R sbc
May 29th 2005
Sunday morning
Series: “Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible”
Sermon # 44
Subject: “ Faith In The Lord Jesus”
Text: Eph 1:15-23
Intro: We who have believed on the LORD JESUS CHRIST for our salvation; know that we have faith in him because the LORD has given it to us. Chapter 2 of this book and in verse 8 says it is the gift of God...Paul addressing these born from above saints of GOD, these faithful ones...declares some great truths...
I.. “IT WAS PERSONAL FAITH”..VS 15 “ YOUR FAITH”
Even though it is a gift, it in our possession or we don’t really have faith. It is ours to be thankful for. The Lord Jesus Christ heals a blind man and note what he says to him concerning faith: Matthew 9:29 Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Paul speaks of our faith increasing: 2 Corinthians 10:15 Not boasting of things without our measure, that is, of other men’s labours; but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly,
II... “THAT IT IS A TESTIMONIAL FAITH”..”HEARD OF YOUR FAITH”
We know just from a study in the BIBLE that faith definitely can be heard. We read of the many who had faith and what it did it their lives...
The Elders obtained a good report: Heb 11-1
Abel gave a more excellent sacrifice than can: Heb 11-4
Enoch walked with GOD and was not for God took him: Heb 11–5
Noah built an ark that is still talked about: Heb 11:7
Abraham followed the call of GOD..Heb 11-8
Many more testimonies in the BIBLE concerning people whom the LORD had given faith to believe what he said. Paul writing to the church Thessalonians said these words: 1 Thessalonians 1:8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
It is impossible to hide faith if you have, it will be known it will be a testimony of the Christ hat lives in you.
Colossians 1:4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
III... “ IT IS A FAITH THAT HAS A REAL OBJECT”... “ In the Lord Jesus”
It is so clear that Paul did not want their faith neither ours to stand in anything but the LORD JESUS CHRIST:
1 Corinthians 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
He is not just some historical figure, that he is to some, he is not just a babe in a manger, that he is to some, He is not just a man, prophet, or a king, that he is to some, but he is the real object of our faith.
1st. He is the object of faith because he is the one saves sinners:
Acts 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
(A.) The exclusion of the text: Neither is there salvation in any other:
(b.) The power of this text: None other name under heaven
(c.) The blessing of the text: must be saved.
If someone here today is fixing your heart and mind on someone else, on something, other than the LORD JESUS CHRIST, you are in danger of dying in your sins... It so clearly taught through out the BIBLE that JESUS CHRIST is the only way...
2nd. He is the object of faith because his eternal mission was revealed in the bible:
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
What a glad tidings to the awakened sinner, what a joy to hear these words if God indeed is calling you to faith in Christ... Find your place in him today, don’t wait another...don’t do as Felix:
Acts 24:25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.
3rd. He is the object of faith because he is worthy of our trust: James 4:12 There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another?
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, vs 26 seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. 26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;
It was said of Ruth the moabite that she had come to trust the great saviour: Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
Let all who are here in this service this morning, let all who hear by T.V. or radio, or other means this church offers, be warned today.... Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
Psalms 146:3 Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
IV... “ FAITH WILL DEMONSTRATE IT’S CONTENT”...VS 15 “ LOVE UNTO ALL SAINTS”
I know not one of those points about love again... why not, if not why not? Love is of GOD and he that loveth is born of GOD. If there is no genuine love of GOD in your heart then there is reason to doubt your faith in Christ...
Which is the great commandment the rich young ruler ask the LORD JESUS CHRIST:
Luke 10:27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
1st. The love that one has for Christ is because he first loved us:
1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
There are so many things that the BIBLE says about love that it would take Sunday after Sunday just to touch it...Just read the many things that JOHN had to say about love and be convinced that love is a outflowing of our faith in Christ.
2nd. The love that one has for Christ, we will have for his people also:
John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
The Lord Jesus said to his disciples:
John 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. Paul writing to the church at Corinth said these words, this is a preachers heart, this is a parents heart, this a grandparents heart...
2 Corinthians 12:15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved. The word spend in this verse means that what ever it took of what he had he spent it and gladly he did, the word be spent means that he gave it all, he exhausted it tremendously for them... the reward he got, they could care less...
I know this is how we all feel at times when we give our best, we exhaust ourselves, we do it without complaint, and yet nothing in return. Just think of Christ having loved his own which where in the world he loved them unto the end...
3rd. The love for Christ is a demonstrative love:
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. John 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
Conclude this morning with these thoughts from the remainder of this chapter:
1st. When this is present in the lives of the saints it will cause the preacher to have a thankful heart: vs. 16
It don’t think much of a preacher, pastor who does not love his people, pray for them, and then minister to them, and instruct them and correct them. Christ the great Shepherd of our souls prayed a great prayer for us... be assured he is heaven for us this morning there to intercede on our behalf.
a. That they would be able to acknowledge ..vs 17
b. That they would have eyes that would see..vs 18
c. That they would know of their Lord’s purpose for them..vs 18
d. That they would realize the great power of Christ upon us: vs 19
e. That they would realize his great position: vs 20-23
The position of Christ is spelled out clearly:
(1.) He is raised from the dead: vs 20
(2.) He is at the right hand of the Father: vs 20
Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?
(3.) His stately and kingly position: vs 21
(4.) His governing power: vs 21-23
The great question that must be answered here this morning, can you have faith in such a GOD, such a saviour, such a redeemer, such a High Priest, such a mediator, such a King. Trust in him this morning if you can.