The Character of Christ pt 2

[0:00] In this book, it's small, but without it, we're helpless, we're clueless, we're totally lost and blind. One of the greatest revelations, and I'm not overstating that, it is truly one of the greatest things that God has revealed to man in this Bible.

[0:19] Without this Bible, without this revelation, like I said, we're just, we're dead, we're lost, we're dust, and that's all we'll ever be. This is a truth that man could not otherwise discern on his own, and he could not grasp, and he would exist on earth just completely empty and lost without it.

[0:42] Hebrews chapter 11, and look at verse number 6 to begin here, Hebrews 11 verse 6. The Bible says, But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is.

[1:06] He that cometh to God must believe that he is. That he is loving? No. That he's powerful? No. That he is.

[1:16] Present that he exists. Present tense, that he is. Man cannot see God, man cannot feel, man cannot detect his person, but if I desire to come to him, approach him, it takes faith.

[1:33] I must believe. Believe that he is. God is only approached with faith. Else I'd never know him.

[1:44] Else I'd never be able to connect with him. Else I'd never communicate or contact God. Yet when a man exercises faith or belief, when a man displays that faith, a belief in something or someone, an almighty being that he can't see, touch, detect, feel, something happens.

[2:03] A mysterious veil is removed. An entrance is gained into what was previously unknown and really an entire realm becomes relevant.

[2:16] Read the verse again. In verse 6 it says, Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, exercise faith, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

[2:28] A diligent rewarder of them that seek him, that is seeking him in faith or by faith seeking God, God will reward that man.

[2:39] What's he going to reward him with? You might say salvation. Well, that's not in the passage anywhere. That's not the reward. You might say, Well, maybe he rewards us with money.

[2:51] Of course we would think that right away. No. Eternal life or health. No, no, no. What is it that God rewards a man that comes to him or approaches him in faith?

[3:05] What does he reward him with? That's the question and the answer is going to be something that we're going to look at several things in several ways today. The answer is in the passage.

[3:16] Come back to verse number 3. Hebrews 11 verse 3. Look at the first four words. Through faith, Through faith, We understand.

[3:29] Through faith, We understand. What God rewards a man that approaches him in faith with is understanding. Now I'm going to show you this and prove this to you and give you many, many illustrations in the scriptures as possible.

[3:44] Exercising faith produces understanding. Believing what God said. I can't ever stop and say those words without thinking of my pastor that I grew up under.

[3:59] His little phrase, he always say this is, Faith is taking God at his word. Just taking God at his word. That's faith. A man that exercises faith will get something.

[4:13] He'll be rewarded with something. It's understanding. Believing what God said results in understanding what God said to be truth. Now listen intently, please.

[4:24] Follow this carefully so you get it and we can go on. What follows faith is an understanding that we could not otherwise obtain. We couldn't receive it.

[4:37] Left to our physical senses. We cannot detect God or his spiritual truth. Keep your place in Hebrews, but turn back with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 2.

[4:52] 1 Corinthians chapter 2. 1 Corinthians chapter 2.

[5:06] 1 Corinthians chapter 3. 1 Corinthians chapter 3. And let's look at verse 14. And here we learn of the natural man.

[5:17] It's a great word. It's describing man with his physical senses is all he has. But the natural man, not the spiritual man. 1 Corinthians chapter 3.

[5:28] The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness unto him. We'll see that word again in a little bit. Make note of it in your mind. Foolishness unto him.

[5:39] 2 Corinthians chapter 3. Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. Discerned. Earlier we read that God reveals his deep things, the wisdom of God unto us by his Spirit.

[5:51] And that the things of God knoweth no man but the Spirit of God, and so forth. But the natural man, the man that is lost without Christ, without God, without the new birth, without the Spirit of God.

[6:05] He only has his taste, touch, feel, smell, and sound. And that man, he lacks something. He lacks understanding because he hasn't exercised faith.

[6:17] Understanding of all spiritual things. Understanding of supernatural working of God is only apprehended through faith. Now back in Hebrews chapter 11.

[6:28] And we'll begin to build this and help you see this clearly. Through illustrations in the scriptures. You could have kept your place in 1 Corinthians 2. I forgot. We'll be back there in a little bit.

[6:38] So God will reward him. God expects a man that comes and approaches him and seeks him to come in faith.

[6:52] Amen. And God will reward that man with something. Verse 3. Understanding. Here's the example. Verse 3. Through faith.

[7:04] I'll begin at verse 1. Now faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

[7:25] Now I want to preach a message. I'm calling this faith comes first. Faith is first. Understanding follows faith. Through faith we understand the first point is creation.

[7:40] In verse 3 we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God. The only way I understand that is through faith. Now let's just look at this for a moment. We got time this morning. I'm not going to get this whole thing done today.

[7:52] So let's go back to Genesis chapter 1. Genesis chapter 1. The very beginning of this book. A man that might open this book is immediately confronted with a truth that he can either receive or reject.

[8:14] If he's going to receive this truth he's going to receive it by faith. Verse number 1. In the beginning God. Whoa. What? God?

[8:26] There's a God? Where is he? Where did he come from? How did he get there? Who made God? And all the questions come.

[8:38] But if you don't, if you exercise faith you can gain an understanding of, yeah, God. Of course God. What else? It makes perfect sense.

[8:50] In the beginning God did something. Created the heaven and the earth. And now as we move through the passage, verse 3, God said, let there be light. And there was light.

[9:00] There's day 1. We have the six days of creation. And each one beginning with the same three words. Verse 6. And God said. Day 2. Let there be a firmament. Day 3. Verse 9.

[9:10] And God said. Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together. Under the one place let the dry land appear. And it was so. We see it in verse 14. Day 4. With the sun, moon, and stars.

[9:23] Day 5. Verse 20. And God said. Let the waters bring forth abundantly. The moving creature that hath life and fowl that may fly. Verse number 24. Is day 6.

[9:34] The earth bringing forth living creatures. And God creating man. And each time it's and God said. And God said. And God said. And through faith we understand that the world is refrained by the word of God.

[9:48] I wonder if you get to Genesis 1 and read that account if you believe it. Does it make sense to you? That God, almighty God, spoke and created all things.

[10:00] Heaven and earth. Does that make sense to you? Do you understand how that's even possible? Well, I didn't ask if you could explain it. And scientifically describe the.

[10:13] Just asking you. Do you understand how a holy and almighty God can create whatever he wants to. However he wants to. With things that don't appear. The things which are seen were made of things which do not appear.

[10:25] That doesn't make sense. But do you understand that he could have done that? That the world was created by the spoken word of almighty God. Now think now with me.

[10:37] Man that lacks faith. Reads those very words. That very chapter. And he lacks the understanding of how that's possible. Instead he just has question.

[10:49] After question. After question. Because this seems to be an impossibility. That God created the heaven and the earth. By speaking words. Come on.

[11:01] You don't really believe that do you? Man that lacks faith. Lacks understanding. And therefore says. I don't see it.

[11:13] No. It's not possible. It defies logic. It goes beyond reason. So I cannot believe it. And I cannot receive that. To be true.

[11:26] What is he missing? He's missing faith. A man that exercises faith. In the written word of God. And takes God at his word.

[11:37] And believes it. God rewards him. With understanding. I understand it. I understand God created heaven and earth. I didn't have any trouble teaching that to my children.

[11:48] When they were young. I didn't have to think about how I word. I didn't have to tiptoe around anything. I'm not afraid of the scientific community. What's the best thing they've come up with?

[12:02] It is laughable. It's extremely laughable. And shameful. But you know. You do see now. Don't you? What they're missing. And why they don't have the understanding that we have.

[12:14] Because they lack faith. Faith comes first. Understanding follows. When Mary. The Virgin Mary. Was approached by an angel.

[12:25] In Luke chapter 1. That told her. That she's going to be found with child. And her response to him was. How can this be? Seeing I know not a man.

[12:36] How is this possible? I don't understand. And the angel replied. Saying with God. Nothing's impossible. But her natural response was. I don't understand it.

[12:48] The same thing with Sarah. In the Old Testament. With Abram's wife. She was too old to have children. And she laughed. And God responded in that conversation.

[13:01] Is anything too hard for the Lord? No. But her human response is. I don't understand. Why don't you understand? Because you lack faith.

[13:12] If Sarah heard the word of God. And exercised faith. That you're God. And if you said it. It's so. She would have no trouble with it. Complete understanding. God's capable. If he made this body.

[13:22] Certainly capable of touching my dead womb. She would have complete understanding. After she exercised faith. In the word of God. You need faith to understand.

[13:34] The moment that you exercise faith. In what God said. It becomes apparent. The blinders come off. The veil is removed. Because understanding. Follows faith.

[13:45] The understanding that you and I. As believers possess. That confirms in our hearts. That God is in fact the creator. That understanding came.

[13:56] From being rewarded by God. For our faith. For believing what the Bible says. It does not lie in the fossil record. It doesn't lie in the layers of strata.

[14:09] That we can see and judge. It doesn't rely in the ability. For someone to refute Darwin's theory. Or to stand up against someone.

[14:20] Who believes in the alternative. It's not based on interpreting any evidence. With or without the Bible. The understanding is a gift from God. Because we've exercised faith in his word.

[14:34] Christian science is a good thing. It's come on. It's kind of a good thing. A lot of debating going on with it. It's enjoyable at least. To hear some men stand up for the word of God.

[14:46] And try to convince with evidence and things. But the truth is. Those arguments cannot convince or produce understanding. It has to be with faith.

[14:59] Through faith we understand. And if a Christian wants to interpret evidence. That he sees in the world through the Bible. Amen. That's the best way to study science. With a biblical world view.

[15:11] That's the way to go. No doubt. But museums, exhibits, apologetic material. Is not. It's not what's going to get it done. It's not going to open the eyes. Now back in 1 Corinthians 2.

[15:22] Let's take a peek there again please. 1 Corinthians chapter 2. Understanding comes through the channel of faith.

[15:44] It is a gift of God. It is not man's ability to describe something that took place. Or to define it. And to examine evidence.

[15:57] Or explain it. Look at verse chapter 2 verses 1 through 5. The apostle Paul did not show up to wow his audience with facts. With knowledge.

[16:08] With a solid argument. To get them to believe. Verse number 1. And I brethren when I came to you. Came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom. Declaring unto you the testimony of God.

[16:19] For I determined not to know anything among you. Save Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness. And in fear. And in much trembling. And my speech. And my preaching. Was not with enticing words of man's wisdom.

[16:31] But in demonstration of the spirit. And of power. That your faith. Should not stand in the wisdom of men. But in the power of God. That's what Paul's goal was.

[16:42] To turn their faith toward the Lord God. To believe in God. To believe in what God said. Rather than some intellectual argument. And declaring it with excellency of speech.

[16:53] Or of wisdom. Enticing words of man's wisdom. As he says. Paul didn't seek to get them to believe through those means. Instead he gave them the word of God.

[17:04] And tried to point them to knowing God. God. Example number one. Through faith. We understand creation. Do you see how that. Did I lay that out enough for you to get that.

[17:14] And see. I'm not basing my belief or faith. Or understanding that God created this thing. Because somebody told me that from the strata. Or talking about dinosaurs.

[17:26] I mean. That doesn't get you to this. Point that we're after. Do you see why. A man who lacks faith. Can't believe it. And doesn't follow it at all.

[17:36] And comes up with some alternative theory. Some well maybe we evolved. Maybe we. And came up with something that can't be proven. And is just. Much farther fetched. Than believing God.

[17:47] I know you've heard this before. I'm a firm believer in this thought. And I even use it. That. To. Deny the existence of God. Takes more faith. To look around and say.

[17:59] Well it came from this. This. This. And this. Cause and occasion. And that all took. That takes an awful lot of belief. Because you can't see it. You can't prove it. So you believe it.

[18:10] And no. Rarely will an atheist. Or an evolutionist. Want to claim they have faith. Because they're afraid of that word. They want to avoid that argument. But every one of them has it. And a lot more of it.

[18:22] Than you and I need. To believe what God did. To believe in an almighty being. Who created the universe. So through faith. We understand creation. Let me give you a second one here.

[18:33] Come to John chapter four. Or John chapter one. The gospel of John chapter one. This will be illustration number two. Of this principle. Or of this truth.

[18:45] That understanding follows faith. Faith. Comes first. Now put yourself in the shoes. Of the men that lived at this time.

[18:56] When the Lord Jesus Christ. The man from Nazareth. Nazareth. Mary and Joseph's supposed son. When he shows up. In his ministering. Let's understand what the Bible says first.

[19:08] Verse number one. John one. One. In the beginning was the capital W. Word. That's a reference to the Lord Jesus Christ. How do we know that? And the word was with God. And the word was God.

[19:19] The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him. The word. And without him was not anything made. That was made. Verse number 14. And the word.

[19:31] Was made flesh. And dwelt among us. In verse 15. John bear witness of him. Who's that? The word. The word that.

[19:42] Existed in the beginning with God. And was God. That created all things. Now the word was made flesh. So here we're going to look at the incarnation. The incarnation.

[19:53] That's the doctrinal term to express God taking on flesh. And in John chapter one. We read that God. The word.

[20:04] The eternal word in heaven. The creator. In verse three. Was made flesh. The incarnation of God. God. Now verse number.

[20:17] 10. Says he was in the world. And the world was made by him. And the world knew him not. What's that? They didn't have understanding.

[20:27] He came into his own. And his own received him not. Now faith comes first. In order for. At least in the setting. For the Jews. To.

[20:39] Understand. The incarnation. Without faith. It's an impossibility. He's just. Joseph's son. Don't we know him. And where he's from.

[20:49] Isn't that how they talked? Without faith. Never had the understanding. All right. Look at chapter eight. John chapter eight. Here's a group of men. Who did not believe on him.

[21:00] And some that did. And notice the difference. John chapter eight. And we'll begin in verse 23. In the middle of this.

[21:12] Of the chapter. Verse 23. Jesus Christ speaking. He said unto them. Ye are from beneath. I. Am from.

[21:24] Above. The incarnation. That God. Left heaven. And was made. Flesh. Ye are of this world. I am not of this world. I said therefore unto you. That ye shall die in your sins.

[21:35] For if ye believe not. Faith. That I am he. Ye shall die in your sins. Then said they unto him. Who art thou? Jesus saith unto him. Even the same that I said unto you.

[21:46] From the beginning. I have many things to say to you. And judge of you. But he that has sent me is true. And I speak to the world. Those things which I have heard of him. Notice verse 27. They understood. Not.

[21:57] That he spake to them of the father. Father. Now. Skip ahead here to verse. Well let's see here. Maybe we can. Catch that. Continue on for a minute here.

[22:08] It says in verse 30. As he spake these words. Many believed on him. Then said Jesus. To those Jews which believed on him. They exercised faith. If you continue in my word.

[22:19] Then are my disciples indeed. And ye shall know the truth. And the truth shall make you free. The understanding of the truth. In this case of the incarnation. That Jesus is God.

[22:30] Come down from above. It was available to all. But they first had to exercise faith. Then the lights come on. Look at later in the chapter.

[22:42] Chapter 8. And look at verse 42. Jesus said unto them. If God were your father. These are those that are arguing with him. Didn't believe on him.

[22:52] If God were your father. You would love me. For I proceeded forth. And came from God. Neither came I of myself. But he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech?

[23:04] Even because you cannot hear my word. Which connects back to last week's thoughts. On having ears to hear. To receive the word of God. By faith. Year of your father the devil. And the lust of your father ye will do.

[23:15] He was a murderer from the beginning. And abode not in the truth. Because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie. He speaketh of his own. For he is a liar and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth. Ye believe me not.

[23:27] Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth. Why do you not believe me? Is it plain? They don't believe him. They don't exercise faith in him. They don't believe he came from above.

[23:38] He that is of God. Heareth God's words. Ye therefore hear them not. Because you're not of God. God standing right in front of their face. Having a conversation with him.

[23:50] God that was made flesh. And they're clueless. Because they haven't exercised faith. They didn't believe what he said. Now the Pharisees weren't the only ones.

[24:01] Some believed as we saw earlier in this passage. And they were rewarded with knowing the truth. Look at 1st. Say in John. John chapter 14. It's not just these Pharisees that didn't believe.

[24:19] Even some of his very own struggled. John 14 verse 7. If ye had known me. Ye should have known my father also.

[24:30] And from henceforth ye know him. And have seen him. From henceforth ye know him. They have the understanding. Philip saith unto him. Lord show us the father. And it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him.

[24:42] Have I been so long time with you? And yet hast thou not known me Philip? He that hath seen me. Hath seen the father. And how sayest thou then. Show us the father. What are you talking about Philip?

[24:54] You haven't gotten us yet? So verse 10. Believest thou not? Faith? Don't you believe? That's what's hindering you here.

[25:06] I am in the father. And the father in me. The words that I speak unto you. I speak not of myself. But the father that dwelleth in me. He doeth the works. Believe me that I'm in the father. And the father in me. Or else believe me for the very works sake.

[25:18] Philip. You're having trouble understanding something. And the reason is. You're not exercising faith. This is still a real issue today by the way.

[25:30] Though Christ is not among us in person. There's complete cults and sects and denominations. That don't believe that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. That God came in the flesh.

[25:40] Despite the word of God. The Jehovah's Witnesses don't believe it. The Muslims truly don't believe that he was God. The Mormons don't believe that he was God. And many other Christian science and universalists and those guys.

[25:55] They all reject this truth. And so like many of the Jews. Even today. Men don't grasp the understanding. Because they fail to exercise faith. In the word of God. Come back to John chapter 3 for one more.

[26:07] On this thought here. Of the incarnation of God. And I'm going to pop over to John 6.

[26:19] Right after this. So John 3 verse 31. John the Baptist is preaching. And he said.

[26:31] He that cometh from above. Well there's our incarnation. He that cometh from above is above all. He that is of the earth is earthly. And speaketh of the earth.

[26:41] He that cometh from heaven is above all. And what he hath seen and heard that he testifieth. And no man receiveth his testimony. As a general rule. However verse 33.

[26:52] He that hath received his testimony hath said to his seal that God is true. Saying that if he received or believed that he came from above. He's got the understanding.

[27:03] That this is a truth of God. Look at chapter 6 quickly. And notice what Simon Peter says.

[27:14] Matter of fact you go there. I'm going to catch a verse in Matthew 16. Just to read to follow this up. Here's Simon Peter.

[27:24] Here. Some of the disciples go back in verse 66. And they walk no more with him. Verse 67. Then said Jesus unto the twelve. Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him.

[27:34] Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe. Number one. And number two. Are sure. That thou art the Christ. The son of the living God.

[27:45] And it is in that order. Absolutely. Understanding follows faith. Earlier. In the gospel of Matthew chapter 16. Christ asks those disciples.

[27:57] And he says. Whom do men say that I the son of man am? And they said. Some say thou art John the Baptist. Not God. Some Elias. Not God. Others Jeremiah.

[28:07] So one of the prophets. But nobody's saying that you're God. So Jesus said in verse 15. Matthew 16. 15. But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said.

[28:18] Thou art the Christ. The son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him. Blessed art thou Simon Barjon. For flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee. But my father. Which is in heaven. What happened?

[28:29] God rewarded. Simon Peter with understanding. When he revealed to him. And he exercised faith. Faith comes first. For the understanding creation.

[28:42] For the Jews to understand the incarnation. And we'll just do one more this morning. Come to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. And we do have some verses to keep covering.

[28:54] I hope you're okay with letting the Bible do the speaking this morning. Through faith. We understand creation.

[29:06] Through faith we understand. Or they in that day especially. Understand the incarnation. That God became flesh. And there he stood. And worked miracles. And preached truth. That he came from above.

[29:18] And through faith. We not only receive salvation. But we understand salvation. Watch this. In 1 Corinthians 1 verse 18.

[29:29] The Bible says. For the preaching of the cross. Is to them that perish foolishness. Remember the natural man in 2.14. The things of the spirit of God are foolishness unto him.

[29:41] Neither can he know them. The preaching of the cross. Is to them that perish foolishness. But to us which are saved. It is the power of God. In verse 21. After that.

[29:51] In the wisdom of God. The world by wisdom knew not God. It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching. To save them that believe. Them that believe. It's foolish.

[30:03] Because the message of the cross. Makes no sense. Without faith. A Jew was murdered. Wow. Oh.

[30:13] They envied him. Okay. Oh. The older. Powerful. Prominent figures of their religion. And established. And even in political ways. They didn't like this younger man.

[30:25] Saying the things he said. And accusing and attacking them. And so they had him put to death. And they plotted with one of his followers. Okay. It's just. Kind of a. Pretty normal story.

[30:37] Throughout history. Of assassinations. Of. Of coups. Of things of that name. It's nothing big. Is it? But. Wait a minute. But. If I believe in him.

[30:49] I can have eternal life. And all my sins can be forgiven. It doesn't make any. Earthly sense. Without faith. Salvation.

[31:00] But. To them that believe. Well. The preaching of the cross. Is the power of God. When you exercise faith. In the gospel. That appropriates salvation.

[31:14] Exercising faith. Though. Also. Unlocks. Giving you. To understand. Its power. In. I won't turn here. But in Titus chapter 2. The Bible says. That the grace of God. That bringeth salvation.

[31:25] Hath appeared unto all men. God's grace. That bringing salvation. It's available. It's like a big blanket. On the world. God has grace. To give to any man.

[31:36] It appeared to all men. However. Ephesians chapter 2. Let's turn there briefly. Ephesians 2. To. To.

[31:46] To. Partake of that. God's grace. His saving grace. His forgiving grace. Something is required. Of you.

[31:58] Ephesians 2. And you know it. Verse number 8. For by grace. That's the grace of God. That bringeth salvation. That hath appeared unto all men. For by grace. Are ye saved.

[32:09] You see the next two words. Do you? Through. Faith. If you. Take faith out of the equation. You just have available grace.

[32:22] Saving grace. It's available. But it'll never be appropriated. It's appropriated. Through faith. God's saving grace. Is appropriated.

[32:33] When man exercises faith. But when man does not exercise faith. Look at chapter 4. Man is lost. Man is blind.

[32:45] And his understanding is. The Bible says darkened. Look at verse 17 and 18. Ephesians 4.17. This I say therefore. And testify in the Lord. That ye henceforth.

[32:56] Now that you're saved. Walk not as other Gentiles walk. In the vanity of their mind. Having the understanding darkened. Being alienated from the life of God. Through the ignorance that is in them.

[33:07] Because of the blindness of their heart. So a lost man is blind. A lost man has the understanding darkened. How can he have that come to light?

[33:18] By exercising faith. Come to 2 Corinthians chapter 2. And see it here. The lost man is blind. But light is available.

[33:29] And it can shine in. But there has to be belief. That opens the door. That takes the veil away. 2 Corinthians 4.

[33:41] We'll start in verse 3. But if our gospel be hid. It is hid to them that are lost. In whom the God of this world.

[33:53] Hath blinded the minds of them. Which believe not. Lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ. Who is the image of God. Should shine unto them.

[34:04] How will it shine? When they believe. It won't shine. And then they believe. They believe not. For we preach not ourselves. But Christ Jesus the Lord.

[34:15] And ourselves your servants. For Jesus sake. For God. Who commanded the light. To shine out of darkness. Has shined in our hearts. To give the light. Of the knowledge. Of the glory of God.

[34:27] In the face of Jesus Christ. When we believe. Then the light shines in. And gives us the knowledge. Of the glory of God. It gives us understanding.

[34:39] Preaching the cross is powerful. Preaching the cross does make sense. And it is very clear. What Christ has accomplished. For me and for you. On the cross of Calvary. After.

[34:51] I exercise faith in it. After faith. Faith comes first. Understanding follows. Now that I'm on the other side. Of belief.

[35:02] I'm on the other side. I have understanding. And now that I'm there. You know what it is. It's frustrating. To try to convey. The gospel message. To a blind man.

[35:14] It's frustrating. To try to get them. To see it. You have lost. Loved ones. Don't you? You have family. Someone. Or a friend. Or an uncle. Or a brother. Or a sister. You have somebody you know is lost.

[35:25] You've tried to witness to them. You've attempted. To explain. Or to get the gospel. Of Jesus Christ. To them. Knowing what it can do for them. And they won't receive it.

[35:37] And you just. You just. You just want to get them saved. You want to. You don't want them to go to hell. You don't. They don't know what they're missing. You know what they're missing. And you can't convey it to them.

[35:48] Because for them. It's foolishness. According to the Bible. For you. It's the power of God. It's everlasting life. It's relief. A burden lifted.

[35:58] Forgiveness of sins. Righteousness. Justification. Being reconciled to God. By the death of his son. To them. Just don't see it. What's missing?

[36:10] Faith. Faith's missing. Try to win that lost soul. Witness to him. Night and day. You can't force a sinner. To trust. In Jesus Christ.

[36:22] You can kind of force them. To pray a prayer. But really. What does that do? If it's not mixed with faith. If they're not exercising faith.

[36:32] In the Lord Jesus Christ. You can show them. From the Bible. That according to this book. Works cannot save you. Being religious. Doing good deeds. Cannot earn God's favor. Can't earn your forgiveness.

[36:44] It's received by faith only. You can do those. You can prove from the Bible. Who, what, where, when, how. But they've got to exercise faith in the gospel. In what God said.

[36:55] Two more passages this morning. And the first one is 2nd Timothy chapter 3. 2nd Timothy chapter 3. Faith comes first.

[37:12] 2nd Timothy chapter 3 verse 15. Paul writing to Timothy. His son in the faith. Saying. And that from a child. Thou hast known the holy scriptures.

[37:25] Notice this next phrase. Which are able. To make thee wise unto salvation. But there's just this thing. That you need to have. An exercise or exhibit.

[37:37] Through faith. Which is in Christ Jesus. The scriptures are able. Only. When it's mixed with faith. When you believe. Take away the faith.

[37:51] The scriptures are just words on a page. Some religious book. That these bible thumpers. Think is going to do something for them. And it was written by man.

[38:01] By the way. Without faith. One more reference. That's Acts 28. And watch how this plays out here. Acts 28.

[38:14] Through faith. We not only receive. But we understand. Salvation. We understand now. All of those things. We didn't understand.

[38:25] When we first believed it. Now we understand. How his righteous life. Gave. Covered my sins. And how God. Imputed. His righteousness. And took away.

[38:37] My guilt. But this bible is just. Just a book. A maze. To me. Until faith is exercised. Acts chapter 28.

[38:49] And verse 25. And when they agreed. Not among themselves. They departed. After that.

[39:00] Paul had spoken. One word. And he quotes the prophet here. Against these Jews. Saying. Well spake the holy ghost. By Isaiah the prophet. Unto our father. Saying. Go unto this people.

[39:11] And say. Hearing ye shall hear. And shall not understand. And seeing ye shall see. And not perceive. For the heart of this people. Is waxed gross.

[39:22] And their ears are dull. Of hearing. And their eyes have they closed. Lest they should see. With their eyes. And hear with their ears. And understand. With their heart. And should be converted. And I should heal them.

[39:33] Be it known therefore. Unto you. That the salvation of God. Is sent unto the Gentiles. And that they will hear it. And when he had said these words. The Jews departed. Now what's going on here.

[39:45] Why would he say that. Why would he say. And quote that scripture. And put it on them. And say we're done. And God's done with you. It's going to the Gentiles. Here's why. A little bit earlier in the chapter.

[39:55] Verse 23. Verse 23 says. When they had appointed a day. There came many to him. In his lodging. That's to Paul.

[40:06] These Jews came to Paul. To whom. He expounded. And testified. The kingdom of God. Persuading them. Concerning Jesus. Both out of the law of Moses. And out of the prophets.

[40:16] From morning till evening. He has given them. A bible lesson. But look at verse 24. And some believed. The things which were spoken. And some believed not.

[40:30] For those that believed not. The word of God was powerless. No faith. Can't receive it. No understanding. Once again.

[40:42] Understanding. Follows faith. Faith. They hear with their ears. But they didn't understand. Their heart. He said. Lest they would understand. With their heart.

[40:52] And be converted. Those people didn't believe. That's the problem. They wouldn't believe. The written word of God. And therefore. No understanding.

[41:04] Their eyes are closed. Their ears are closed. Understanding follows faith. Faith comes first. Exercising faith. And what God said.

[41:14] Produces understanding. The great revelation. That I spoke of earlier. Is exploring here. Is that. God deals in faith. Man wouldn't get that.

[41:26] Without the book. He would just. Try to please him. By sacrificing. His only child. He's done that. And it hasn't worked. He's tried to please him. By.

[41:37] Gathering up the fruits. Of the ground. The greatest of his labors. And offering them. And finding. He doesn't accept that either. The great revelation. Of this book. One of the greatest revelations.

[41:49] Is that God operates. In faith. He requires faith. And without faith. It's impossible to please him. And if you're going to come. Or approach God. You've got to believe. You've got to believe.

[42:00] That he is. The Bible declares this. And illustrates this. That understanding then. Follows faith. We looked at it. In three categories. Creation.

[42:11] Incarnation. And salvation. Through faith. We understand. These areas. The truth of God. Is unchanged. It's on. Or it's established.

[42:21] But whether we grasp it. And understand it. It's going to take our faith. Next week. I'm going to continue. This study. And give you a few more examples. Including the Christian life. And including. The word of God.

[42:33] And I'll close with this thought. I'll seek to prove to you. From the scriptures. That if you're having trouble. Believing. That the King James Bible. Is the pure words of God.

[42:45] It's a faith issue. It's a faith issue. Because God deals in faith. God responds to man's faith. God operates in faith.

[42:58] Without faith. It's impossible to please him. And so I want to continue. This next week. And I hope you'll be able. To be back with us. And conclude this study. That faith comes first. And I'll give it to you.

[43:09] In your Christian life. A little bit more. Of a practical thing. Just ran out of time today. It's a little bit lengthy. Of a study. So I hope that that thought. Gets inside. And just stays. And we'll just close.

[43:20] With a word of prayer. This morning. Went a little late. We'll not sing. But next week. We will conclude. In a normal manner. I want to get you out now. Faith comes first.

[43:32] God deals in faith. You want something from him. He'll reward you. When you exercise faith. He'll reward you with understanding it. Let's close. Our Father in heaven. Thank you.

[43:42] For this morning. Thank you. For giving that holy book. To us. And revealing these truths. To us. And Lord. I pray. That I was able. To explain it. In a way. That was receivable.

[43:53] That your spirit. Would bear witness. To these truths. In the hearts. And minds of men. God. Sometimes faith. Faith is hard for us. To exercise. And to. Exhibit to you.

[44:03] Because we are. Dust. We're so connected. To our senses. And we want to see it first. And prove it first. And then we'll believe it. And follow it. And truly. That is the way of man.

[44:15] Lord. Break us free of that. And help us to be children of God. That exercise faith. In an almighty God. Understanding and believing. What you said to be true. And not questioning it.

[44:26] But believing it. And then being rewarded. With the understanding. Of how it's so. Thank you for this morning. Thank you for each one that's here. Please go with us. Throughout this day.

[44:37] And bless the fellowship. That follows with the ladies. We pray in Jesus precious name. Amen. You are dismissed. domu. Amen.

[44:48] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.