The Significance of Being A Christian - Living By Faith

"THE SIGNIFICANCE OF BEING A CHRISTIAN“

Lesson #3Living By FaithLiving By Faith

INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION

An important aspect of being a Christian involves the element of

“faith““faith“ ...The gospel to which a person

responds in becoming a Christian is called "the faith."

INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION

Jude 1:3 NET Dear friends, although I have been eager to write to you about

our common salvation, I now feel compelled instead to write to

encourage you to contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all

entrusted to the saints.

Those who obeyed the gospel have been "faithful to the Lord"

Acts 16:15 LONT And when she was immersed, with her family, she entreated us, saying, If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, enter into my house,

and continue there. And she compelled us.

Colossians 1:2 NET to the saints, the faithful brothers and sisters in

Christ, at Colossae. Grace and peace to you from God our

Father!

Christians are referred to as "the family of faith"

Galatians 6:10 NET So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who

belong to the family of faith.

Indeed, “Faith"“Faith" is the underlying principle of all the Christian's

conduct.

It is fundamental to our salvation in Christ.

Romans 1:16 NET For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is

God's power for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew

first and also to the Greek.

17 For the righteousness of God is revealed in the gospel from faith to faith, just as it is written, "The righteous by faith will live."

It is central to the life we now live in Christ.

Galatians 2:20 NET I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives

in me.

So the life I now live in the body, I live because of the faithfulness of

the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

2 Corinthians 5:7 NET for we live by faith, not by sight.

Yet the nature of faith and its importance in the life of Christian...

Are often misunderstoodAre often neglected

"Living By Faith"!"Living By Faith"!

As we continue to examine "The Significance Of Being A

Christian", we therefore wish to emphasize that it means

"Living By Faith"!"Living By Faith"!

THE MEANING OF FAITHTHE MEANING OF FAITH

What that entails may be clearer as we first define...

INVOLVES THE IDEA OF BELIEF...

The certainty or conviction that one has in some truth or proposition.

Believing in things concerning Jesus and His kingdom.

Acts 8:12 NET But when they believed Philip as he was proclaiming the good news about the kingdom of

God and the name of Jesus Christ, they began to be baptized,

both men and women.

Such faith, or conviction, comes from the Word of God.

Romans 10:17 NET Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and

what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

John 20:30 NET Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this

31 But these are recorded so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in

his name.

IDEA OF CONFIDENCEIDEA OF CONFIDENCE

INVOLVES THE IDEA OF CONFIDENCEIDEA OF CONFIDENCE

The willingness to place one's trust and reliance on someone else.

Placing our trust in God, that He is reliable.

Romans 4:3 NET For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was

credited to him as righteousness."

Romans 4:20 NET He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God

but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.

21 He was fully convinced that what God promised he was also able to do. 22 So indeed it was credited to

Abraham as righteousness.

We are to have similar trust in God.

1 Peter 4:19 NET So then let those who suffer according to the will of God

entrust their souls to a faithful Creator as they do good.

IDEA OF FIDELITYIDEA OF FIDELITY

INVOLVES THE IDEA OF FIDELITYIDEA OF FIDELITY

That one is loyal, committed, and can be trusted.

A faithful steward is one who is reliable.

1 Corinthians 4:2 NET Now what is sought in stewards is that one be

found faithful.Our faithfulness (commitment,

trustworthiness) is to last even to the point of death.

Revelation 2:10 NET Do not be afraid of the things you are about to suffer. The devil is about to have some of you thrown into prison so you may

be tested,

and you will experience suffering for ten days. Remain faithful even

to the point of death, and I will give you the crown that is life

itself.

Revelation 2:13 NET 'I know where you live — where Satan's throne is. Yet you

continue to cling to my name and you have not denied your faith in me, even

in the days of Antipas, my faithful witness, who was killed in your city

where Satan lives

A faithful Christian, then, is one who believes in the Word of God, he has confidence in the Person of God, and is himself loyal and

trustworthy in the service of God.

THE LIFE OF FAITHTHE LIFE OF FAITH

Now let's take a look at what can be said about...

THE LIFE OF FAITHTHE LIFE OF FAITH

CONFESSING OUR FAITHCONFESSING OUR FAITH

INVOLVES CONFESSING OUR CONFESSING OUR FAITHFAITH...

I.e., acknowledging our belief in Jesus Christ before others. Something we must do as a

condition of salvation.

Romans 10:9 NET because if you confess with your mouth that

Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the

dead, you will be saved.

10 For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and

with the mouth one confesses and thus has salvation.

Something we do throughout our lives.

Matthew 10:32 NET "Whoever, then, acknowledges me before people, I will

acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever denies me before people, I will deny him also

before my Father in heaven.

1 John 4:15 NET If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God

resides in him and he in God.The life of faith is never ashamed to

admit that one believes in Jesus Christ.

LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH

INVOLVES LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH

I.e., conducting one's life with trust in Jesus Christ.

Galatians 2:20 NET I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who

live, but Christ lives in me. So the life I now live in the body, I live because of

the faithfulness of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Trusting in the works of Jesus, not our own; that His death was truly for our sins. 1 Corinthians 15:1 NET Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and

sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on which

you stand,

2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you — unless you

believed in vain. 3 For I passed on to you as of first importance what I also received — that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures,

Titus 3:5 NET he saved us not by works of righteousness that we

have done but on the basis of his mercy, through the washing of the new birth and the renewing of the

Holy Spirit,

6 whom he poured out on us in full measure through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 And so, since we have been justified by his grace, we

become heirs with the confident expectation of eternal life."

Trusting in the words of Jesus, and living accordingly. Matthew 6:33 NET But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these

things will be given to you as well.

34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough

trouble of its own.

Luke 6:46 NET "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and don't do what I

tell you? 47 "Everyone who comes to me and listens to my words and

puts them into practice — I will show you what he is like:

48 He is like a man building a house, who dug down deep, and laid the

foundation on bedrock. When a flood came, the river burst against that

house but could not shake it, because it had been well built.

BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH

The life of faith is one that seeks to live in harmony with

the teaching of Jesus.INVOLVES

I.e., enjoying the blessings that come from a life of faith.

Such as joy and peace, hope and power.

Romans 15:13 NET Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in him, so that you may abound in hope by the power

of the Holy Spirit.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we can receive such blessings.

Ephesians 3:12 NET in whom we have boldness and confident access to

God because of Christ's faithfulness.

Philippians 4:6 NET Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every

situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your

requests to God.

7 And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in

Christ Jesus. 4:13 I am able to do all things through the one who

strengthens me.

The life of faith does not go unrewarded in this life, even

though its primary concern is the life to come.

MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH

INVOLVES MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH

I.e., remaining steadfast in the faith we have in Christ.

There is a need to stand fast, for faith can turn into unbelief.

1 Corinthians 15:1 NET Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and

sisters, the gospel that I preached to you, that you received and on

which you stand,

2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you — unless you believed in vain.

Hebrews 3:12 NET See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has an evil, unbelieving heart that forsakes the

living God. 13 But exhort one another each day, as long as it is called

"Today," that none of you may become hardened by sin's deception.

14 For we have become partners with Christ, if in fact we hold our initial

confidence firm until the end. 15 As it says, "Oh, that today you would

listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion."

16 For which ones heard and rebelled? Was it not all who came

out of Egypt under Moses' leadership? 17 And against whom was God provoked for forty years?

Was it not those who sinned, whose dead bodies fell in the

wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear they would never enter into his rest, except those who

were disobedient?

19 So we see that they could not enter because of unbelief.

4:1 Therefore we must be wary that, while the promise of entering his rest remains open, none of you may seem

to have come short of it.

2 For we had good news proclaimed to us just as they did. But the message they heard did them no good, since they did

not join in with those who heard it in faith. 4:11 Thus we must make every effort to

enter that rest, so that no one may fall by following the same pattern of

disobedience.

To maintain faith, we must add to it other things such as virtue,

knowledge, self-control, etc. 2 Peter 1:5

NET For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith excellence, to

excellence, knowledge;

6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to

perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to

brotherly affection, unselfish love.

8 For if these things are really yours and are continually increasing,

they will keep you from becoming ineffective and unproductive in

your pursuit of knowing our Lord Jesus Christ more intimately.

9 But concerning the one who lacks such things — he is blind. That is to say, he is nearsighted, since he has forgotten about the cleansing of his

past sins. 10 Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to be sure of

your calling and election.

For by doing this you will never stumble into sin. 11 For thus an

entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior, Jesus

Christ, will be richly provided for you.

2 Peter 3:17 NET Therefore, dear friends, since you have been forewarned, be on your guard that you do not get led

astray by the error of these unprincipled men and fall from your

firm grasp on the truth.

18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the honor both now and on that eternal day.

CONCLUSION CONCLUSION

A Christian is one who should take his faith very seriously...

It is essential to salvation (both being saved and remaining saved)

It is essential to life (to receive blessings now, and in the life to come)

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Are you ““Living By Faith"?Living By Faith"?

Do you believe what has been revealed about Jesus Christ?

Do you have confidence in Him, that He can deliver on what He

promises?Are you a trustworthy disciple of Jesus, someone He can count on

to be faithful?

Unless we can answer in the affirmative to such questions, we have yet to appreciate that "The

Significance Of Being A Christian" includes ““Living By Faith"!Living By Faith"!

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