Nature of Saving Faith, Part 3

Driving home: Faith cannot be saved if it is not stopped short of self-commitment to Christ. It must be a transferal of all reliance upon ourselves and all human resources to reliance upon Christ alone for salvation.

This analogy illustrates the wide latitude in the meaning of the word 'feed' in English, paralleling the varied uses of 'pisteuo' (believe) in Greek, to show that context determines the specific meaning of trust or commitment.

As with the English language, so with the Greek language, any language, there is tremendous latitude in the use of the word. You may say, I fed my baby this morning. Now what you may mean by that is entirely different from what you may mean if you say, I fed my husband. I fed my baby.

10:20 - 10:43 Read in full sermon

Driving home: My friend listen listen until you put yourself in his hands there's no saving faith must put yourself in his hands and say Lord Jesus operate on me by the spirit change my heart Lord Jesus by the spirit change my affecti…

This extended analogy illustrates the three elements of saving faith: knowledge (of the disease and the doctor's competence), conviction (that the doctor is perfectly suited to his need), and finally, trust (committing oneself entirely to the doctor's care).

true acting of saving faith. Let me try again to illustrate it because it's the simple that so often causes us our greatest stumbling here's a man afflicted with a dread disease he's come to the absolute conviction that unless something is done to arrest that disease he's going to die in three months time all the indications of all the tests are that this is no figment of his imagination this is no remote possibility everything has come through indicating as far as medical science can determine things that the man has a dread disease that will take his

27:09 - 27:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Examine if you have the necessary knowledge of God (as holy, sovereign judge), yourself (as hopeless sinner), and Christ (as only sufficient Savior) for saving faith.

This metaphor describes how the knowledge of God's judgment can act as a 'worm' that eats away at the enjoyment of sinful pleasures, even for those who have not yet trusted Christ.

until you know something of the God of the Bible who is holy who is sovereign who holds your life in his hands who's the judge of the world and before whom you'll stand in the last day do you know that you say yes preacher I know that in fact it's the knowledge of that that haunts me if I didn't know that I could sin with a man abandonment I could really enjoy my self-centered life but it's the knowledge that God's eye is upon me it's the knowledge that God's judgment throne is before me that is the worm in the gourd of every sinful pleasure some of us remember how that worm ate for years we c...

32:19 - 33:03 Read in full sermon

The point: Commit yourself to Christ, putting yourself in His hands to be saved on His terms, allowing Him to operate on your heart and affections by the Spirit.

This metaphor describes the conscience as an 'amen corner' within every person that affirms the truth of God's word when it is proclaimed, even in unbelievers.

that's not enough I'm almost dead confident I'm speaking to some people this morning who do have that knowledge about yourself and about God and about Christ as the only savior of sinners furthermore that knowledge has become conviction with you that's why you're here you're not a Christian but you can't stay away from this place why? because you're convinced these things are true and when you hear the word of God expounded though on the one hand something in you would want to just chuck the whole business and say I'm done with it there's a little amen-er you've got your own amen corner every ...

33:48 - 34:31 Read in full sermon

The point: Test all so-called branches of the Christian faith by the biblical concept of saving faith (knowledge, conviction, trust) and the place they give to Christ and faith.

This analogy highlights the incongruity of cults (like Mormonism or Jehovah's Witnesses) speaking of salvation rooted in unmerited favor and received by resting on Christ alone, suggesting it would be as unnatural as an Arab singing the national anthem of Israel.

and nothing between in the embrace of faith no water no penance no performances the needy sinner into direct of a mighty Savior that's the belief of biblical salvation you test the so-called cults Mormonism the Jehovah's Witness all of them they dare to tell a sinner look we've set before you the Savior believe in your Savior why that would sound as strange in their mouth as an Arab

41:07 - 41:50 Read in full sermon