What is faith? The question is one that few can answer and even fewer have a good grasp on. Faith is seems as some sort of mystical, magical kind of thing or it is seen as something like pixie dust in Ptere Pan. Faith is not some pipe dream or fairy tale thinking. Faith is the ability to take God on His Word, trust His promises and to be certain of things we cannot yet see.
Faith is not belief without proof but trust without reservation – Unknown
We see faith running through the pages of scripture as a testament to what God can do through the lives of His people. Faith has the power to tap the resources of God and make a difference in daily living. Almost always faith is linked to a person or an event. Thinking through the New Testament we see time after time, faith changes the lives of people. Let me give you a few examples:
Nicodemus was changed by faith from the teacher of Israel to a follower of Jesus
Four friends showed their faith and saw Jesus heal their friend
A Roman Centurion placed his trust in Jesus and found the miraculous
A woman with a hopeless case put her faith in Jesus and found hope again
A woman living with shame and guilt encountered Jesus at a well and found faith moves us to go
Faith has the power to change lives. Faith has the power to bridge the distance between God and humanity to see His hand move. Faith has the ability to see the impossible become a reality. Faith is the foundation of following Christ. This morning we are starting a new series of messages on the subject of faith. We are going to examine the reality of faith through the lives of people and see how they are changed.
If you have your Bibles, please open them to John 3
1 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, "Rabbi, we know you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the miraculous signs you are doing if God were not with him." 3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. " 4 "How can a man be born when he is old?" Nicodemus asked. "Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!" 5 Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, `You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." 9 "How can this be?" Nicodemus asked. 10 "You are Israel’s teacher," said Jesus, "and do you not understand these things? 11 I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen, but still you people do not accept our testimony. 12 I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? 13 No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven--the Son of Man. 14 Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life. 16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
The Purpose of Faith is Clarity
People deal with an incredible amount of confusion. It was true in the days of Jesus and it still rings true today. People are confused about Jesus Himself. There is confusion about who Jesus is, what Jesus can do and why people follow Him today. Sadly, much of the confusion is never addressed and people live in a state of confusion.
Misinformation
Knowing about Christ is all a person needs
Jesus was a good man or a great prophet but not God
Jesus never died and thus never was raised from the dead
Misconceptions
Christianity is one of many ways to God
All churches are part of Christianity
Salvation must be earned and people must be worthy
Misunderstanding
Heaven is the place where everyone goes after they die
Hell does not exist because God would never send anyone to Hell
Belief in Jesus is not necessary to be Christian
Jesus brings clarity to those who are walking in confusion. The reason that Nicodemus seeks Jesus so long ago is to find clarity. The people of Israel were confused, many were following Jesus and clearly He was sent by God. Many saw Jesus as a threat to the Jewish faith and embraced their tradition instead of their faith. Nicodemus was one of the rare individuals who sought out Jesus and embraced belief.
The Priority of faith is a fresh start
Jesus makes it clear to Nicodemus from the beginning of their conversation that new birth is a necessity to enter the Kingdom of God. New birth is not just a way into the Kingdom, it’s the only way into the Kingdom. The promise of Jesus is a fresh start with God and an opportunity to live a new life.
Jesus understands that every person has the same need. We all are in need of forgiveness from God. You and I have fallen short of the God’s purpose and plan. We all have done things we know are wrong, we all have sinned against God and broken His standard. Faith is accessing the promise of Christ and gaining forgiveness. God promises to all who place their faith in Jesus that they will be forgiven, gain a place in heaven and be given a fresh start with a new life.
New birth is about gaining a new life. New birth is about being forgiven of the past and moving forward into the future. New birth is finding our deepest needs met by God. New birth is a fresh start with God and a fresh start with life.
The Potential of faith is renewal
The potential of faith is finding renewal and being restored by the power of the Holy Spirit. Faith opens the door to spiritual cleansing and the removal of the effects of sin. When we are renewed, we are cleansed from the inside out. Renewal removes the power sting of sin.
Jesus tells Nicodemus that there is a need for spiritual birth. I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. There is a lot of debate about what this verse means and what Jesus is saying here. Taking the verse at face value with the remaining context, it would seem that Jesus is using a symbol and a source to describe spiritual renewal.
Water: Jewish ritual cleansing always used water. It would have been a familiar thing to Nicodemus. The moment that Jesus brings up water the understanding would have been about being clean.
Spirit: The work of the Spirit is the method of God’s cleansing. The source of spiritual cleansing is the Holy Spirit. It is His work to wash our lives of the stain of sin.
The Power of faith is eternal life
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life John 3:16
God loves you
God loves us more than our ability to comprehend. There is no way to put it into words, the sheer depth of God’s love for the world. God’s love is beyond measure, beyond time and beyond human perception.
God gave Jesus
God understood our need for a fresh start. God saw our need for spiritual renewal. God sent Jesus to bridge the gap between heaven and humanity. Jesus came to open the door for salvation. Jesus came to break the chain of sin and bring us back to a relationship with God.
God wants you to believe
Faith is a matter of trust. God wants us to trust Him and place our lives in His hands.
God desires to let you into eternity
Now, if you wish to take Christ into your life just lift up your hand. Repeat this simple prayer after me: Dear Father, I admit the fact that I have sinned and fallen short of the plan that you have for my life. I believe that you sent your Son, Jesus, to die in my place and that you raised Him to new life on the third day. I believe that He still lives with you and will live to be my Lord. I commit my life to Jesus, I ask Him to be my Lord and I pledge to follow Him to the best of my ability. AMEN
