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"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.
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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.
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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!
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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.
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
Indeed, “Faith"“Faith" is the underlying principle of all the Christian's
conduct.
It is fundamental to our salvation in Christ.
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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.
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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."
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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.
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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.
INTRODUCTIONINTRODUCTION
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...
THE MEANING OF FAITHTHE MEANING OF FAITH
INVOLVES THE IDEA OF BELIEF...
THE MEANING OF FAITHTHE MEANING OF FAITH
The certainty or conviction that one has in some truth or proposition.
Believing in things concerning Jesus and His kingdom.
THE MEANING OF FAITHTHE MEANING OF FAITH
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.
THE MEANING OF FAITHTHE MEANING OF FAITH
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.
THE MEANING OF FAITHTHE MEANING OF FAITH
John 20:30 NET Now Jesus performed many other miraculous signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not recorded in this
book.
THE MEANING OF FAITHTHE MEANING OF FAITH
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.
IDEA OF CONFIDENCEIDEA OF CONFIDENCE
Romans 4:3 NET For what does the scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was
credited to him as righteousness."
IDEA OF CONFIDENCEIDEA OF CONFIDENCE
Romans 4:20 NET He did not waver in unbelief about the promise of God
but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God.
IDEA OF CONFIDENCEIDEA OF CONFIDENCE
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.
IDEA OF CONFIDENCEIDEA OF CONFIDENCE
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.
IDEA OF FIDELITYIDEA OF FIDELITY
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.
IDEA OF FIDELITYIDEA OF FIDELITY
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,
IDEA OF FIDELITYIDEA OF FIDELITY
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.
IDEA OF FIDELITYIDEA OF FIDELITY
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
IDEA OF FIDELITYIDEA OF FIDELITY
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.
CONFESSING OUR FAITHCONFESSING OUR FAITH
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.
CONFESSING OUR FAITHCONFESSING OUR FAITH
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.
CONFESSING OUR FAITHCONFESSING OUR FAITH
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.
CONFESSING OUR FAITHCONFESSING OUR FAITH
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.
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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.
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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,
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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,
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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,
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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."
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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.
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough
trouble of its own.
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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:
LIVING BY FAITHLIVING BY FAITH
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
BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH
BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH
I.e., enjoying the blessings that come from a life of faith.
Such as joy and peace, hope and power.
BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH
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.
BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH
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.
BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH
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.
BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH
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.
BENEFITING BY FAITHBENEFITING BY FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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,
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message I preached to you — unless you believed in vain.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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."
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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?
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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?
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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;
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
6 to knowledge, self-control; to self-control, perseverance; to
perseverance, godliness; 7 to godliness, brotherly affection; to
brotherly affection, unselfish love.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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.
MAINTAINING OUR FAITHMAINTAINING OUR FAITH
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?
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
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?
CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION
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"!