Rev. David Holwick A
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
January 6, 1991
Hebrews 11:1
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I. Misconceptions about faith.
A. Only applies to religious stuff.
1) Something you feel, like a ghost.
B. Irrational leap in dark.
1) Intelligent people don't go in for it.
II. Importance of faith.
A. Everyday experience.
1) Even atheistic scientists exhibit faith in something.
a) Big bang requires faith. Heb 11:3
2) It is being able to deduce what we can't see. Heb 11:1
B. Main theme in Bible, especially New Testament (& Jesus).
1) Faith and belief go together (same root word).
2) Faith is required to experience God. Heb 11:6
a) Believe that he exists.
b) Believe that he is good - he rewards us.
III. What Christian faith is all about.
A. Christian faith is based on facts, not emotions.
1) Much "faith" today is merely a "psychological pushup."
a) Self-centered.
b) "Believe in yourself."
c) "Faith in having faith" Dwight Eisenhower.
2) Who or what you believe in is critical.
a) Many believed (still do) due to miracles. John 2:23; 4:53
1> But miracle-seekers may never find faith. John 4:48
b) Main fact is that Jesus is who he says he is.
B. Christianity is reasonable.
1) Lew Wallace was a brilliant Civil War general who saved
Washington from capture by the Confederates.
The most famous atheist of the time, Robert Ingersol,
challenged him to write a book discrediting Christianity.
Wallace took him up on it.
But by the time he finished his research he had believed in
Christ and wrote "Ben Hur" instead. #1220
2) A more recent example is Josh McDowell.
He was a law student who set out to disprove the Bible, but
he ended up one of its most vigorous defenders.
He has written books, lectured on university campuses, and
debated all would-be challengers around the world.
C. Faith must go beyond fact to commitment.
1) Even demons believe. Jam 2:19
a) "Easy-believism."
2) Faith is the attitude where a person abandons all reliance
on their own effort to obtain salvation.
a) Faith is the only way to receive salvation.
b) Justification by faith alone. Gal 2:16
1> Only Jesus can save us. Acts 4:12
D. Eternal issues are decided here and now. Jn 3:18,36 cf. 5:24
IV. God will not force us to believe.
A. Even Thomas doubted; pagans certainly will.
The story is told of a farmer in a Midwestern state who had a
strong dislike for "religious" things.
As he plowed his field on Sunday morning, he would shake his fist
at the church people who passed by on their way to worship.
October came and the farmer had his finest crop ever - the best
in the entire county.
When the harvest was complete, he placed an advertisement in the
newspaper which belittled the Christians for their faith in God.
Near the end of his diatribe he wrote,
"Faith in God must not mean much if someone like me can prosper."
The response from the Christians in the community was quiet and
polite.
In the next edition of the town paper, a small ad appeared.
It read simply,
"God doesn't always settle His accounts in October."
#954
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