God is Faithful God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 to be trusted, reliable”

God is God is FaithfulFaithful

God is faithfulGod is faithful, through whom you were , through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:91 Corinthians 1:9

“Faithful” “to be trusted, reliable”to be trusted, reliable”

God is God is FaithfulFaithful

Therefore Therefore be imitators of Godbe imitators of God , as beloved , as beloved childrenchildren Ephesians 5:1Ephesians 5:1

““Imitator”Imitator” ““a mimic, an actor”a mimic, an actor”

FaithfulnessFaithfulness

Brethren talk much about “faithfulness” Brethren talk much about “faithfulness” and much of the talk reflects inaccurate, and much of the talk reflects inaccurate, incomplete understanding. incomplete understanding.

Need to re-examine.Need to re-examine.

How How NotNot To Determine To Determine FaithfulnessFaithfulness

brotherhood papers, preachers, brotherhood papers, preachers, gossip, arbitrary and subjective gossip, arbitrary and subjective

questions and statements (i.e., creeds)questions and statements (i.e., creeds)

How To Determine How To Determine FaithfulnessFaithfulness

Realizing the fact that law is not made for a Realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral fathers or mothers, for murderers 10 and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching sound teaching according toaccording to the glorious gospel of the glorious gospel ofthe blessed Godthe blessed God 1 Timothy 1:9-101 Timothy 1:9-10


If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does If anyone advocates a different doctrine and does not agree with not agree with sound words, those of our Lord sound words, those of our Lord Jesus ChristJesus Christ, and with the doctrine conforming to , and with the doctrine conforming to godliness,godliness, 1 Timothy 6:31 Timothy 6:3


Retain Retain the standard of sound wordsthe standard of sound words which you which you have heard from me, in the faith and love which have heard from me, in the faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. are in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 1:132 Timothy 1:13


Holding fast Holding fast the faithful wordthe faithful word which is in which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in able both to exhort in sound doctrinesound doctrine and to refute and to refute those who contradict. those who contradict. Titus 1:9Titus 1:9


sound teaching, the glorious gospel sound teaching, the glorious gospel 1 Timothy 1:101 Timothy 1:10

sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ sound words, those of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Timothy 6:31 Timothy 6:3

the standard of sound words the standard of sound words 2 Timothy 1:132 Timothy 1:13

the faithful wordthe faithful word Titus 1:9Titus 1:9

How To Determine FaithfulHow To Determine FaithfulChristiansChristians

A legitimate concern?A legitimate concern?

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulnessfaithfulness, , Galatians 5:22Galatians 5:22

Onesimus, our Onesimus, our faithfulfaithful and beloved brother, and beloved brother,Colossians 4:9Colossians 4:9

Silvanus, our Silvanus, our faithfulfaithful brother brother 1 Peter 5:121 Peter 5:12


How do we often determine How do we often determine a “faithful Christian”?a “faithful Christian”?

Local church attendanceLocal church attendance


Acts 11:23Acts 11:23 Then when he arrived and witnessed the Then when he arrived and witnessed the grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage grace of God, he rejoiced and began to encourage them all with resolute heart to them all with resolute heart to remain true to the remain true to the LordLord

Acts 16:15Acts 16:15 And when she and her household had And when she and her household had been baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you havebeen baptized, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be judged me to be faithful to the Lordfaithful to the Lord, come into my , come into my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us. house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.


What about…What about…

WorkWork Eph. 2:10; John 15Eph. 2:10; John 15

ExampleExample 1 Jo. 1:5b-6; Phil. 1:271 Jo. 1:5b-6; Phil. 1:27

TalentsTalents Matt. 25:14Matt. 25:14

Many thingsMany things Eph. 4-6Eph. 4-6

How To Determine FaithfulHow To Determine FaithfulChurchesChurches

A legitimate concern?A legitimate concern?

Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, LaodiceaSardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea Rev. 2:1-2,12-13,18-19Rev. 2:1-2,12-13,18-19


How do we often determine How do we often determine a “faithful church”?a “faithful church”?

Institutionalism? Institutionalism?

MDR? Romans 14?MDR? Romans 14?


What about…What about…

PeacePeace 1 Cor. 1:10-11; Gal. 5:151 Cor. 1:10-11; Gal. 5:15

WorkWork Rev. 3:1-2,15-16Rev. 3:1-2,15-16

ExampleExample 1 Thess. 1:71 Thess. 1:7

PreachingPreaching Phil. 4:15-16Phil. 4:15-16

WARNINGWARNING

Matthew 23:23-24

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. You blind have done without neglecting the others. You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel!

WARNINGWARNING

Luke 18:9Luke 18:9

And He also told this parable to some people who And He also told this parable to some people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed others with contempt.viewed others with contempt.

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God is Faithful God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9 to be trusted, reliable”