March 16, 2008 P.M. Service

The Household Of Faith 2

The Requirement And Value Of Faith

Hebrews 11:6

Introduction

We are studying faith (the assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen) and the household of faith as listed in Hebrews 11. At this time I want to back up a step and examine the very broad subject of faith in general, specifically the requirement for it.

Hebrews Ch. 11 is sometimes called the faith chapter because it contains the Bible's most complete description of faith and a life of faith. It was actually written to a group of Christians who needed to be challenged and encouraged not to abandon the faith. They had run onto some hard times in their lives, and when that happens it's easy to become bitter (disenchanted) and to abandon your faith.

It's easy to get mad at God and become totally absorbed in yourself and your own little selfish world with all its problems when your life doesn't go like you think it should. I know. I've been there. I was the same way. Life is not fair. If God was on my side, this wouldn't be happening. Next thing you know, if you had any faith at all, it's gone.

Hebrews was written to call our attention to the fact that it's senseless to abandon our faith. It's a better and the best way. Why would you abandon the best, especially today when you've got TV commercials every day telling you that you deserve the best? If you have the faith of a believer in Christ, you have the best.

Why do people fall away from the faith of Christ when it's the best? If you had your choice, you'd be driving the best vehicle money can buy. You'd have the best furniture, home, and computer. You'd make the best business investments; the best financial investments. You'd send your kids to the best schools and colleges. Why would people choose anything but the best in matters of faith?

What might be some reasons for saved people to abandon their faith? As far as I can tell, there are three possible reasons. The first is that we might not really be saved. The second reason is that we fall away because we draw a distinction between material things and matters of faith. For example, not having a car affects us right now because we can't get to our job, but not going to church has no real consequences. We often conduct ourselves as though physical things are real, but spiritual things are all in our mind, or optional. It's okay to be spiritual as long as life is good, but when the bad comes it's wise to abandon the spiritual to take care of the physical.

Could it also be that people are quick to fall away from faith because they don't see any real, practical value in it? What good does faith do, anyway? Why is it required? Why does the Bible insist over and over again that we must have faith, develop more faith, and live a life that is governed by faith? Today I'll be attempting to show why (according to the Scriptures) that faith is required, and why it is practical and valuable.

I start with a basic observation, and it's this:

I. Faith is required to move from the state of death to the state of life (John 5:24).

John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

A. Here is God's word to those who have no faith at all. Jesus Christ Himself said this: He that hears the Word and believes on God has everlasting life.

The word is the Gospel. To believe God is to believe what God has said about the Gospel.
To believe is to have faith.
The one that believes or has faith in the Gospel has everlasting life, right now.
He is passed from death unto life.
This is what Christ said about the importance of faith. It moves a person from death to everlasting life. We can believe it or we can dismiss it. We can ignore it. We can deny it and choose not to believe what He said. Every one of us, no matter what our decision, will eventually face the judgment depending on whether we had faith or not. You can avoid the message here on earth. You can deny it. You can close your mind and argue with the preacher until he gets exasperated just like I used to do, but you won't avoid Christ. You will stand before a Christ who's just as real as I am, in a setting that's just as real as this sanctuary, and answer to Him on the question of faith. You'll appear as a person of faith or someone without faith, but appear you will.

B. The value of faith in the Gospel is clearly seen in what it accomplishes.

It accomplishes the dream of medical science.
It accomplishes the goal of cryogenics and the fountain of youth. It accomplishes what the movies dream up when they have Dracula or some vampire bite a person.
Faith moves you from death to life.
Ephesians 2:1 says the state of unbelievers (the faithless) is that they are dead. Sure, they breathe and go about their daily affairs. They have children and raise families, but they are the walking dead just as much as a zombie on a cheap horror movie. There is no life in them. If you have not the faith of Christ there is no life in you because you are dead - not physically - but in trespasses and sins against God. Every single human being is born, and dies long before he ever draws his last breath.
Sin is a killer and the natural condition of every man, woman, and child. The wages of sin is death. Where there is sin, there is always death.
When people die in sin, there is eternal death, for no dead sinner can ever enter into the presence of a just and a holy God.

C. If any one of us was sick, as some of us are, and we heard of some treatment that was guaranteed to cure us, who here wouldn't jump at the chance?

Well, God has given us a cure for spiritual death.
It's not necessary to go through this life and all its troubles and then be cast into hell. There is a way out, but it requires faith: repent and believe the Gospel.
Pray to the God to whom you'll answer and ask Him to save you.
You'll be brought to life spiritually; you'll live forever.

II. Faith is required to fulfill the purpose for man's very existence.

A. Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

I had a person ask me one time about the meaning of life. What is the meaning of life? I gave a long answer, but Revelation 4:11 contains the short answer.
These words were spoken from the throne room of heaven during a vision of the opening of the seven seals. It's certainly the wisdom of heaven because man seems not to be aware of the truth given in this verse.
The 24 elders proclaimed the Lord to be worthy to receive glory and honor and power. The reason He is worthy is because He's the Creator.
All things were Created by Him for His pleasure. In one verse we have been told the reason we exist. We exist to be used by God for His pleasure. This is our purpose; therefore we ought to be doing God's will so that He will be pleased.

B. What does this have to do with faith?

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.
Without faith you can't please God, and therefore you can't fulfill your stated purpose which is to exist for His pleasure.
You're required to have faith to please God. That's the ultimate goal of life. That's the goal of every religion, including false religions.

C. If you don't have faith, what are you doing, really? You're wasting God's time and your time too.

If you're not pleasing Him, you're doing nothing but laying up wrath for yourself.
There is a value in faith, isn't it? If there's any value in pleasing God, then there's value in faith.
We'll pay taxes to be on good terms with the government when no one really wants to pay taxes. We'll make sure our kids get to school so we don't get prosecuted. We'll obey the law so they'll leave us alone. None of things is as important as friendship with God, but folks won't take the simple step of exercising a little faith. Meeting that April 15th tax date is only important for a little while. You may get a little refund or you might owe the government. Whether you pass away or the United States collapses, that April 15th deadline we think is so important is eventually going to amount to nothing. Meeting the requirement of faith is important for eternity, and the refund is indescribable. But nothing will be gained without faith.
Without faith, you cannot achieve your purpose in life.

I have one last thought on the requirement and value of faith.

III. Faith is required to live day by day.

A. Faith is required to move from death to life. Faith is required to please God and fulfill your purpose in life. Faith is required to live day by day.

B. I want you listen as I read three verses. I'll be reading quicker than you can flip pages, so don't follow along.

Romans 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Galatians 3:11 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, [it is] evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
Hebrews 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

C. The matter has now been established by three witnesses.

The just (saved) shall live by faith.
They don't live by the law. They live by faith. If anyone draws back, God will have no pleasure in them.

D. We'll work, save, and scrape to achieve some kind of standard of living, some standard we think we have to meet in order to achieve what we want in life.

But we won't achieve any kind of true, meaningful life without faith.
The just shall live by faith: it's a statement of fact and a statement of requirement.
To not have faith is to have a miserable existence, not a real life. Jesus said He came so that we would have life and abundance. How is God going to grant us life and abundance if we don't have faith in His promises and provision? Without faith it's impossible to please Him. If anyone draws back, God has no pleasure in them.
If you're not pleased with one of your children, I know you're not going to kill them or starve them, but do you go out and buy them some expensive gift? You don't do you? You take the opposite route, whatever that may be up to and including some punishment. You'll still provide for them. You'll still feed them. You'll still put clothes on them and take care of them, but they're not going to be getting the good toys they want while there's a problem with their behavior. They'll have life, but they won't have abundance. Are your spiritual ears open? Apply all that to God's behavior toward faithless children. They'll still have life, but no abundance. That's one reason you see saved people running up and down the road with all kinds of problems and needs that seem to keep piling up on them. With some of them it's one thing after another. They have life, but they seem to be lacking abundance. Why? Could it be that they don't do a single thing for God? They're saved but they're not living by faith? Not only could it be, it's likely. The just shall live by faith. God is not pleased with those who do not.
All they have is the blessing of eternal life and an existence. They don't have abundance. They're still blessed to some extent though, because God lets them live.
Brother Ananias and Sister Sapphira could tell us that He's not always that merciful. All this depends on faith.

Conclusion

Faith is a requirement and it has more practical value than a new vehicle.

It's required to pass from death to life.
It's required to fill your purpose in life.
It's required to live an abundant life.

How's your faith? You won't please God without it.