AM Sermon Outline: 12/25/2022
What is Faith, How’s Yours? (Mar 9:24)
Bro Avery Hines
What is faith? How is Yours?
Don’t you think that is a good question?
Do you think you know what faith is?
What about your faith?
I believe faith is, I want to say feeling, but it is more than that; it is that thing you believe in that drives you to believe everything else about that thing. See, it’s more than a feeling because often it can’t be described, even though it is felt. When you have faith in something, or someone; you’ll sleep out in the rain if they said that’s the way it ought to be. Yes, sleep out in the rain, not under a tarp, not in a tent, but out in the rain, if that’s the way it ought to be. Faith will cause you to read when you hate reading, study when you hate studying, do anything it takes to make sure your election is a calling sure; or so Peter says…
2Pe 1:3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
So, you have faith, but what do you do from there?
2Pe 1:5 And beside this, giving all diligence (conscientiousness), add to your faith virtue (integrity); and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance (restraint); and to temperance patience (tolerance); and to patience godliness (holiness); and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (compassion). 2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. 2Pe 1:10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 2Pe 1:12 Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth. 2Pe 1:13 Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance; knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. 2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance. If you notice Peter starts off with add to your faith; but he doesn’t say what faith is.
Thankfully, the Bible contains a clear definition of faith in Hebrews 11:1: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Simply put, the biblical definition of faith is “trusting in something you cannot explicitly prove.”
Now faith — is the substance of things hoped for — that faith is a confidence that we shall receive the good things for which we hope, and that by it we enjoy, as it were, a present life in anticipation of getting them. It also gives a foundation or ground for our expecting them, because by it we are justified in our hope. The evidence — the conviction, this persuasion, or the validation, created in our mind; of things not seen — (from a spiritual point of view) Of things invisible and eternal, of God and the things of God; giving us an assurance of them in some respects equal to that which our outward senses give us of the things of this visible and temporal world.
This definition of faith contains two aspects: intellectual approval and trust. Intellectual assent is believing something to be true. Trust is actually relying on the fact that the something is true. A chair is often used to help illustrate this, but as we are here today, we’ll use this room. Intellectual approval is recognizing what this room represents and agreeing that it is designed to support that purpose. Trust is believing in the purpose of this room. Understanding these two aspects of faith is crucial. Many people believe certain facts about Jesus Christ. Many people will agree with the facts the Bible declares about Jesus. But knowing those facts to be true is not what the Bible means by “faith.” The biblical definition of faith requires approval of those facts and trust in those facts. Believing that Jesus is God incarnate who died on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins and was resurrected is not enough. You must personally and fully rely on the death of Christ as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. You must “sit in this room” and have faith of the salvation that Jesus Christ has provided. The faith God requires of us for salvation is belief in what the Bible says about who Jesus is and what He accomplished and fully trusting in Jesus for that salvation.
So, how’s your faith?
You have faith, but who or what is it in?
Mar 9:17 And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit; and wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. Mar 9:19 He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me. Mar 9:20 And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming. Mar 9:21 And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him? And he said, Of a child. Mar 9:22 And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. Mar 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. Mar 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
Right there, I believe. They believe, they’ve accepted, they have the knowledge of the Christ, however, they choose to not desire help with their unbelief. Why, we know not, but the father of that child beckoned Jesus to do just that.
On one hand, there is no difference between faith and belief. The two terms are often used interchangeably. The Gospel of John was written so that “you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name”. The Gospel of John does not even use the word faith, although the concept of faith is thoroughly woven into it.
On the other hand, in popular English usage, the word faith often has a deeper meaning. Belief often refers to an intellectual acceptance of facts. If you ask the average person on the street if he believes in Alexander the Great or Abraham Lincoln, he will probably interpret the question to mean, “Do you believe that such a person existed?” Most, no doubt, would answer yes. However, faith, in modern usage, has the added idea of trust and commitment, and we often discover that commitment is way more frightening than trust.
So, even though many people believe that Alexander the Great existed. When he was alive, many had faith in him as well, trusting him to protect them, lead them into battle, and expand the Greek Empire. However, it would be safe to assume that no one alive today is trusting him to do anything for them. They believe that he existed, past tense, so they do not have faith in him. Many people today believe a certain set of facts about God, and in some cases their facts may be completely conventional. However, they never commit themselves, they never trust fully, thus, they do not have faith.
So, how’s your faith?
What do you believe?
You believe in God…
Joh 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
- Mat 3:16 After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
- Mat 17:4 Peter responded and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If You want, I will make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Mat 17:5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice from the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him!”
- 2Pe 1:16 For we did not follow cleverly devised tales when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty. 2Pe 1:17 For when He received honor and glory from God the Father, such a declaration as this was made to Him by the Majestic Glory: “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased”
So, again, how’s your faith?
You believe in God!
We believe in God, and…
Col 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard about it, have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of all perseverance and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. Col 1:13 For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
You believe in God!
You have faith you’re going to heaven!
This is something you need to know…
Joh 14:1 “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
Joh 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you.” Joh 14:3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be.” Joh 14:4 “And you know the way where I am going.” Joh 14:5 Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going; how do we know the way?” Joh 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.”
Lord keep you, and tarry for one week, please resolve this the year you come to Christ. We invite you as we sing this selected song.