Follow, Believe And Obey; Real Evangelism Part 2
John 16-17
Intro: 2 Weeks Ago We Started A Series On What It Means To Share Your Faith With Other People. Share
Follow – Believe – Obey
This Morning I Want To Show You Some Things About The Second Step, Believe. First We Need To Understand What This Word Means And How It Is Used In The English Translations Of The New Testament. In The English Language The Same Word Often Has Several Meanings, For Example;
Gay = Happy, Joyful Homosexual
Dance = Go To One Or Do It
Test = Take One Or Experience One
Belief = “To Accept As True”, Only Definition
However In The Greek Language What We Translate In English As One Word, In Greek Has Different Meanings
Pist-Yoo-O = To Have Faith In, Upon Or In Respect
To A Person Or Thing. To Put Trust In
Root Word For Pist-Yoo-O
Pith-O = To Agree, Assure Or To Be Persuaded
Do You See Any Difference? One Says
“I Have Faith In Or Put Trust In”
The Other Says
“I Agree, Am Persuaded, Am Assured”
As We Talk About Belief This Morning It Is Eternally Important To Keep These Differences In Mind So We Don’t Get Confused.
Jesus Never Said “For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Son So That Whosoever Agrees With, Is Persuaded By And Assured, In Him Shall Not Perish But Shall Have Eternal Life.”
He Did Say “For God So Loved The World That He Gave His Only Begotten Son So That Whosoever Places Their Faith And Trust In Him Shall Not Perish But Have Eternal Life”
Do You See The Difference?
Remember That There Were Four Kinds Of Followers Of Jesus; The Emotional Follower, Needy Follower, Religious Follower And The True Follower. These Same Four Types Are Found When We Study Belief. Lets Begin With The …
I. Emotional Believers - John 2:23-24 (Agree Or Faith?)
A. This Belief Is Based On Feelings Not Faith.
Why Did They Believe? They Saw…
Ill: Youth Camp Wed. Cry Night Many “Get Saved”
People Who Are Emotional Believers Agree About Jesus And Find Some Comfort In Him. Would Say “I Am A Christian” But Most Likely They Are Not. Their Belief Is Flawed It’s Not True Faith. The Hope They Have Is That They Are Still Following Jesus But They Don’t Have True Faith. Danger Of Missing Salvation Is Great.
II. Needy Believers – John 6:14-15 (Assured Or Faith?)
Belief Is Based On A Need Being Met.
A. The Were Hungry, Jesus Fed Them
B. They Want A King, Jesus Is Who They Want
People Who Are Needy Believers Become “Consumer Christians.” For Them Christianity Is All About “What Is In It For Me.” They Would Claim To Be Christians But They Most Likely Are Not. The Hope They Have Is That They Are Still Following Jesus But They Don’t Have True Faith. Danger Of Missing Salvation Is Great.
III. Religious Believers - James 2:14-19 (Persuaded Or Faith)
This Belief Is Greatest Danger Facing People Today
National Internet Survey
What Is The Key To Getting Into Heaven?
-- Living A Good Life 63.1%
-- Having Connections To Someone At The Top 29.2%
-- Helping Old Ladies Cross The Street 2.6%
-- Slipping St. Peter $20 1.9%
-- Having A Strong Letter Of Reference 1.6%
-- Making A Deal With The Devil 1.1%
-- Telling A Really Good Lie 0.6%
Total Votes: 27915
Are You Going To Heaven?
-- Yes 90.1%
-- No 9.9%
Total Votes: 33144
90.1% Believe They Are Going To Heaven
71% Believe Jesus Is Not Needed!
These People Have Been Persuaded By Religion To Believe A Lie! All That Is Needed Is Say A Prayer, Walk An Aisle.
A. The Standard Of God Is Higher V19 Faith Req.
Faith Requires Action - Belief Does Not
Ill: Propose Marriage
Difference Is Eternal –
Faith Is Life
Belief Is Death
B. Can Belief Save A Person? V14
No! V17 Faith Without Action Is Dead, It Is Just Belief, You Have Agreed With Been Assured Of And Persuaded That God Loves
You. But It Is Not Faith That Says I Place My Full Trust In Jesus Christ To Forgive Me Of My
Sins, Fill Me With His Power And Change Me To
Live Like He Does.
Lk 13:22-28 - Mt. 7:13-14 - Mt. 7:21-23 Mt 25:41-46
C. Works Proves Faith – V18
Faith Results In Obedience–Action Is Evidence
1. Show Me Your Belief W/O Works–Many
Believe, But No Change, Works, Service
Ill: Works And Service In Christ Are Not
Required To Be Saved, Only True Faith Is. But Works And Service In Christ Are The
Result Of Being Saved. Only True Faith
Brings These About. “Old Things Have
Passed Away.”
D. Belief Is No Closer To Faith Than What The Devil
Has. V19
Religious Believers Are So Close To God They Can’t See Him. They Have Convinced Themselves That Playing Church Is Enough. The Hope They Have Is That They Are Still Following Jesus But They Don’t Have True Faith. Danger Of Missing Salvation Is Great.
IV. True Believers John 16:29-31 (Faith?) Finally Jesus Says “You Finally Have Faith.” How Did They Find This Faith? John 17:7-8 They Followed Jesus And Then…
A. They Accepted The Word Of Jesus (Gen 1:1)
B. The Knew With Certainty Who Jesus Was
Ill: Doesn’t Mean Doubt Never Comes
C. They Believed By Faith That God Sent Jesus
John 3:16-18
True Believers Are The Ones Who God Uses Because They Obey. Not All Are True Believers, But All Can Be.
What About You This Day? Do You Believe? Why?
I Feel Good About Church - Emotional
I Have A Need In My Life Met - Needy
I Attend Church But I Am Not Interested In Doing
Anything Else. – Religious
I Say To Each Of You Today To Keep Following Jesus. Open Your Heart To Him Fully, Do Not Let Yourself Be Tricked Into Thinking That Agreement, Assurance And Persuasion About Jesus Is All That Is Needed To Be Saved.
Come To Him This Day Fully And Completely By Faith, Trusting Him To Forgive You And Deliver You From Your Sin. Let Your Belief Become Faith.
Jesus, Forgive Me For Only Believing And Not Having Faith. I Come To You Now By Faith And Trust And I Know, With Certainty That;
Jesus Is God And I Am A Sinner
Jesus Came As A Man And Truly Lived A Sinless Life
He Died To Pay The Penalty For My Sin
He Rose From The Dead On The 3rd Day And Is Alive At
This Moment.
He Is Coming Back Soon And I Want To Be Ready
Jesus I Give My Life Fully To You By Faith, For There Is No Other Way. Save Me And Forgive Me This Day
And Create In My Life A Faith That Is True And Strong.
Christian – Follow – Believe – Obey. We Have Work To Do.
Come Follow Jesus With Me, I Will Show Him To You
Let Me Verbally Share With You What Faith Is – Belief
Do You Know How? Are You Willing? Will You Get Ready?
