In Faith
When I taught at Heritage Christian University, I preached for a church in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. A fine man taught RJ and Wilson in Bible class, but did they ever have some stories to tell about their teacher! He told them that the moon landings were all faked (the Bible taught that man could never walk on the moon), but he told the boys that professional wrestling—the WWE variety—was real and never faked.
Maybe you’ve known someone who believed a wild conspiracy theory. Aliens inhabiting Area 51? The CIA or mafia assassinated President Kennedy instead of Oswald? Mobile phones: a government method of controlling us? AI: nothing more than an attempt by oligarchs to take over humanity?
Folks might believe some wild stuff, but if you want to go to heaven, you must believe the right stuff. “Without faith, no one can please God.”
Let’s expand beyond faith in the Father and Son to see what else one must believe to please God.
Body
One: Scripture
One comes to faith through Scripture. At the conclusion of his gospel, John wrote, “Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written 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” (Jn 20:30-31). “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom 10:17).
Creation teaches God exists: “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Ps 19:1). However, the heavens do not proclaim which God exists—he could be the god of Islam or one of the gods of Hinduism or some other pagan deity.
Only in Scripture do you learn which God created the heavens and the earth. Only in Scripture do you learn how God expects you to live. Only in Scripture do you learn that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Only in Scripture do you learn that Jesus died for your sins, was raised from the dead, is seated at the right hand of the Majesty on high, and is coming again.
Scripture is indispensable to faith.
Two: Surrender
Simply agreeing with facts about God won’t get you to heaven. Instead, a faith which will Surrender itself in obedience will. Biblical faith will Surrender, for biblical faith takes God at his word and is more than ready to obey.
Notice:
- “By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household” (Heb 11:7).
- “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance” (Heb 11:8).
- “By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac” (Heb 11:17).
- “By faith [Moses] left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible” (Heb 11:27).
Anyone with true faith offers himself in Surrender.
Three: Solicitation
Faith plays a vital role when making Solicitation—prayer—before God. “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord” (Js 1:5-7).
You can make Solicitation to God in faith, for he has promised to answer your every prayer. “I tell you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Lk 11:9). “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you” (Jn 15:7).
As long as you make your Solicitation in faith, God will give you whatever you ask that’s according to his will. The only time God refuses a Solicitation in faith is when that prayer doesn’t match his perfect will. As Jesus was deeply troubled before the crucifixion, he prayed: “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will” (Matt 26:39). Jesus certainly made his Solicitation with great faith, but his crucifixion was the will of God (cf. Acts 2:23).
Four: Serenity
One finds Serenity with faith, for he rests on God’s promises. While making his way to Rome, Paul found himself aboard a ship in a great tempest, and God sent an angel to tell him that he and all the men aboard would survive running ashore on an island. Paul said, “Take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told” (Acts 27:25). Paul had Serenity because he believed what God had said.
How much Serenity do you find because you believe what God has said? Do you find Serenity when you’re tempted that God is providing a way of escape? Do you find Serenity when you’ve sinned, for you have faith in God’s forgiveness? Do you find Serenity when money is tight that God will feed you as he feeds the sparrows? Will you find Serenity at death’s door because you know God will send angels to carry your soul to Paradise?
Conclusion
It’s true that “Without faith, no one can please God.” But it’s also true that without faith, no one can have a fulfilling life here and now, for faith gives great victory: “Everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 Jn 5:4-5).
Do you want to have victory in this dark, dreary world? Believe that Jesus is the Son of God. How much do you honestly believe this morning?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.