Faith Faith that will not that will not

FailFail

By MiXueBy MiXue

All relationships are based All relationships are based onon

FFaithaith

FaithFaith

““And without faith And without faith it is it is impossibleimpossible to please Him, to please Him,

for he who comes to God must for he who comes to God must believe that He isbelieve that He is

and that and that He is a rewarderHe is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” of those who seek Him.”

Heb 11:6Heb 11:6

What is Biblical Faith? What is Biblical Faith?

““Now faith is the Now faith is the assuranceassurance of of things things hoped forhoped for, ,

the the convictionconviction

of things of things not seennot seen.”.” ((Heb 11:1)Heb 11:1)

Faith isFaith is

Commitment Commitment before before KnowingKnowing

What makes faith What makes faith effective towards our effective towards our salvation?salvation?

Three Biblical examples of Three Biblical examples of DefectiveDefective Faith: Faith:

What is What is wrongwrong with it? with it?

What are some What are some contemporarycontemporary examples? examples?

What is the What is the antidoteantidote for it? for it?

Ex.#1: James 2:19Ex.#1: James 2:19

““You believe that God is one. You believe that God is one. You do well; You do well;

the demons also believe, the demons also believe, and shudder.”and shudder.”

(Jas 2:19)(Jas 2:19)

If demons believe, If demons believe, why can’t they be saved?why can’t they be saved?

Why Why not?not?

Faith has to have a basis Faith has to have a basis

Faith in itself is not effective,Faith in itself is not effective,

The The objectobject of the faith of the faith

must be trustworthymust be trustworthy

Faith without _____=_______Faith without _____=_______

Faith without Basis = Faith without Basis = FutileFutile

Safety does Safety does not depend on not depend on

the the faithfaith you you have tohave to

skateskate

but on thebut on the

thicknessthickness

of the ice.of the ice.

How thickHow thick

is your is your

iceice??

How is Faith able to How is Faith able to save?save?

Not:Not: based on based on strengthstrength of faith of faith

But:But: based on based on objectobject of faith of faith

What is the basis of our What is the basis of our faith?faith?

REASONREASON

BuddhismBuddhism

HinduismHinduism

TaoismTaoism

ConfucianConfucian

REVELATIONREVELATION

JudaismJudaism

ChristianityChristianity

IslamIslam

MormonMormon

How does God reveal How does God reveal Himself? Himself?

CreationCreation EternityEternity in our hearts in our heartsWord Word JesusJesus Holy SpiritHoly Spirit Christ in othersChrist in others

In the beginning was the In the beginning was the Word and the Word was Word and the Word was God.God.

For the word of God is For the word of God is livingliving and and activeactive and and sharpersharper

than any two-edged sword, than any two-edged sword,

and and piercingpiercing as far as the as far as the division of soul and spirit, of division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and both joints and marrow, and able to judgeable to judge the thoughts the thoughts and intentions of the heart. and intentions of the heart.

(Heb 4:12)(Heb 4:12)

How do we know How do we know God’s love?God’s love?

By how we are being treated?By how we are being treated?

““By this the By this the love of God was manifestedlove of God was manifested in in us, that God has sent His only begotten us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live Son into the world so that we might live through Him.” through Him.” (1Jn 4:9)(1Jn 4:9)

““But But God demonstrates His own loveGod demonstrates His own love toward toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:8) (Rom 5:8)

How do we know How do we know God’s love?God’s love?

By faithBy faith

FaithFaith without Basis without Basis

is is

AnorexicAnorexic

Antidote for anorexic Antidote for anorexic faith:faith:

View Bible as essential goodView Bible as essential good

Eat nourishing WordEat nourishing Word

Eat regularlyEat regularly

Avoid junk foodAvoid junk food

Base your faith on: WordBase your faith on: Word

““But the Word of the Lord But the Word of the Lord

endures endures foreverforever." ." (1Pt 1:25)(1Pt 1:25)

““like newborn babies, long for the like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to it you may grow in respect to

salvationsalvation,” ,” 1Pt 2:21Pt 2:2

For though by this time you ought to beFor though by this time you ought to beteachers, …you have come to need milk andteachers, …you have come to need milk andnot not solid food.solid food.

For everyone who partakes For everyone who partakes onlyonly of milk is not of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousnessaccustomed to the word of righteousness, , for he is an infant. But solid food is for thefor he is an infant. But solid food is for themature, who because of mature, who because of practicepractice have their have theirsenses trained senses trained to discern good and evilto discern good and evil..

(Heb 5:12-13) (Heb 5:12-13)

What is solid food?What is solid food?

Practice in Practice in righteousnessrighteousness

ObedienceObedience

Avoid Defective Faith Avoid Defective Faith without basis:without basis:

Don’t be an Don’t be an anorexicanorexic Christian. Christian.

Be nourished & strengthened by the Be nourished & strengthened by the WordWord

Become a Become a Woman of theWoman of the WordWord

Ex.#2: Luke 6:46-49Ex.#2: Luke 6:46-49

"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,’"Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,’

and do not do what I say?” and do not do what I say?”

(Luke 6:46)(Luke 6:46)

Faith with Obedience Faith with Obedience is tested faithis tested faith

Faith without obedience Faith without obedience is a house without a is a house without a foundationfoundation

FaithFaith without obedience without obedience

≠≠ Faith Faith

(it’s just theoretical)(it’s just theoretical)

Obedience bringsObedience brings

life life toto faith, faith,

andand faith faith toto life. life.

Reasons for not obeying:Reasons for not obeying:

1. 1. Don’t believe it is importantDon’t believe it is important

2. Lazy2. Lazy

3. Don’t want to, don’t agree3. Don’t want to, don’t agree

10 Suggestions?10 Suggestions?

10 Commandments10 Commandments

How do we fall into these How do we fall into these errors today?errors today?

““I don’t have to be obey commandments to I don’t have to be obey commandments to be a follower”be a follower”

““God loves me just the way I am, I don’t God loves me just the way I am, I don’t have to perform or do works to be saved”have to perform or do works to be saved”

““I will only obey when I agree with it”I will only obey when I agree with it”

Obedience ≠ Obedience ≠ AgreementAgreement

““Although He was a Son, Although He was a Son,

He He learned obediencelearned obedience from from

the things which He suffered.”the things which He suffered.”

(Heb 5:8) (Heb 5:8)

Why are some women Why are some women weak?weak?

““For among them are those who enter For among them are those who enter into households and captivate into households and captivate

weak womenweak women weighed down with weighed down with sinssins, , led on by led on by various impulsesvarious impulses, ,

always learning and never able always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truthto come to the knowledge of the truth.” .”

(2Tim 3:6-7)(2Tim 3:6-7)

What is the surefire way What is the surefire way to grow as a Christian?to grow as a Christian?

"He who has"He who has My commandments and keeps themMy commandments and keeps them

is the one who loves Me; is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me and he who loves Me

will be loved by My Father, and will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and I will love him and

will disclose Myself to him."will disclose Myself to him."

(John (John 14:2114:21))

The Word is The Word is notnot given to you given to you

to make you to make you smartersmarter, ,

but to make you but to make you holierholier..

Obedience is acting Obedience is acting on faithon faith

To ObeyTo Obey the Word the Word

FaithFaith

is is

Risk-takingRisk-taking

How have I applied this?How have I applied this? Submission: unnaturalSubmission: unnatural

Cultural vs Biblical submissionCultural vs Biblical submission

Submission ≠ AgreementSubmission ≠ Agreement

Put on your seatbeltPut on your seatbelt

Honor vs dishonoring WordHonor vs dishonoring Word

Top 10 Top 10 Submissive Submissive WaysWays

10.10.She doesn’t complain when I bring people home She doesn’t complain when I bring people home for dinner or staying over without prior notice.for dinner or staying over without prior notice.9. She lets me smoke cigars in the home9. She lets me smoke cigars in the home8. She never insists I have to spend time w/ her family. 8. She never insists I have to spend time w/ her family. 7. She tries not to comment about my driving. 7. She tries not to comment about my driving. 6. She trusts me with our investments including home 6. She trusts me with our investments including home

ownership decisions. ownership decisions. 5. She supported my desire to attend seminary and 5. She supported my desire to attend seminary and

move the family to Hong Kong.move the family to Hong Kong.4. She always asks me about her career decisions. 4. She always asks me about her career decisions. 3. She defers to me in decisions re: raising the kids.3. She defers to me in decisions re: raising the kids.2. She tries not to disagree with me/belittle me in public. 2. She tries not to disagree with me/belittle me in public. 1. She is very attentive to my needs over her own.1. She is very attentive to my needs over her own.

Faith without ObedienceFaith without Obedience

is is

ObesityObesity

Antidote to defective Antidote to defective faith without obedience:faith without obedience:

Never read or study the Bible without intending Never read or study the Bible without intending to obey what you read.to obey what you read.

Beware of ignoring commands you don’t like or Beware of ignoring commands you don’t like or agree with.agree with.

Avoid Defective Faith Avoid Defective Faith without Obedience:without Obedience:

Strive for a heart for obedienceStrive for a heart for obedience

““Work out” for the Lord Work out” for the Lord

(don’t be obese)(don’t be obese)

Ex.#3: Matt 7:21-23Ex.#3: Matt 7:21-23

What is defective about What is defective about this faith?this faith?

Two other specific Biblical examples: Two other specific Biblical examples:

OT ex: Num 14 OT ex: Num 14

NT ex: Acts 5 NT ex: Acts 5

FaithFaith __________ __________ ≠ Faith ≠ Faith

Faith that is manipulative Faith that is manipulative

≠≠ Faith Faith

Obedience on their own termsObedience on their own terms

Delayed obedience ≠ Delayed obedience ≠ obedienceobedience

You name the price, You name the price, I name the termsI name the terms

Manipulation of obedience: Manipulation of obedience: PresumptionPresumption

“ “For certain persons have crept in For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons condemnation, ungodly persons

who who turn the grace of our God into turn the grace of our God into licentiousnesslicentiousness and and deny our only deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus ChristMaster and Lord, Jesus Christ.” .”

(Jude 1:4) (Jude 1:4)

How do we turn grace of How do we turn grace of God into licentiousness?God into licentiousness? By ignoring God’s commands under the By ignoring God’s commands under the

guise of grace.guise of grace.

““I know I shouldn’t do it, but I also know I know I shouldn’t do it, but I also know He will forgive me.”He will forgive me.”

““I am sure God is not the kind of God who I am sure God is not the kind of God who would want me to suffer or not be happy.”would want me to suffer or not be happy.”

For example:For example:

God’s forgiveness covers God’s forgiveness covers my willful disobedience to:my willful disobedience to:

Marry an unbelieverMarry an unbeliever Be promiscuousBe promiscuous Commit adulteryCommit adultery Get divorcedGet divorced

The battle cry is:The battle cry is:

““God wants me to be happy.”God wants me to be happy.”

He wants you to be holy, He wants you to be holy,

which will make you happiestwhich will make you happiest

(in eternity).(in eternity).

Does God ever ask you to do Does God ever ask you to do something you cannot do?something you cannot do?

God puts me in an impossible situation. God puts me in an impossible situation.

I can’t keep His standards. I can’t keep His standards.

God knows IGod knows I

can’t keep Hiscan’t keep His

standards andstandards and

He doesn’t He doesn’t expect me to.expect me to.

I relate to God on the basis of I relate to God on the basis of grace & not law, so I don’t have to grace & not law, so I don’t have to concern myself w/ keeping NT concern myself w/ keeping NT

commandments.commandments.

““No one in heaven will sayNo one in heaven will say

that they are glad that they are glad

they did not do they did not do

what God commanded.”what God commanded.” ~ Walter A. Henrichsen~ Walter A. Henrichsen

Faith that is manipulatedFaith that is manipulated

is is

BulimicBulimic

Antidote to Antidote to Presumptuous Faith:Presumptuous Faith:

Fierce commitment to obedience to Fierce commitment to obedience to WordWord (in spite of culture or sensibilities or (in spite of culture or sensibilities or contemporary traditions)contemporary traditions)

““God gives God gives

ill-definedill-defined commandments commandments

to help you maintain to help you maintain

a spirit of a spirit of dependencedependence, ,

just as He gives just as He gives

seemingly illogicalseemingly illogical commandments commandments

to to test your faithtest your faith.”.”

How have I applied this?How have I applied this?

I take submission seriously (1 Pt3)I take submission seriously (1 Pt3)

Male headship in home and church Male headship in home and church

(Eph 5:22-33, 1 Tim 2-3)(Eph 5:22-33, 1 Tim 2-3)

It is a time for strong faith and It is a time for strong faith and

strong obedience to the Word of God.strong obedience to the Word of God.

Christianity has always been Christianity has always been

counter-cultural. Today is no different.counter-cultural. Today is no different.

Three Biblical examples of Three Biblical examples of DefectiveDefective Faith: Faith:

1. Baseless faith1. Baseless faith

2. Theoretical faith2. Theoretical faith

3. Manipulative faith3. Manipulative faith

FaithFaith without Basis without Basis

is is

AnorexicAnorexic

Faith without ObedienceFaith without Obedience

is is

ObesityObesity

Faith that is manipulatedFaith that is manipulated

is is

BulimicBulimic

Do you have aDo you have a

spiritual spiritual

eating disorder?eating disorder?

How can I make sure that I have How can I make sure that I have Effective and not Defective Faith?Effective and not Defective Faith?

What areas in my life do I need to What areas in my life do I need to change?change?

FaithFaith

““And without faith And without faith it is it is impossibleimpossible to please Him, to please Him,

for he who comes to God must for he who comes to God must believe that He isbelieve that He is

and that and that He is a rewarderHe is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” of those who seek Him.”

Heb 11:6Heb 11:6

Faith Faith that will not that will not

FailFail

By MiXueBy MiXue