Is this Your TrustIs this Your Trust

in God in God

or or

the System of Faiththe System of Faith

that God has Given?that God has Given?

Ephesians 4:1-6Ephesians 4:1-6

Electricity Electricity You cannot see electrons, which are You cannot see electrons, which are

smaller than atoms. But you can smaller than atoms. But you can measure it with ampmeter or voltmeter. measure it with ampmeter or voltmeter. When you see sparks of lightening you When you see sparks of lightening you are seeing the heat energy of electricity are seeing the heat energy of electricity but not the electricity itself (You can see but not the electricity itself (You can see its effects).its effects).

Eiffel TowerEiffel TowerThere are 261,690 photos of Eiffel Tower There are 261,690 photos of Eiffel Tower

on Flickr.on Flickr.You have no proof, but with a photo you You have no proof, but with a photo you

have evidence.have evidence.

We Believe Many Things That Cannot We Believe Many Things That Cannot Be Proven Absolutely:Be Proven Absolutely:

The Safety of Airplanes.The Safety of Airplanes. That Your Spouse Loves You.That Your Spouse Loves You. Columbus Trip in 1492.Columbus Trip in 1492. Your Birth Date.Your Birth Date. That We are Not Living in “The That We are Not Living in “The

Matrix.”Matrix.” Your Parent’s DNA is in You.Your Parent’s DNA is in You.

If we waited for absolute proof If we waited for absolute proof to believe anything, and if we to believe anything, and if we

did not just go where the did not just go where the evidence points, then our lives evidence points, then our lives would be rather pointless. Do would be rather pointless. Do

nothing. nothing. Seek nothing. Believe nothing.Seek nothing. Believe nothing.

Belief is based on evidence.Belief is based on evidence. Belief is supported by hope, Belief is supported by hope,

not wishing, so it is rational, not wishing, so it is rational, not subjective.not subjective.

But belief is not 100% proof.But belief is not 100% proof.

It’s odd to say that if we cannot be 100% certain about something,

we must reject that thing.

What about the chair you sit on now?

Do you believe it will support you?

Jesus of NazarethJesus of NazarethHe is noted by NonChristians:He is noted by NonChristians:Tacitus (Roman historian, 115 AD) Tacitus (Roman historian, 115 AD)

mentions “. . . a mentions “. . . a class hated for class hated for their abominations, called their abominations, called Christians by the populace. Christians by the populace. Christus, from whom the name Christus, from whom the name had its origin, suffered the had its origin, suffered the extreme penalty during the reign extreme penalty during the reign of Tiberius at the hands of one of of Tiberius at the hands of one of our procurators, Pontius Pilatus. our procurators, Pontius Pilatus. And a most mischievous And a most mischievous superstition . . superstition . . .”.”

He is noted by NonChristiansHe is noted by NonChristiansPliny the Younger (Roman Governor, 112 Pliny the Younger (Roman Governor, 112

AD) mentions: “Those who denied that AD) mentions: “Those who denied that they were or had been Christians, when they were or had been Christians, when they invoked the gods in words dictated they invoked the gods in words dictated by me, offered prayer with incense and by me, offered prayer with incense and wine to your image, which I had ordered wine to your image, which I had ordered to be brought for this purpose together to be brought for this purpose together with statues of the gods, and moreover with statues of the gods, and moreover cursed Christus — none of which those cursed Christus — none of which those who are really Christians, it is said, can who are really Christians, it is said, can be forced to do — these I thought be forced to do — these I thought should be discharged. Others named by should be discharged. Others named by the informer declared that they were the informer declared that they were Christians, but then denied it . . . ”Christians, but then denied it . . . ”

Josephus, Jewish Scholar, 93 AD Mara bar Sarapion, Syrian Stoic, ca 100

AD Tannaitic Period Writings of the

Talmud, 70-200 AD. Lucian, Roman Satirist Celsus, 180AD wrote book against

Christ Justin Martyr, 115 AD, Clement, 96AD,

Ignatius, 110 AD Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Paul, Peter,

James, Jude

Hebrews 11:1Hebrews 11:1

““Now faith is the Now faith is the substancesubstance of things of things hoped for, the hoped for, the evidenceevidence of things not of things not seen.”seen.”

You believe one thing about Christ.

They believe another thing. And others believe something

very different.

Is this the One Faith?Is this the One Faith?

2 Tim 4:7 2 Tim 4:7 – Keep the – Keep the system of faith, not keep system of faith, not keep your personal beliefyour personal belief

Titus 1:13 Titus 1:13 – Be sound in – Be sound in this system of faiththis system of faith

Acts 13:7,8Acts 13:7,8 Acts 14:21,22Acts 14:21,22 Galatians 1:11,23Galatians 1:11,23

Jude 3Jude 3 Given to the SaintsGiven to the Saints Once for allOnce for all So, Fight for ItSo, Fight for It

I have fought the good fight, I have I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Tim 4:7faith. 2 Tim 4:7

John 8:24 John 8:24 – “Unless You Believe” – – “Unless You Believe” – Jesus places responsibility on people Jesus places responsibility on people to have faith.to have faith.

Romans 10:17 Romans 10:17 – You get faith from – You get faith from hearing Word of God (The Faith).hearing Word of God (The Faith).

Gal 1:11,23 Gal 1:11,23 – The Gospel and the Faith – The Gospel and the Faith are used interchangeably.are used interchangeably.

Acts 13:7,8 Acts 13:7,8 – The Word of God and the – The Word of God and the Faith are used interchangeably.Faith are used interchangeably.

We live by faith in this system of Faith. We live by faith in this system of Faith. This allows us to see the unseen. This allows us to see the unseen. 2 2 Cor 5:7Cor 5:7

““And His gifts were that some And His gifts were that some should be apostles, some should be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the to equip the saints for the work of service, for building work of service, for building up the body of Christ, up the body of Christ, until until we all attain to the unity of we all attain to the unity of the faith the faith ““