Sermons
Faith Fulfilled: Forever From First to Last
Series: Faith Fulfilled: Forever From First to LastLink to sermon video: Faith Fulfilled: Forever From First to Last - L Siegle
Faith Fulfilled: Forever From First to Last
(Romans 1:16, 17)
INTRODUCTION
1. The title of this series is, “Faith Fulfilled: Forever from First to Last”
2. The basic thought for this series arose from a very brief Facebook post from a friend
Brian Simmons: He writes: “We should be adamantly opposed to the notion that
Faith is a never-ending journey. Unless the journey ends, we are wasting our time.
We must be dogmatic enough to speak in absolutes. The purpose of “seeking” is to
Find. Once we have found what we are seeking, we should be ready to maintain it
to the end.”
3. According to the Dictionary, “FAITH” is defined in several very different ways:
a. (atheist-agnostic) “firm belief in something for which there is no proof.”
b. (Loyalty) “Allegiance to duty, or to a person”
c. (Confidence) “Trust and confidence in a person, thing, or concept”
4. In this series of studies we are going to see that “faith” is far more than what we often think it is and how, when properly understood, “faith” empowers us to live and to walk in a powerful, victorious life each day.
WHAT FAITH IS NOT
1. Before we can fully appreciate what “faith” IS, we must first determine what “faith”
is NOT:
a. Religious Heritage—The religious leader's attachment to being “Abraham’s seed”
(Matt. 3:7; John 8:31-33, 37, 39).
1) Being identified by a certain ‘religious group’ or ‘ethnicity’ is not sufficient or
identical to what “faith” means.
2) “Our family has been members of the church for generations…”
3) To be right with God involves heartfelt actions that are consistent with our
knowledge of who God IS and what God has DONE.
b. Indoctrination—Israel was given “the Law” and had the proper “indoctrination”
of knowing WHAT to believe, but ‘missed the point’ or MEANING of what they
knew to be true (Rom. 9:30-32).
1) Israel had a “zeal” for God, but it was their own effort to establish their OWN
“righteousness” rather than that which is given by faith (Rom. 10:1-4).
2) Israel missed the identity of their own Messiah, He was the “end” (goal) to
which the law pointed forward.
3) It is possible for those who profess themselves to be Christians to focus the
attention on WHAT to believe over against to WHOM that faith is attached.
c. Emotion—Some equate the essence of genuine “faith” with FEELING.
1) Elijah the prophet did many great things for the Lord, but when he was chased
away by Jezebel, his faith wavered and was affected by his feelings (I Kings
19:4ff).
2) Faith based upon the temporary nature of human emotions cannot be
Trusted (Jer. 17:9).
3) Even in those times when we “feel” COMFORT based on things that are
routine, or ‘traditional’—this is NOT the essence of genuine faith.
d. Not Self-Righteousness—Israel believed in the substance of their own
righteousness and the rituals of the law, the priesthood, the temple (Rom. 9:30-
32).
1) Even though Israel had ALL of the promises made to the fathers (Rom. 15:8)
that Paul listed here in chapter 9 of Romans (9:1-7), this did not constitute the
basis of their “faith”
WHAT FAITH IS
1. In order to better appreciate how “faith” is properly defined, we have to realize that
there are multiple layers or elements within the ingredients of what genuine faith
really is.
a. When we use the word “faith” there is the realization that it has both an
OBJECTIVE and a SUBJECTIVE application and meaning.
1) “the faith” (with the definite article in most instances) has reference to the
full and complete body of truth, taught by Christ, the apostles, and recorded
in the pages of the NT.
2) The “one faith” (Eph. 4:5), listed among the seven ones in the text, describes a
complete, singular body of truth (Jude 3).
b. “faith” (without the definite article in most instances) has reference to the trust,
and faithfulness of a person that arises out from the information provided in “the
faith” (Gal. 3:22-23)—Both aspects are interconnected and described here.
2. Faith is a Verb and a Noun
a. Faith IS because faith DOES as a response to what has been revealed in the Word
of God (Heb. 11:6).
b. Faith becomes activated, based upon what we have heard (Rom. 10:17; Acts
8:26-38).
c. In this account, the progression of faith (based upon the substance of the
message is clearly seen) (Acts 8:35-38).
1) When Jesus was preached, a response in faith was the result.
2) The gospel of Christ is the power of God for salvation (Rom. 1:16, 17).
CONCLUSION
1. In this series we are going to explore whether or not faith is ‘ongoing’ or something
that was no longer necessary when God kept His promises and fulfilled His Word.
2. We are going to explore the practical basis of Biblical fulfillment, from the
perspective of those who lived during the “last days” and how the world at that time
was affected by the substance and power of the message.
3. In going through this, the roots of our faith will grow and deepen in our
understanding of the plan and purpose of God—then and now.