A CHRISTIAN’S FAITHFULNESS

  1. INTRODUCTION:

    1. GREEK WORD (PISTIS) : "Primarily, firm persuasion, a conviction based upon hearing…" (VINE’S EXPOSITORY DICTIONARY OF NEW TESTAMENT WORDS, PAGE 411) Romans 10:17 = "So then faith cometh by hearing, and be the word of God."

    2. FAITH IS USED IN THE NEW TESTAMENT:
      1. To show trustful obedience to the Lord and His Word upon the hearing of it. (Rom. 10:17)
      2. To show an individual’s fidelity and loyalty to a caring and loving God. (John 3:16)
        1. FIDELTY = A careful observance of duty and an exact carrying out of all that is required.
        2. LOYALTY = A close steadfast obedience even in the presence of temptation and pressure to cease from service.
      3. To show an individual’s steadfastness to God in face of temptations and trials.
        1. "…Faithful unto death" (Revelation 2:10).
        2. "…He that endureth to the end shall be saved" (Matthew 10:22).

    3. NOTICE WITH ME HOW FAITH SHOULD MANIFEST ITSELF IN THE LIFE OF A CHRISTIAN.

  2. DISCUSSION:

    1. A FIRM CONVICTION OF GOD AND IN HIS REVELATION OF TRUTH.
      1. What is meant by conviction and revelation of truth?
        1. Conviction = A strong persuasion of belief in God.
        2. Revelation of God = That what is revealed is from God.
          1. That the: "…Word was with God, and the Word was God" = John 1:1.
          2. That "the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, …" = John 1:14.
          3. That Word which was latter written by the inspiration of God and under the direction of the Holy Ghost.
            1. II Timothy 3:16-17 = "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."
            2. II Peter 1:21 = "For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the holy Ghost."
      2. That God loved us . John 3:16 = "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
      3. That His Son died for us paying the redemptive price of salvation with His blood. I Peter 1:18-19 = "Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your father; but with the precious blood of Christ, as a of a lamb without blemish and without spot."
      4. That this Word of God is "…The gospel of Christ: …the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; …" = Romans 1:16.
      5. That Jesus came to bring light to a world of darkness and that the light was the light of His life manifest by the Word. John 12:46-50 = "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness. And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak. And I know that his commandment is life everlasting: whatsoever I speak therefore, even as the Father said unto me, so I speak."
      6. Which was summed up by Paul in I Corinthians 15:3-4 = "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures."

    2. A PERSONAL SURRENDERED LIFE UNTO THE LORD. John 1:12-13 = "But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."
      1. Paul stated this surrendered life well in Galatians 2:20 = "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 gave himself for me."
      2. The life that we live should be a living sacrifice of obedience to our Lord and in no way conformed to this world. Romans 12:1-2= "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

    3. A LIFE OF SURRENDERED CONDUCT BEFORE THE WORLD:

      4. II Corinthians 5:6-10 = "Therefore we are always confident, knowing, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (for we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad."

      1. Letting our light of Christian service and obedience shine forth before others. Matthew 5:16 = "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
      2. A life of doing that which the revealed Word from God has provided "that he man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works" (II Timothy 3:16-17).
      3. John wrote in III John 3-5 = "For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;"
      4. James writes:
        1. (James 1:21-25) = "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: for he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."
        2. (James 2:17 & James 2:20) = "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. … But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

  3. CONCLUSION:

    1. IS THERE A FIRM CONVICTION THAT THE BIBLE IS GOD’S INSPIRED WORD?

    2. HAVE YOU SURRENDERED YOUR LIFE UNTO THE LORD FOR DIRECTION AND SERVICE?

    3. IS THE CONDUCT OF YOUR LIFE MANIFESTING VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF SERVICE TO GOD?

 

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