EARNESTLY CONTEND FOR THE FAITH
By Larry White
Nov. 9th, 2003)~ Extempore ~
1Cor.15:3-4
"For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he has been raised on the third day according to the scriptures..."~ Graph ~
If this is your faith, then this is what you are "of". You are not a product of the world. You are not of the TV. You are not of the Democratic or Republican parties. You are not of the digressive social engineers with their social agenda, of the gay agenda, the women's agenda, the one world and anti-God agenda. You are not of this world but of God - born of God and that which is born of God overcomes the world. And the thing about us that overcomes the world is our faith.
This faith that was once for all delivered to the saints is what defines you, and therefore is from where you are coming. Your thinking is in line with this perspective and your behavior in the world is directly influenced by this form of doctrine.
If it's not, then is it really your faith?
Paul says in Gal.5:6 that what matters is faith which works through love. If I'm concerned about not having any works, it is not enough to just get out there and start working - that's just empty activity. Like Paul says in 1Cor.13, it profits me nothing. But rather, I should examine myself for love which will, of course, bring me back to an examination of my faith.
Am I being led of the Spirit? or am I just trying to follow a law?
That depends on what you really believe. The burial and resurrection you had when you were baptized was spiritually real. You didn't just get wet - you were born anew to be God's child - all the great and precious promises were given to you and now you can partake of the divine nature, you can overcome the world and escape its corruption in lust.If you have never been baptized then what are you waiting for? Begin a new life of faith in Christ - repenting of your sins and having them washed away by the blood of Jesus.
(Originally delivered as a sermon in Boise, ID. Nov. 9th, 2003)
LW
