The Guide to Faithfulness
Many times we emphasize the importance of becoming a Christian and this is certainly important but when examine the NT scriptures what you will find is that Bible is primarily directed at the Christian and how they can remain faithful to God. So, from this we learn that the Word of God is our guide to faithfulness after all Peter tells us in,
2 Peter 1:2 Grace
and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our
Lord, 3 as His divine power
has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,
through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,
Everything that we need to know about how to live our life for God is found within the NT scriptures. It teaches us how to deal others and how we must overcome sin. If we every hope to be found right with God in the end then we must go to God Words to discover what it involved in being faithful to him because without out none of us will ever see the glorious place described as heaven. We must understand that,
Romans 1:16 For I
am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to
salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the
Greek.
When Jesus was talking to the Samarian women at the well he told her,
John 4:22
"You worship what you do not know; we know what we worship, for salvation
is of the Jews. 23 "But
the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the
Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 "God is Spirit, and
those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth."
This means that our worship to God must be from our heart and it must done in accordance to God’s Word. Both of these conditions are necessary to be pleasing to God and the writer Hebrews tells us in,
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to
please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.
The Paul tells our where
our source of faith comes from in,
Romans 10:17 So then
faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Then finally James
teaches us that just hearing God’s Word is not enough but that we must be
actively involved in being a doer of his Word.
James 1:21
Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with
meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and
not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23
For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man
observing his natural face in a mirror; 24
for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he
was. 25 But he who looks into
the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful
hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
As you can see it very
important that we don’t just read God’s Word but that must live it and breath
it to have the kind of faithfulness that God wants us to have. There are
certainly great consequences for not loving God enough to obey his commands as
expressed in,
2 Thessalonians 1:7 … when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven
with His mighty angels, 8 in
flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 These shall be punished with
everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His
power,
Now that we have looked at the importance of using only God’s Word as our guide for faithfulness lets take a look at how it describes the struggles of living faithfully unto God.
First notice how Paul describes living the faithful life as a race in,
1 Corinthians 9:24 Do you
not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run
in such a way that you may obtain it.
25 And everyone who competes for the prize is
temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown,
but we for an imperishable crown.
26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight:
not as one who beats the air. 27
But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have
preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.
Also the writer of
Hebrews adds this,
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author
and finisher of our faith,
I think everyone in here
can understand this simple illustration because I think we all know to some
degree how much a person has to train as runner if they are going be able to
beat their competition. They must train every day that the can to condition
their bodies to be able to run as fast it possible can and make it possible for
them to be able to endure the race. I have great example of this but it means I
am going to have to tell off on myself but I willing to do that. About 3 or 4
months ago after Wednesday night class we arrived at home and I had to get out
to pull the trash can back away from the road. Well, I was feeling really
energetic that day and just for the fun of it I decided to run as fast as I
could to my front porch which is about 1/10th of a mile and my
family got pretty good laugh out of me acting so crazy.
Well, you have to
understand that I am not someone that exercises I have always just jumped up
and gotten involved in an activity. Well, it had been a long time since I had
ran anywhere except for maybe the dinner table and so for the next 2 day my
legs were sore because my body was conditioned to run so hard.
This same thing is what
happens if we don’t exercise ourselves spiritually. We will be unprepared to
meet the challenges before us. This is why its important that train every
chance we get but study God’s Word and living our life by it. As Paul said we
must run our race of Christianity in such away that we can be confident that we
will receive that crown of life that Jesus has promised to us. We must always
keep Jesus our goal and keep pressing forward.
Another the Bible
describes the life of a faithful Christian is a fight.
1 Timothy 6:12 Fight
the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also
called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many
witnesses.
There are many battles
with sin that we will have to have fight but with God and His word on our side
we can be prepared to fight those battles. I love how Paul describes this in,
Ephesians 6:10
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God,
that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against
flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers
of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in
the heavenly places. 13
Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth,
having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the
gospel of peace; 16 above
all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the
fiery darts of the wicked one. 17
And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God; 18 praying
always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this
end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints -- 19 and for me, that utterance may
be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of
the gospel, 20 for which I am
an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
This why the Bible describes us as soldiers of Christ. When we arm ourselves with the Word of God and we allow God direct our footsteps there isn’t any sin out there that we cannot overcome. However you neglect the word of God you are going be weak in your faith. You will be like a unarmed solider trying to take on a heavily armed army and you will lose. Paul sums of both of these concepts at his life in,
2 Timothy 4:7 I have fought
the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the
faith. 8 Finally, there is
laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge,
will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved
His appearing.
Another important descriptions of faithful living has to do with bearing fruit, Notice as Jesus explains in,
John 15:1"I
am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 "Every branch in Me that
does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears
fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 "You are already clean
because of the word which I have spoken to you.
4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear
fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you
abide in Me. 5 "I am the
vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears
much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
6 "If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a
branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the
fire, and they are burned. 7
"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you
desire, and it shall be done for you. 8
"By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be
My disciples.
First of all I want to
point out that Jesus has Christian in mind here because only those that in
Christ can be apart of that one vine and so if you are not Christian you will
never be produce fruit that is pleasing to God because you are not apart of
that one life giving vine. Now Jesus teaches us hear that even when we get saved
and become apart of him that it is not a permanent attachment because if you
are not bearing fruit which is equivalent to not being faithful then the
farther will you from the vine and you will be in a lost condition. These
passages show clearly that once saved always saved is false teaching. Now Jesus
also tells us that if we do bear fruit then the father will prune us so that we
can produce even more fruit and so we can see the faithful Christian is one is
always looking for ways to produce fruit for the Lord.
So we should learn from
the examples that living the faithful Christian life is not easy and that it
will have it challenges but it we want to make to heaven we must learn to
overcome these challenges by allowing God to Guide us with his perfect Word.
Even Jesus himself tells us the challenge of living faithfully to God in,
Matthew 7:13"
Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the
way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 "Because narrow is the
gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who
find it.
While may it be
challenging to be a faithful Christian God wants us to be successful and he has
giving us everything we need to know on how to accomplish our goal as Paul told
Timothy,
2 Timothy 3:16 All
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be
complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
If we fail the only
person that we can blame is ourselves because it is up to you and I to look to
God’s Word and live our life by it. I have no doubt that if we make God and His
Word a part of our everyday lives that we will have no problems remaining faithful
unto God unto the day we die. Notice what Jesus says about this in,
Matthew 7:24 "
Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him
to a wise man who built his house on the rock:
25 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on
the rock. 26 "But
everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a
foolish man who built his house on the sand:
27 "and the rain descended, the floods came, and the
winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."
When we use the Word of
God as our Guide then based on what Jesus has said here we have a firm
foundation on which we can stand and
even if our walls fall down from time to time the foundation will remain true
and we can always rebuild.
Not only do we have the
Word of God to encourage and to keep us strong we also have other things that
will help us remain faithful as well.
1. We have our brothers and
sisters in Christ. They are there for us to help us on our journey to heaven.
The Bible teaches us that we are love one another, encourage one another, and
edify one another. All of these things are designed to help build up and keep
us strong in the faith. We are of like mind and we all have the same goal of
wanting to make it to heaven and so we should always be willing to help each
other be successful.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 Two
are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor. 10 For if they fall, one will lift
up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one
to help him up. 11 Again, if
two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? 12 Though one may be overpowered
by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
This
is why it important that we make friends with Christians so that they can help
us and so that we can be there for them. This is one reason why its important
for us to attend when we have worship service and Bible class so that we can be
there for our fellow brother or sister so that we encourage them or be
encouraged by them.
2.
We also have the power of prayer. Notice what,
Hebrews 4:14 Seeing
then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus
the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High
Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin. 16
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Don’t every underestimate
the power of prayer. I firmly believe that if you ask God to help you be more
faithful I believe that he will. In fact I hope that all of us pray for that
kind of help in lives because we could use all the help we can get. So, as you
can see God has given us everything we need to be successful in remaining
faithful to him.
The life of a faithful
Christian is one of action and not complacency. The Bible uses many descriptive
words that emphasizes the action in faithfulness.
Acts 2:42 And
they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in
the breaking of bread, and in prayers.
2 Peter 3:18 but grow
in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:12 work out your own salvation with fear
and trembling
1 John 1:7 But if we walk
in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom
which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God
acceptably with reverence and godly fear.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study
to shew thyself approved unto God,
1 Thessalonians
5:17 pray without ceasing,
Hebrews 5:8 though He
was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9 And having been perfected, He
became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,
James 1:22 But be doers
of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
As you can see in everyone of the verses the Christian is called to action and if we want to make heaven our destination we must allow God’s Word to be our guide to faithfulness.