Few words in scripture relate to our eternal destiny like the
word: faith. Love, hope, repentance, obedience, confession, all
are interconnected and woven into the principle of this one
expression: faith.
Faith is a central word in the gospels, and in all the New Testament.
In fact Jesus favorite expression to those he healed is: Your
faith has healed you... to those he offered forgiveness to, Your
faith has saved you... to the disciples in times of crisis, O you
of little faith, to the disciples about miraculous powers, If
you had faith the size of a grain of mustard seed you could say
to this tree, be uprooted and cast into the sea and it would obey
you... to a centurion who trusted that Jesus could merely say the
word and his servant would be healed, I have not found such great
faith in all Israel... to a woman who refused to stop begging for
her child’s healing even after being insulted, Woman you have
great faith, may it be done as you believed...
Faith is so central to the gospel message. So what is faith?
Because it is spiritual, faith is a work of God. It is produced
by God in those who hear The word of Christ with the right
attitude.
Faith is more than belief. It is more than obedience. Faith is
substance. Faith is evidence. Faith is like a plant that grows
up in those who’s hearts are honest after the seed of the Word
has been sown in them.
So central to our salvation is this, that when Paul describes how
the righteousness from God comes to us, he says in Romans 1:17
As we look at faith today and how God’s righteousness comes to us
by faith, we will notice several steps that are involved in this
saving faith.
First we are awakened to the reality of God. God is. And God is
the source of everything else that is. Faith accepts this as
true. Not only do we accept the reality of God but we recognize
his power and authority and nature of holiness. So far so good.
We are here and everything else is here because God created and
sustains us.
But then we learn that although God is holy, we are not. God is
absolutely good. We aren’t. In fact we are enemies of God
nature. We are powerless and hopeless with out him. We have
offended him and we are deserving of his condemnation. One man
sinned and it has spread to us all.
Faith agrees with God on this. Unbelief denies that we are
really that bad. Faith accepts the truth of sin and the
consequences that God says they deserve. Unbelief resists the
word of God on this and rejects the condemnation of God.
This is where many people reject God and seek to establish their
own righteousness. I mean sure I’ve done a few things I’m not
proud of, but basically I’m a good person. God says that
basically you are not a good person and in fact you are fatally
flawed because of sin.
Here we see a sharp contrast drawn between us an God. We like to
think of ourselves as a lot more like God is that we really are.
The truth of the gospel attacks our pride and our self
centeredness. We like to think in terms of what we can
accomplish and God says, all our righteousness is as filthy rags.
Sin blinds us into thinking that it is not really that serious.
In fact sin makes us believe that the problem isn’t really ours
it’s God’s!
We end up pointing an accusing finger at the one who exposes our
problem.
Remember Adam in the Garden? God asks a couple of questions and
Adam starts pointing the finger of blame. He says, The woman you
gave me!! It’s not my fault its her fault and your fault.
Rejecting our condition of sin, or making light of it is
basically rejecting God. Faith on the other hand agrees with God
and accepts the conviction of sin as seriously as God says it is.
Romans 3:9-18
Third, Faith accepts that we are powerless with out God. We
can’t help ourselves.
Like the song: With out him...
Accepting our condition is the beginning of our healing.
AA. Step 1: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our
lives had become unmanageable.
Jesus in Jn 8:31-36
Faith embraces the truth of our condition and accepts that we can
not redeem ourselves.
Unbelief tries to make things right with God. Like the child who
wants to tie his own shoes. Me do it self!
Fourth, faith accepts God’s answer to the problem.
NOt law, not righteousness that we do. We simply embrace what
God has done for us in Jesus Christ. Gal. 3:22-29 describe this
beautifully!
What is this faith that has come? It centers on the historical
reality and the spiritual accomplishment of Jesus death on the
cross! It is not something we have done. It is something He has
done!
All that we do is receive it from him.
What then is the obedience that comes from faith?
Repentance is faith in God’s judgment against sin.
Confession is faith in the Lordship of Jesus as God’s Son.
Baptism is faith in Jesus death, burial and resurrection as
accomplishing our salvation.
Walking in the light is faith in God’s revealed will and
cooperation with the indwelling Spirit of Christ.
