Much emphasis is given to the need for one to make the decision to accept Christ as both Savior and Lord. Behind such a decision is the necessity of faith – a loving belief and trust in the Lord. This belief and trust, this faith, includes confessing Christ as Lord and repenting of one's sin. This faith includes making the decision to be immersed into Christ as taught in the Bible for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of His Holy Spirit. This faith must not be considered a decision one makes one time and then is finished or no longer a vital part of one's life. Faith is not something that is of importance only in our coming to Christ, our being born again in Christ. Faith is something that permeates our life. We continue to grow in Christ through faith and in faith. Our decisions in life are based upon this faith as we decide to live by faith in Christ.
Paul wrote of this faith in the letter to the Romans as he quoted from the Old Testament book of Habakkuk 2:4.
Romans 1:16
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, "BUT THE RIGHTEOUS man SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
NASU
In Galatians, Paul made it personal as he reflected on his own life.
Galatians 2:20
20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me."
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Later in Galatians Paul again reflects this important truth from Habakkuk.
Galatians 3:11
11 Now that no one is justified by the Law before God is evident; for, "THE RIGHTEOUS MAN SHALL LIVE BY FAITH."
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Those who live by faith make decisions in their life that is based upon their firm conviction of faith in Christ. This morning as we continue in our study of Luke we come to Luke 17. In this passage of Scripture we are going to focus on the importance of making decisions based upon faith in Christ.
Luke 17:1-10
1 He said to His disciples, "It is inevitable that stumbling blocks come, but woe to him through whom they come!
2 "It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were thrown into the sea, than that he would cause one of these little ones to stumble.
3 "Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.
4 "And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' forgive him."
5 The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"
6 And the Lord said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you.
7 "Which of you, having a slave plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come immediately and sit down to eat'?
8 "But will he not say to him, 'Prepare something for me to eat, and properly clothe yourself and serve me while I eat and drink; and afterward you may eat and drink'?
9 "He does not thank the slave because he did the things which were commanded, does he?
10 "So you too, when you do all the things which are commanded you, say, 'We are unworthy slaves; we have done only that which we ought to have done.'"
NASU
I. Decide to Be a Good Example to Others
I have taken a bit of liberty with verse one. In that verse Jesus clearly tells followers of Christ what NOT to do. Do not do anything that would cause another follower (whether a young Christian or one new in the faith) to stumble. That is do not be an instrument that leads another to turn from faith in Christ. What are some ways that can be done? Let's think about it with those who are young, those still living at home. This is a very serious admonition to parents and to grandparents. Those children look up to these in the family for direction. What kind of direction are they getting from the parents and grandparents? Not only in word, but also and perhaps even more important, in deed. Now, rather than making a list of those things that will have a detrimental effect upon those "little ones," let us consider some ways to be a good example, a strong example to help those "little ones" grow in faith. Loving actions. Forgiveness. Faithful service in Christ. Faithful worship. Faithful stewardship. Prayer. Study of God's word. It is doubtful that those "little ones" will come up to such faithful parents and/or grandparents and say, "Your examples of faith are awesome!" But your examples of faith will reap lasting results.
This is not limited to families alone. We all are living examples to others. Each of us are to be examples to others, especially to those who are young in the faith. How serious is this? Jesus said it is VERY SERIOUS – read verse two!
II. Decide to Forgive
Forgiveness is a very real expression of our faith in Christ. Forgiving others is a decision, not always an easy decision. Forgiveness is based more on our will than it is on our emotion. We may not feel like forgiving someone, but we are to forgive – even when we do not feel like it! Others will sin against us. How are we to respond? Jesus said we are to rebuke a fellow Christian when he or she sins. This is not to take a better-than-thou attitude toward another. We should remember that we too sin. Nor does it mean that we should appoint ourselves to be critically examining everyone else's life looking for some fault we can point out to them. But when we are aware of someone in Christ, especially someone close to us, who is straying from the Lord it is our duty to do what we can to lead that person back to Christ. James puts it like this . . .
James 5:19-20
19 My brethren, if any among you strays from the truth and one turns him back,
20 let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
NASU
As difficult as it is, we must also be forgiving in Christ. Forgiveness is often very difficult. Remember forgiveness is not equal to approval of sinful choices. Does forgiving others and faith in Christ have anything in common?
Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount . . .
Matthew 6:14-15
14 "For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
15 "But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.
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In Ephesians are these inspired words of Scripture . . .
Ephesians 4:32
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
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III. Decide to Serve Faithfully
Following Christ brings many serious responsibilities. We know Christ Jesus not only as our Savior who has made it possible for our sins to be forgiven and brings us salvation. He is also our Lord, which means He is our MASTER. We are His slaves. We are to faithfully serve Him and follow His will. Jesus pointed out very clearly that even when we do what He commands us to do we are only doing what we should do and therefore deserve no special reward for such actions. Our relationship to Him is not built upon our good deeds. Our good deeds are evidence of our relationship with Him. Read James 2 and you will see that James puts a link between faith and works. While we are not saved by works, James points out quite clearly that true faith is accompanied by good works. Biblical faith is a faith that works.
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
NASU
We certainly have not even touched upon all the decisions that come from Christian faith, but we have seen in this passage from Luke that
• We are go decide to live in such a way that we are GOOD EXAMPLES to others and not a cause for others to stumble in Christ.
• We are to decide to FORGIVE OTHERS even as we have been forgiven in Christ.
• We are to decide to SERVE CHRIST faithfully.
[Prayer]
