Welcome to the
Crestview Church of Christ
Marshall, Texas
Is our Confidence in Faith or Certainty?
DO NOT throw away your confidence! (Paul says in Heb. 10:35), For it has great reward!
Paul then begins to discuss Faith throughout Hebrews Chapter 11.
Was Paul saying that our Faith is supposed to give us confidence?
OR is should our Faith be produced by our confidence?
Do we say: “My Faith is the certainty of my beliefs?”
OR should we say: “My certainty gives me faith in my beliefs?"
What’s the difference? Think carefully about how you view faith.
Let’s look at an example:
Acts 17:10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. (to teach the gospel!) 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men.
Luke says that the Bereans FIRST made certain of the facts, THEN had faith.
Which method is used by those called “noble-minded” by Scripture?
1. You must first make certain you have all the facts correct, then have Faith.
2. You must first have Faith, then let your faith tell you which facts are really certain.
It says that “THEREFORE many of them believed” What made them believe?
“Examining the Scriptures” And they did it daily!
Examine = Anakrino - to investigate, examine, enquire into, scrutinize, sift, question a matter.
HOW MANY people today think that having Faith in God is not to question His Word or His Ways as taught by their religion?
They are taught that just accepting by Faith makes it certain!
Does Scripture call that noble-minded? or is it simple-minded?
HOW MANY people today think that having Faith in Christ is not to question the teachings of their particular church ?
They are taught that just accepting by Faith makes it certain!
Noble-minded? or simple-minded?
HOW MANY people today think that WHATEVER they believe about God will be seen as Faith by Him and that makes their beliefs in Him certain?
Noble-minded? or simple-minded?
Does just BELIEVING in something make it a certainty?
What if you sincerely believe in your heart that something is true?
1. Peter believed that Jesus was wrong about His death, burial, & resurrection.
Was he right?
2. Peter believed and declared he would never deny Jesus
Was he right?
3. Peter believed that holding himself aloof with the Jewish Christians would help avoid<