Amor Dee
Text: Romans 1:5
Sermon Structure: Illustrational
Subject: Faith
Theme: True Faith Leads to Obedience
Introduction:
Good morning to all of you… I thank the Lord for this privilege once more wherein I can share to you His word.
If you have your bible with you open it with me in Romans 1:5, it says here, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Let us pray…
In this book (of Romans) Paul that teaches about the total depravity of man. That Man is irrevocably and hopelessly lost. And because of it, man needs the righteousness of God since he has none of his own. And it can only be obtained through faith in Christ Jesus. It is important to take note that this passage was a great document of Christian doctrine, which was addressed to the Church at Rome, and during those times, did not accomplish its purpose. Because the Roman church moved the farthest from the faith which is set forth in the Epistle to the Romans. And at that time many joined the church with a hypocrite heart. They came to church for politics reason and while some were only expectators, doubtful and does not have the “obedience that comes from faith.”
Prop: The phrase, “obedience that comes from faith” clarifies that a true faith leads to obedience.
First…
I - True faith leads to obedience as set forth in the Bible phrase, “Obedience that comes from faith,” is evidenced in the experienced of Abraham of his willingness to follow God’s command.
A. His willingness to leave his hometown and go to the land God has promised for them to inherit.
In Genesis 12:1,4, “The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you… So Abram left, as the Lord had told him...”
In this passage we can see that the faith of Abraham was being tried whether he loved his native soil and dearest friends, and whether he could willingly leave all of this and live in faith and go along with God… And in verse 4 we can find that Abraham obeyed God. Even he doesn’t know where to go! And even he doesn’t know the kind of life that he would be going to experienced! He still obeyed God!!! For he believe that God will provide everything he needed. And that’s the kind of faith that Abraham possesses.
How about to us brethren? What kind of faith does our heart have right now? Brethren, let’s remember that because of Abraham’s faith, he willingly follow God’s command to go to the place where God had told him.
And also…
B. His willingness to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac as the Lord commanded him.
In Genesis 2:9, “Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, Isaac, whom you love, and go to the region of Moriah, sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will tell you about… when they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar… he bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar… then took the knife to slay his son.”
In this passage we can see once again that Abraham really prove his faith on God. Even though he don’t know the reason why God asked Isaac to be offered on the mount of Moriah, but still he obeyed God. And this was happened because of his faith to God. He obeyed because he has faith that God can make miracles after all! He obeyed because he already experienced that God able to meet everything that he needed. Abraham proves to everyone that he has a true faith in God. By what Abraham did, it appeared that he truly possesses faith.
Second…
II - True faith leads to obedience as set forth in the Bible phrase, “Obedience that comes from faith,” is evidenced in the experienced of Noah of his willingness to listen God’s warning.
A. His willingness to build the ark as God commanded him.
In Genesis 6:13,14,22, “So God said to Noah, I am going to put an end to all people… so make yourself an ark… and Noah an end everything just as God commanded him.”
Here is the second example wherein we can see from the life of Noah that faith really produces obedience. If we try to look at the background of this event as God commanded Noah to build an ark. The place where the ark was build was far from the seas or ocean. And during those time the people where suffering for not experiencing rain. And that’s why many people look at Noah as Crazy-building an ark on top of the mountain. But Noah proves his faith toward the people who surround him by obeying what God had commanded to him. May be for us we can say, why God let Noah to build that ark even that He could have secured Noah by the ministration of angels? And without putting him to any care, or pains, or trouble, himself? But in here God chose to employ Noah in making that which was to be the means of his preservation. Henry stated that “both for the trial of his faith and obedience and to teach us that none shall be saved by Christ but those only that work out their salvation.” One author also said, “We cannot do it without God, and he will not without us. Both the providence of God, and the grace of God, own and crown the endeavours of the obedient and diligent. God gave Noah a very particular instructions concerning in building the ark, which could not but be admirably well fitted for the purpose when Infinite Wisdom itself was the architect.”
And the second thing that we see from the life of Noah is…
B. His willingness to persevere till the flood came.
In Genesis 7:6, “Noah was six hundred years old when the flood waters came on the earth.”
The willingness of Noah here in persevering and doing what God had told him till the flood proves that he has faith on God. For me I experienced that waiting for an hour almost made me sometimes feel being discouraged and feel bad. And I can say base on experienced “waiting is a very difficult task”. But in here, we can see that Noah has his persevering spirit. He waited not an hour, not just a day or month, and not a year but a hundred of years... he willingly waited what God had told him.
May be if we are Noah we might ask and murmur to God, for how long do we wait till the flood comes… And may be if we are one of Noah’s neighbors during those days we will also say what they had said and shouted. But even how difficult it is Noah didn’t even have single doubt in obeying the command of God. He waited hundred years… before he experienced what God had promised. He waited hundred years before he sees the great miraculous work of God.
Third…
III - True faith leads to obedience as set forth in the Bible phrase, “Obedience that comes from faith,” is evidenced in the experienced of Paul of his willingness to do the worked God has called him.
A. His willingness to leave his profession and serve God without hesitation.
In Acts 22:3, “I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers.” 26:5,6,7,… I lived as a Pharisee… and now it was because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today.”
In this passage Paul stated that he is not only a Jew but a scholar, who was trained by Gamaliel-the Jewish eminent doctor of the Jewish law. And in here Paul was designed to be himself a teacher not only that, his parent also acquired him to be a Pharisee. And according to traditional history Paul was not only a pupil of Gamaliel but he was above any other, and he became an eminent professor. But Paul leaves his profession and serves God without hesitation.
And the second thing is…
B. His willingness to suffer persecution in proclaiming the message of salvation.
In Acts 14:19,20 “…They stoned Paul and dragged him… thinking he was dead. But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city.” 14:21,” They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples.”
In these passages Paul encountered sufferings in his services or ministry to proclaim the message of salvation. In verse 19 he was stoned and left thinking that he is dead but after the disciples gathered around him, miraculously he got up and went back into the city. And in verse 21 as he preached there he won a large number of disciples.
In here we can see that Paul is willingly to give his life, even to suffer persecution just to proclaim the Gospel, even he was stoned and left almost to death, but he still got up and proclaim the message of salvation. All of this because of his faith to God. And this faith brings him to the obedience of God’s command. The obedience of Paul proves that he possesses the true and genuine faith on God.
Conclusion:
Brothers and sisters in Christ let us remember that upon knowing that the future faith leads to obedience as set fort in the Bible phrase, “Obedience that comes from faith, we should determine to exercise true faith leads to obedience of the will of God.
Brethren, we may do good things and render services for the church without the true faith. We may hide our doubts in the sight of man but not in the sight of God. The word of the Lord reminds church. It is a challenge for us to examine ourselves whether we are in a true faith or not. My friend, unless we are willing to come God’s way and believed Him, we cannot possibly please God.
Abraham, Noah and Paul, were examples of faith. They never doubt rather they fully trust God and with fully obey what the Lord had commanded them, and so to us.
