Continue In My Faith

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you continue in your faith?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to live by faith, a lifestyle of faith.

IV. TEXT:

Colossians 1:23 (Amplified Bible)

[And this He will do] provided that you continue to stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast, not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by] the glad tidings (the Gospel), which you heard and which has been preached [as being designed for and offered without restrictions] to every person under heaven, and of which [Gospel] I, Paul, became a minister.

V. THESIS:

We need to live by faith, a lifestyle of faith.

VI. TITLE:

Continue in my faith

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: Between 60 to 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: To exhort and edify believers

D. To whom written: Church in Colosse, a city of Asia Minor

E. Main themes: Church, as body of CHRIST. CHRIST as Head of the Church. Warnings against trusting worldly wisdom

F. Keywords: CHRIST - the Head of all

Colossians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

G. Key verses:

Colossians 2:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. Established and firm

"[And this He will do] provided that you continue to stay with and in the faith [in Christ], well-grounded and settled and steadfast,"

Romans 16:25 (Amplified Bible)

Now to Him Who is able to strengthen you in the faith which is in accordance with my Gospel and the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ (the Messiah), according to the revelation (the unveiling) of the mystery of the plan of redemption which was kept in silence and secret for long ages,

Isaiah 42:4 (Amplified Bible)

He will not fail or become weak or be crushed and discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the islands and coastal regions shall wait hopefully for Him and expect His direction and law.

Colossians 2:5 (Amplified Bible)

For though I am away from you in body, yet I am with you in spirit, delighted at the sight of your [standing shoulder to shoulder in such] orderly array and the firmness and the solid front and steadfastness of your faith in Christ [that leaning of the entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness].

Colossians 4:12 (Amplified Bible)

Epaphras, who is one of yourselves, a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. [He is] always striving for you earnestly in his prayers, [pleading] that you may [as persons of ripe character and clear conviction] stand firm and mature [in spiritual growth], convinced and fully assured in everything willed by God.

GOD made us established and firm in our faith, focus on His finished work for us, not on ourselves, not on our abilities.

B. Not moved from the Hope

"not shifting or moving away from the hope [which rests on and is inspired by]"

Romans 4:18 (Amplified Bible)

[For Abraham, human reason for] hope being gone, hoped in faith that he should become the father of many nations, as he had been promised, So [numberless] shall your descendants be.

Against all hope: there's nothing else to hope for, it's against all odds, better than that, against all hope, even hope got tired of them: Abraham 100 years old at this time, and his wife, Sarai, barren old woman. But Abraham believed by faith not by hope. We live by faith not by hope (positive thinking).

Romans 4:18 (New International Version)

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, "So shall your offspring be."

1 Peter 3:15 (Amplified Bible)

But in your hearts set Christ apart as holy [and acknowledge Him] as Lord. Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you, but do it courteously and respectfully.

1 John 3:3 (Amplified Bible)

And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste, undefiled, guiltless).