What makes us so different from the denominations? We have godly faith!
Godly Faith has 4 elements:
1. Knowledge Cognition Romans 10:17 Luke Gnosticism
2. Belief Conviction Matthew 16:16 Matthew Catholicism
3. Confidence Confidence 1 John 5:13 John Stoicism
4. Obedience Complaisance John 2:36 Mark Mysticism
Compliance – yielding to a request.
Complaisance a willingness to please, obliging, agreeable, friendly
Men’s teachings destroyed our understanding of godly faith.
Gnosticism – enlightenment through extra knowledge 1 Timothy 6:20-21
Stoicism – reliance on self not confidence in God’s forgiveness, 1 John 1:8
Mysticism – feelings above obedience, 1 Timothy 4:1
Catholicism – believe in the church not the scriptures, buying indulgences Galatians 1:8
Luther – belief in scriptures + confidence in forgiveness.
Calvinism – belief + confidence + knowledge
Liberalism – personal belief only – feels good do it. Church doesn’t matter
Restorationism – knowledge + belief + confidence + obedience = godly faith
Mustard Seed – 4 Parts = Matthew 17:20
Littleness of faith – OLIGOSPISTOS
OLIGO – little, few
Endosperm = Food = Knowledge - Psalm 1:1-3; Ezekiel 47:1f
Radicle = Root = Belief - Matthew 13:31; Revelation 8:7
Hypocotyl = Stem = Confidence
Epicotyl = Leaf = Obedience = Photosynthesis
Justification by Faith
Romans 3:28 – a man is justified by faith apart from works of the law
James 2:24 – a man is justified works and not by faith alone.
Paul is saying you cannot be saved by your works – cannot earn your salvation.
James is saying your works reflect your faith – no works = dead faith = no salvation.
Paul says both in Ephesians 2:8-10; 1 John 1:6-7
You cannot enter the kingdom by your works John 3:5
You cannot remain in the kingdom without doing good works. Matthew 25:42-43,46; James 2:14-17; Galatians 6:2
Take note of Luke 10:36-37; good Samaritan sees opportunity.
Good works do not happen everyday, the point is when the opportunity is there are you ready and willing, who have we helped, India, Africa, local brethren, a baby your neighbor, your friend, what needs to happen is Luke 11:9; People can’t know if you don’t ask.
So what kind of a faith do you have? Knowledge only? Assent only? Confidence only? Obedience only? Or one that is a saving faith with all four elements working together.
Knowledge increasing - Tell me the story of Jesus…
Believe increasing - I’m pressing on the upward way…
Confidence increasing - I’ve been redeemed…
Obedience increasing – Trust and obey, for there’s no other way…
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