Sermon message:
Topic: clearing up misunderstandings about faith
We truly need faith considering the world we live in during these times.
Not just faith to receive salvation, but also faith to overcome different challenges.
Question of what it means to have faith. There have been misunderstandings about it.
Why there are misunderstandings about faith:
First example: rich people. Some put their faith in their riches, but some still trust God. Some use their riches to help others; others don’t. Some use their money for good, others for evil.
Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Matthew 19:23-24 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2019:23-24&version=NKJV
“It’s easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle…”
It has been taught that a rich person back in the day often comes with camels full of goods. But the gates are closed at night, except for the gate known as “the eye of the needle”, which is much smaller than the other gates. The camel with all the riches cannot got through that gate; the rich man empties the riches off the camel
Problem: no one has ever found that gate. Therefore, it’s more likely a literal expression: it’s pretty much impossible for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.
When His disciples heard it, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:25-26 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2019:25-26&version=NKJV
It’s not wrong to be rich; but do not put your trust in riches.
You also cannot buy your way into heaven.
There’s only one way to get into the kingdom of God; through Jesus Christ.
The confusion was whether or not a rich man could enter heaven: but the difference is the person’s heart.
Jesus is The Way
Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.” He said to Him, “Which ones?” Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
Matthew 19:16-22 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Matthew%2019:16-22&version=NKJV
A synopsis of pastor’s interpretation of the passage:
Jesus: "Keep all the commandments."
Me: "I can’t."
That’s why you need a savior — Jesus.
Give away all you have. Jesus did.
Group #2: Another group of people that have a difficult time with faith: intellectuals.
Intellectuals have knowledge. Some put their faith in their education and knowledge instead of Jesus; others put their faith in Jesus.
We have a lot of educated people in the family of God. But we still need to put our faith in God vs our intellect.
But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God. These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1 Corinthians 2:9-14 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=1%20Corinthians%202:9-14&version=NKJV
There’s a difference between intellect and spiritual things.
Intellectuals are not bad people for being intellectual; they simply need Jesus just like everyone else.
Group #3: religious people
Specifically the way a person is brought up (in terms of one’s religion) can hinder a person to receive from the word of God especially if it runs counter to what a person was brought up to believe. A person can be trained to read and interpret the Bible a certain way that may hold them back in their faith.
Consider: Jesus and Nicodemus
Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and do not know these things? Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We know and testify what We have seen, and you do not receive Our witness.
John 3:10-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=John%203:10-11&version=NKJV
Consider: Paul saying —to Jews—that justification is not through the works of the law.
We who are Jews by nature, and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified. I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.”
Galatians 2:15-16,21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%202:15-16,21&version=NKJV
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:3-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%203:3-11&version=NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%202:8-10&version=NKJV
Rich people are not justified by their money, only by faith in Jesus and right relationship with Him.
Intellectuals are not justified by their intellect, only by faith in Jesus and right relationship with Him.
Religious people are not justified by their religion or by “doing everything right” according to the law, only by faith in Jesus and right relationship with Him.
Galatians 2:15-16,21 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Galatians%202:15-16,21&version=NKJV
For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh, though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:3-11 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Philippians%203:3-11&version=NKJV
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:8-10 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Ephesians%202:8-10&version=NKJV
Rich people are not justified by their money, only by faith in Jesus and right relationship with Him.
Intellectuals are not justified by their intellect, only by faith in Jesus and right relationship with Him.
Religious people are not justified by their religion or by “doing everything right” according to the law, only by faith in Jesus and right relationship with Him.