The Significance of Our Faith Pt. 1
The Faith Once Delivered • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 9 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Let me start off tonight with a question…Have you ever been challenged over your beliefs? Have you ever been questioned about your faith in God? Have you ever been asked the question, “What do you believe?”
What about this one… “Why do you believe what you believe?”
In a post-Christian society, when you. encounter a growing variety of faiths in the workplace and in the neighborhood, it has become increasingly important to know why you believe what you believe.
God has always considered it important to know the why of what you believe.
1 Peter 3:15 (KJV 1900)
15 ...be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Consider these questions, and ask yourself if you would be ready to give an answer.
What separates Jesus Christ from other good teachers or philosophers in human history?
How do we know that the contents of the Bible are reliable?
Is it possible that many paths may lead to God?
These questions exist in the hearts of sincere men and women with whom we come in contact.
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
I want to begin tonight a series on “…The faith once delivered.”
Today, more than ever, we need to be ready to give an answer, we need to know what we believe, and why we believe it, so we are going to explore the subject of faith for the next while, or while God leads in this direction...
Everything we do in the Christian life is “for the faith” - at least it should be, but how many of us can answer the question, “What is the faith?” - My hope is by the time we are finished, ya’ll will know the answer to these questions so well you don’t even have to think about it to answer.
Look at our text in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul gives “the faith” - the core body of doctrine…so let’s begin by taking a look at...
1-The Introduction of Our Faith
1-The Introduction of Our Faith
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
Our faith is not new. Paul was not sharing new truths with the Corinthian believers. Instead, he was calling them back to truths, which he had preached to them during his second missionary journey...
Our faith has been preached faithfully (v. 1)
Our faith has been preached faithfully (v. 1)
First of all, Paul says that this is the faith"which I preached unto you." The preaching of God's Word has always played a vital role in the lives of believers. When it comes to being strong in the doctrines of the faith, nothing can replace sound preaching.
Romans 10:13–15 (KJV 1900)
13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent?...
Hey! I’m thankful tonight that God is still calling men to preach, and there are still men preaching the Word of God unapologetically!
I’m glad that in a world full of heresy and when it seems that everything is going against them, there are men that are still faithful to the Word of God!
Romans 10:17 (KJV 1900)
17 ...faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Bro. Donathan Layell was preaching yesterday morning out of 2 Timothy 3…He got there in verse 15...
15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
He got into that verse, and man, it was good…He got to thinking about all those people in our lives that have been faithful to teach the Word of God!
Hey! I’m thankful for parents that brought me up in Church!
I’m thankful for my Dad who’s been faithful to preach the Word of God for the past 30 plus years!
I’m thankful for teachers over at White Plains Christian School that were faithful to teach the Bible!
I’m thankful for Pastors while I was growing up that stuck to the stuff! They didn’t waver! They weren’t carried about with every wind of doctrine! They were faithful to the Word of God!
I’m thankful for a Pastor today that stands on God’s Word unapologetically!
I’m thankful for a Bible College where I can trust what’s being taught!
I thank God for men like Bro. Elmo and Bro. Leon that have been in the ministry for years; that have devoted their lives to the ministry, and you know what? It’s an amazing thing…They still believe the way they started out! You know why that is? It’s because their belief was founded in the Word of God, and not in their own opinions...
I’m thankful for preachers that have faithfully preached the Word of God down through the years!
18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
There is inherent power in the preaching of the true gospel, when it is received with faith. The hearing and trusting of the true gospel will bring the power of God into your life.
Aren’t you glad tonight that Our faith has been preached faithfully!
Our faith has been received personally (v. 1)
Our faith has been received personally (v. 1)
1 Corinthians 15:1 (KJV 1900)
1 ...I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received...
Our faith is only effective as it is received. You may understand the faith, but have you received it? If you have received it in salvation, are you receiving it in your daily life by walking according to the teachings of God's Word?
It is possible to understand the faith without receiving the faith...
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
Verse 2 states that this is the faith...“By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.”
In Paul’s day, as in our day, there were people who made a profession of faith, but did not have a possession of faith in Christ. They had the knowledge of Christ in their heads, but did not truly believe in their hearts.
They had the same kind of faith that demons possess.
You say, “What do you mean?” I mean that demons believe in God, but their head knowledge of God does not save them.
19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
I’ll never forget reading Spurgeon and coming across this jewel of a quote, he said, “Atheism is a strange thing. Even the devils never fell into that vice.”
There is a general faith that many possess, but this faith too is in vain.
There are a lot of people who believed that Jesus was the Son of God, but never received salvation. Many of them have died lost and found themselves in hell, separated from God, although they believed He existed. Intellectual and general faith are never enough. There must be faith that recognizes Jesus as the Savior of the world, admitting our lack and need for Him, coming by faith in salvation.
Saving faith is received personally!
Our faith has been verified previously (v. 1)
Our faith has been verified previously (v. 1)
A look at the history of God's work among mankind will reveal that our faith-the doctrine of the Bible-is worthy of our trust.
Hospitals have been built, missionaries have been sent, prosperous civilizations have been shaped, and even entire nations (such as the United States) have been established with the faith of Bible Christianity at their core.
Let’s
32 And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: 33 Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
Hebrews 11:39 (KJV 1900)
39 And these all, having obtained a good report through faith...
These people, along with others not explicitly listed, accomplished mighty things.
We are told in these verses that they “subdued kingdoms” (referring to countless military victories in the lives of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah and David); “wrought righteousness” (this was the job of the judges, particularly Samuel); “obtained promises” (God had promised to give Israel the land of her enemies: Joshua 1:1–5; Judges 1:2); “stopped the mouths of lions” (this was done by Samson in Judges 14:6–7 and David in 1 Samuel 17:34–36); “quenched the violence of fire” (likely a reference to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in Daniel 3)...
Listen to me...
As we look at the story of God’s people through the ages, we realize that it is possible to obey God and do amazing things by faith—These people trusted God, and He chose to work powerfully in their lives.
Our faith has been verified previously!
Their faithfulness makes our faith a little easier.
The writer of Hebrews began chapter 11 speaking of faith in the present tense: Now faith is… Through faith we understand (Hebrews 11:1 and 11:3). The end of the chapter reminds us that faith is and it is for we who follow in the footsteps of the faithful men and women of previous ages.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Lord willing, next week, we will look into the ingredients of our faith...
How’s your faith tonight?