 20:26-28 NIV A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.” Thomas said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Not only did He change their lives. When He sent the Holy Spirit they were able to turn the world upset down.
Acts 17:6 NIV But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here,
Conclusion
The acid test of genuine saving faith is spiritual maturity, Christ likeness. It is not enough just to be Christian; we are to be Christlike! This is being renewed in our faith.
We all have our individual walks with God that we have to experience. So many of us try so hard to make things automatically sinful for the sake of comfort. We attempt to force our religion on others around us, instead of simply sharing the Gospel. But that's not what we, as Christians, are called to do. We are simply called to love God and love others. Love doesn't cause me to push myself on anyone. Love subtracts from me and adds to the world around me.
Sermon Audio
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