August 12 2012 How To Have Real Christian Faith

How To Have Real Christian Faith

Vs. 17 - Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by actions, is dead.

Who is right, James or Paul? They both are.

Paul (Gal. 2:16)    &   James (James 2:24)
Problem    Legalism                     Laxity
Works       Jewish Laws               Christian Lifestlye
Focus        Root of Salvation       Fruit of Salvation
(internal/unseen)        (external/seen)
Purpose    How to Know             How to show
I’m a Christian            I’m a Christian


Ephesians 2:8-10 - For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, for a life of good works which God has already prepared for us to do.

What Is Real Faith?
1. Real faith is not just something you say.
Vs. 14 - What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith, but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?

2. Real faith is not just something you feel.
Vs. 15-16 - Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well, keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?
1 John 3:17 - If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?
Vs. 17 - In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action is dead.

3.  Real faith is not just something you think.
Vs. 18 - But someone will say, “You have faith, I have deeds.”  Show me your faith without your deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.

4.  Real faith is not just something you believe.
Vs. 19 - You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that and shudder.

5.  Real faith is something you do.

Illustrations: Two Very Different People

• Abraham (Vs. 20-24)

• Rahab (Vs. 25)

II Corinthians 13:5 - Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith, test yourselves.

October 17 2010 The Power Of Christian Influence

The Power Of Christian Influence

(Matthew 5:13-14 - "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.")

Four Pillars of Truth

1. Christian influence is a positive force

(Verse 13 - You are the salt of the earth.)

• Salt preserves
• Salt makes people thirsty

(Matthew 23:4 - They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.)

2. Christian influence is a permanent force

(Verse 13 - But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?)

(John 17:15-16 - My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.)

3. Christian influence has a precious influence

(1 corinthians 1:27-28 - But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are)

(Genesis 2:7 - the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.)

(1 Samuel 17:40 - Then he took his staff in his hand, chose five smooth stones from the stream)

(Luke 2:7 - and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger)

4. Christian influence must be planned

(Romans 12:1 - Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God)