FAITH MAY FAIL
(Message by Tanny Keng)
1. Faith
a) The influence that motivates us to obey God is a simple faith in God. Indeed we Christians hold that it is impossible to truly obey God without faith in Christ, or to truly have faith without obedience (Romans 1:5).
b) Now, as we shall notice faith is based on the promises of God. However, when we examine the promises of God, we find that they are conditional. For example the promise of forgiveness of sins is conditional upon our repentance from sin (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19). Now if we believe the promise, we will be motivated to obey the condition. We can hardly claim to have effectual faith in God if we won't do what he says. You see, therefore, that faith influences us to obey God.
2. Faith May Fail
a) Faith can stray from simplicity. It is possible that our "minds may be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).
b) Faith can neglect to obey God. James says that "faith without works is useless" and a person is justified by faith and obedience, "not by faith alone" (James 2:17, 24).
c) Faith can be unfruitful. The parable of the sower and the seed shows that the word of God fails to produce a fruitful faith unless it enters "an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:4-15).
The End ...
1. Faitha) The influence that motivates us to obey God is a simple faith in God. Indeed we Christians hold that it is impossible to truly obey God without faith in Christ, or to truly have faith without obedience (Romans 1:5).
b) Now, as we shall notice faith is based on the promises of God. However, when we examine the promises of God, we find that they are conditional. For example the promise of forgiveness of sins is conditional upon our repentance from sin (Acts 2:38, Acts 3:19). Now if we believe the promise, we will be motivated to obey the condition. We can hardly claim to have effectual faith in God if we won't do what he says. You see, therefore, that faith influences us to obey God.
2. Faith May Fail
a) Faith can stray from simplicity. It is possible that our "minds may be led astray from the simplicity that is in Christ" (2 Corinthians 11:3).
b) Faith can neglect to obey God. James says that "faith without works is useless" and a person is justified by faith and obedience, "not by faith alone" (James 2:17, 24).
c) Faith can be unfruitful. The parable of the sower and the seed shows that the word of God fails to produce a fruitful faith unless it enters "an honest and good heart" (Luke 8:4-15).
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