Sermon : Drifting Toward Death Page 1

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1 Sermon : Drifting Toward Death Page 1 When Faith Dies Text : James 2: 26 ; Hebrews 6: 1-12 S#1. A. For the past three lessons we have been studying faith. S#2. 1. We saw that salvation is by grace through faith. a. God hates sin in every form. b. God is willing to forgive sinner. c. No one is too wicked to be forgiven. d. Forgiveness depends upon living faith. 2. We observed there is a difference between faith and belief. a. The same word is used for faith and belief. b. Many who believe have no faith. c. Works display faith, but they cannot save. d. Only living faith can save anyone. 3. We asked, How does one develop faith? a. First, one must believe in God. b. One must then learn God s will and internalize it. c. What is learned must be lived out in one s life. d. The believer must learn to think in spiritual terms. B. Once faith is developed, it is dynamic, never static. S#3. 1. Faith is always growing stronger or weaker. 2. Salvation depends on one maintaining his faith. 3. Saved people can become lost, if they lose their faith. 4. Becoming lost is always one s voluntary choice. I. Faith is always growing or weakening, but it is never static.. S#4 A. Jesus said the Apostles were weak in faith before the resurrection. S#5. 1. While they we on the sea a storm came up; they panicked, but Jesus slept. Matt. 8: 25 And they came to Him and woke Him, saying, "Save us, Lord; we are perishing!" 26 He said to them, "Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?" Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and it became perfectly calm. 2. After the resurrection, the Apostles preached unafraid with power. 3. The Apostles preached knowing they would be persecuted, jailed and killed.

2 Sermon : Drifting Toward Death Page 2 B. Even faith that is strong can fail when tested. S#6. 1. Peter had enough faith the step out of the boat, but failed to continue. Matt. 14: But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?" 2. Peter bragged that he would never fall away from following Jesus. S#7. a. Matt. 26: 31 Then Jesus said to them, You will all fall away from me this night b. Matt. 26: 33 But Peter said the Him, Though all fall away I will never fall away. c. Matt. 26: 34 Jesus said to him, Truly I say to you that this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times. 3. Relate context and climax Luke 22: But Peter said, "Man, I do not know what you are talking S#8. about." Immediately, while he was still speaking, a rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had told him, " Before a rooster crows today, you will deny Me three times." 62 And he went out and wept bitterly. C. If one repents, a temporary laps in faith can be forgiven and he can be restored. Luke 22: 31 Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift S#9. you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." D. This is why Christians are commanded to support each other. S# James 5: Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders S#11. of the church and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has ( Sin = spiritual sickness ) committed sins, they will be forgiven him. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. 2. God through the Apostle Paul commanded Christians to support each other. Gal. 6: 1-2 Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are S#12. spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 3. God through the Hebrew writer commanded us to reinforce each other s faith. Heb. 1: Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, S#13. for He who promised is faithful; 24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

3 Sermon : Drifting Toward Death Page 3 II. Salvation depends upon one maintaining his faith until the end.. S#14. A. Salvation is by grace, but it is through faith. S# Eph. 2: 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 2. When faith is gone, that which conveys grace is gone. S#16. B. God taught us via the Apostle Paul that salvation depends on continuing faith. 1. I Cor. 15: 1-2 Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. 2. Notice : If the faith is not held fast, belief is in vain, i.e., worthless C. God repeated the same admonition in the letter to the Hebrews. ( cf-text ) S# Heb. 3: 6 but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end. 2. Heb. 3: Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, S#18. unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end, III. Saved people can become lost again if they lose their faith.. S#19. A. Grace is received only through faith and salvation is by grace so to S#20. fall from grace is to fall from salvation, i.e., to become lost. Gal. 5: 4-5 You have been severed from Christ, you who are seeking to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5 For we through the Spirit, by faith, are waiting for the hope of righteousness B. God warned the brethren in Rome that they could be cut off from salvation. 1. Rom. 11: You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I S#21. might be grafted in." 20 Quite right, they were broken off for their unbelief, but you stand by your faith. Do not be conceited, but fear; 21 for if God did not spare the natural branches, He will not spare you, either. 22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God's kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. 2. They were cut off because of the lack of faith, but can be restored by renewed faith.

4 Sermon : Drifting Toward Death Page 4 C. The brethren at Colossae were also warned about falling away. 1. Col. 1: And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, S#22. engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 2. Our continued relationship with God depends on our continued faith in Jesus. D. Those who turn back are in worse shape than those who did not begin. 1. II Pet. 2: For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world S#23. by the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and are overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would be better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than having known it, to turn away from the holy commandment handed on to them. 22 It has happened to them according to the true proverb, "A dog returns to its own vomit," and, "A sow, after washing, returns to wallowing in the mire. 2. How can one be worse off than being lost? Lost with no hope! Rejected Jesus. IV. One s forfeiture of salvation is always a voluntary choice.. S#24. A. The devil can tempt the Christian, but he can never force him. S# James 1: Each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. 15 Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death. 2. John 10: But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. S# "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; 28 and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. 29 " My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. B. Most who depart drift away from faith without noticing what is happening. S# Heb. 2: 1-3a For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we S#28. have heard, so that we do not drift away from it. 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?

5 Sermon : Drifting Toward Death Page 5 2. Drifting down a river can be dangerous. S#29. a. When drifting one has no control over the boat. b. Drifting is so passive and silent one often doesn t pay attention. c. Back when I used to fish, I stopped drifting when two fishermen drifted over dam. C. It is the nature of man to drift away. S# Isa. 53: 6 All of us like sheep have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him. 2. Rom. 3: 10, 23 The reason there aren t any righteous is because ALL fall short. 3. Drifting requires no effort and often goes unnoticed. D. How does one know he is drifting away from Christ. S# The drifter loses his desire for bible study and prayer. 2. If worldliness that used to be offensive to you no longer is, you are drifting. 3. The drifter loses his desire to be with his spiritual family. a. Allow earthly activities to cause absence from the assembly. b. Too busy to make time for fellowship with brethren. c. Begins prioritizing his earthly family over spiritual family. Matt. 10: He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy S#32. of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. 38 And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 39 He who has found his life will lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake will find it. E. Some remedies for drifting might be : S# Realize that it takes time and effort to maintain faith. Can only control under power. 2. We can t remain stationary; we must grow or we perish. 3. All Christians need the help of other Christians. Moses arms held up/ Jesus carry cross 4. Stay in constant communication with God Pray and listen * Anchor yourself to the thrown of God and then keep shortening the rope. CONCLUSION : A. Faith is like a tire with a slow leak, it needs to be kept refilled. S#34. B. Drifting away is the most dangerous threat facing most Christians. S#35. C. Faith is essential for spiritual survival be a good steward of your faith. S#36 S#37. Communion slide

6 Sermon : Drifting Toward Death Page 6 Lesson Text : James 2: 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Hebrews 6: Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, 2 of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. 3 And this we will do, if God permits. 4 For in the case of those who have once been enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift and have been made partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, 6 and then have fallen away, it is impossible to renew them again to repentance, since they again crucify to themselves the Son of God and put Him to open shame. 7 For ground that drinks the rain which often falls on it and brings forth vegetation useful to those for whose sake it is also tilled, receives a blessing from God; 8 but if it yields thorns and thistles, it is worthless and close to being cursed, and it ends up being burned. 9 But, beloved, we are convinced of better things concerning you, and things that accompany salvation, though we are speaking in this way. 10 For God is not unjust so as to forget your work and the love which you have shown toward His name, in having ministered and in still ministering to the saints. 11 And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope until the end, 12 so that you will not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. James 2: 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. Sir Winston Churchill at Harrow, 'Young men, never give up. Never give up! Never give up!! Never, never, never-never-never-never!'"