Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Last time in exploring the question, “What is a Christian?”

We saw:

A Christian is a person who belongs to the kingdom of God (Mark 1:15 “And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” )

To belong to this kingdom I must repent.

To belong to this kingdom I must believe.

What is faith, or believing?

Today we are going to look at two things: what saving faith is, and what it looks like.

First let’s define it.

Saving faith is reliance on Jesus.

- (Acts 16:31, John 3:16)

Saving faith does not trust in self, but in Jesus.

Faith is changing what I am trusting will save me.

We are responding to what God has revealed by relying on what he said.

But what exactly are we relying on Jesus for?

Saving faith is for a righteous verdict.

A Christian trusts that Jesus’ death will make him or her innocent before God instead of guilty.

The greatest need of every person is to be found righteous in God’s sight, rather than wicked.

When the judgement comes, we desperately need the verdict issued over us to be innocent rather than condemned.

Read Luke 18:10-14.

How do we secure this righteous verdict?

Faith.

If God is going to declare us as righteous, he is going to have to do it based on something other than our sinful record.

When we put our faith in Jesus, we are relying on him to stand in as our substitute before God the Father.

Read Romans 3:21-28.

Saving faith is in Christ alone.

You cannot add anything to what Jesus has done (Galatians 2:21 “I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”).

So here is what faith is: relying on Jesus alone to secure us a righteous verdict before God.

What does faith look like?

We are going to look at three incidents from the Gospel of Mark which illustrate faith.

Read Mark 5:21-24, 35-43.

Faith is taking Jesus at his word.

How would Jairus have felt when the message came that his daughter was dead?

Faith here is trust in Jesus’ word no matter what.

It is based, not on how we feel, but on the facts of what Jesus said.

Read Mark 5:25-34.

Faith is reaching out to Jesus.

The woman’s faith was small - a secret touch of his garment.

But the vital thing is not the amount of faith, but its object.

Her object was Christ.

Jesus did not allow her to remain hidden.

She showed herself publicly.

If I am to follow him, I must do the same.

Read Mark 10:13-16.

Faith is having child-like trust.

Jesus is not speaking out being childish.

This is more than giving mere assent with my mind.

It means trust.

Illustration: Charles Blondin was a famous high wire artist.

Some years ago he stretched a wire rope across the top of Niagara Falls and walked across it.

Then he took the stunt a bit further and pushed a wheelbarrow back and forth.

Next he announced that he was going to wheel a man in the wheelbarrow across the wire.

A reporter interview Blondin.

He asked the reporter, “Do you think I can do this great feat?” “I really believe you can” replied the reporter.

“Well then,” Blondin said, “You get in the wheelbarrow.

This is the difference between believing something is true, and committing yourself.

Read John 5:24.

Faith is knowing God accepts me.

This tells the believer something about the present and something about the future.

Present - Jesus says a Christian has eternal life.

Point out the present tense, has.

It is not boasting to say “I know I have eternal life.:”

It is just taking God at his word (i.e., faith).

Future - Jesus says that a Christian will not be condemned.

He is talking here about the judgement which determines our eternal future, heaven or hell.

The believer will not face that judgement, as no charge can be brought against him or her.

Recall Jesus words from Mark 10:15 - If you receive the Kingdom of God, you must do so as a child.

We have seen that, to receive the kingdom of God, a person must receive Jesus Christ as their Lord or King, and their Savior from sin.

This is a personal step.

No one can take it for you.

Conclusion

In explaining Christianity, we have explained who Jesus is and how to follow him.

1. God is our holy creator.

He will judge everyone.

2. We have all sinned.

3.

But Jesus Christ came into the world and bore the wrath of God.

What he has done offers forgiveness.

4. How do we respond?

A repentant faith.

Is there a point in your life where you began to follow Jesus?

If not what is stopping you?

Would you like to begin following Jesus now?

Read John 3:36.

[Teacher - ask the student where he or she is at in regards to following Christ].

If the student would like to trust Jesus, encourage them to express his or her faith through prayer (be clear that the prayer, like any work cannot save - but those who believe on Christ in the heart are willing to go public with it (ie Romans 10:9-10).

If the student is willing to receive Christ, pray with him or her and thank the Lord for drawing them to faith.

If the student is unsure or uneasy, offer to set up a follow-up talk.