Easter 2017:
Do I Really Believe?
John 3:16
Easter is a celebration!
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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 7:21)
“What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14)
Characteristics of Genuine Faith
1. Follow His Lead
“And he said to them, 'Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.' Immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (Matthew 4:19–20)
Two Benefits of Following Jesus:
- Clarity
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'” (John 8:12)
- Stability
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.” (Matthew 7:24–25)
2. Accept His Grace
“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9)
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
3. Invest My Life For Him
“Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” (Romans 6:13–14)
“and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.” (2 Corinthians 5:15)
Matthew 25:14-20 – Parable of The Talents
“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’” (Matthew 25:23)
“And cast the worthless servant into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 25:30)
Two Key Questions:
- What did you do with My Son, Jesus?
- What did you do with what I gave you?
4. Trust His Wisdom and Strength
“Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him,” (Colossians 2:6)
“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13)
5. Hold On To His Promises
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in him.” (2 Corinthians 1:20)
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38–39)
“Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?'”
(John 11:25–26)
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,” (1 Peter 1:3–4)
Forsaking
All
I
Trust
Him
Making It Personal:
- Does my life bear the characteristics of genuine faith?
- What have I done with God’s Son, Jesus?
- What am I doing with what God has entrusted to me?