Some will say faith is for the simple minded Nietzsche said Faith means not wanting to know what is true. “God is Dead” He was killed by human rationalism and science. There is no need for Him because we have self. Two things I would say to Nietzsche 1. That is faith and 2 Your dead
Some say faith is a crutch that people lean on because they don’t have the answers, Atheist Frater Ravus said Faith does not give you the answers, it just stops you asking the questions. I would say to Ravus, no we ask the same questions, we actually have better answers.
So why do people have faith?
Definition - confidence or trust in something, belief in anything, as a code of ethics, standards of merit, belief that is not based on proof:
By definition everyone has faith in something and the reason why is, no one has a comprehensive list of all the answers. But I want to suggest to you tonight that faith in Jesus actually has the most comprehensive list.
It’s the Bible
1. Where does faith come from? Romans 10:17 The Word
Hebrews 11:1-3 Vrs 1 Faith treats things hoped for as reality. Vrs 2 that is how we keep a good testimony around others. Vrs 3 A core doctrine of the Bible is what we talked about last week faith in a creator God
Vrs 6 part of what we are rewarded for is trust without every detail
People have faith because it is necessary. Faith is what we need for salvation Eph 2:8-9 & 10 this faith also gives us purpose.
Hebrews 12:1-2 Jesus is not only the object of our faith but He is the example of our faith.
Whether you consider yourself a person of Faith or not you actually are. You have faith in what you believe is true, even if it is not a belief system.
2 challenges 1 is for those of you who do have faith in Jesus, Are you truly trusting Him in all aspects of your life.
Luke 17:4-5 Increase our faith so we can do things that seem impossible like forgiving other people. Faith in God comes in when He is asking us to do something that does not make sense to us but it is good for us. Jesus is saying “listen I know what is best for you, trust me on this one”
Does your lifestyle display your faith Or do people say What? Snoop dog My Heart Christ’s Home by Robert Munger. My spin on it. Let Christ into every area of you life. School, work, relationships-dating-marriage-sibling-friendships. Hobbies
Two things to remember
1. Bad things are going to happen and at that point people will say “where is your Good God” 1 Cor. 2:4-6 we place our faith is God’s power
2. We will not understand everything 2 Cor 5:7 walk by faith not by site
The writer Oliver Wendell Holmes Said It's faith in something and enthusiasm for something that makes a life worth living.
Faith in Jesus what sustains us Galatians 2:20 in turn our life become an act of faith.
2. For those of you that are not truly convinced that faith in Jesus is what every person needs.
Blaise Pascal’s challenge the “Wager” This has been highly criticized but Pascal developed this challenge for friends who were atheists.
He fully understood that this challenge could by no means convince someone of faith because he said “it is the heart which perceives God and not reason” But it he designed it to challenge their thinking
Option 1- trust in Jesus for salvation and live a life that is pleasing to Him. If that is true there is gain, Eternal life and a life well lived. If it is not and the claims of an Atheist are true you just die, the believer still had a life well lived. The gain is that life and loss is nothing.
Option 2- don’t trust in Jesus for salvation. If He is not real you gained nothing but if He is real you have lost everything
If someone wagers for Jesus they have nothing to lose but if against Him they stand to lose everything.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the person who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8
So people have “Faith” because it is unavoidable but then the question remains for each one of us is “who do you have faith in?”
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