What is a Christian – Believing?
Introduction
Homework Review
What did you discover about the gifts God gives to those who come to Christ?
Review
Last week in exploring the question
'What is a Christian?' we saw:
- A Christian is a person who belongs to the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15), that is, has Jesus Christ as King.
- To belong to this Kingdom I must REPENT (last time).
- To belong to this Kingdom I must BELIEVE (today's study).
What is Faith?
We are going to look at three incidents from Mark's Gospel which illustrate faith.
Read Mark 5:21-24, 35-43
Taking Jesus At His Word
How would Jairus have felt when the message came that his daughter was dead? Faith here is trust in Jesus' word despite all the evidence to the contrary, is based, not on how we feel, but on the facts of what Jesus says: 'Don't be afraid only believe' (v.36)
Facts/Faith/Feelings
Three men are walking along the top of a narrow wall. The first man is called Facts, the second Faith and the last, Feelings.
As long as the middle man, Faith, keeps his eyes on Facts, he can walk securely and steadily on the wall. If he turns around and looks over his shoulder at Feelings, he starts to wobble and feel insecure.
Similarly, in the Christian life, solid faith is based on the facts of Jesus as learned in the Bible. If we go too much by feelings, our faith will always be unsteady and weak.
Reaching Out to Jesus
Mark 5:25-34
The woman's faith was small—a secret touch of his garment. Jesus said, 'If you have faith like a mustard seed, you can move mountains: A mustard seed is extremely small. The vital thing is not the quantity, but the direction of faith!
Jesus does not allow the woman to remain hidden in the crowd. She was required to show herself publicly. If I am to follow him, I must do so openly, and not be ashamed of him
Having Child Like Trust
Read Mark 10:13-16
Note that this is not childish faith that Jesus speaks about. This is more than giving mere assent with my mind. It means trust such as a child places in its parents.
Receiving Jesus As Your King
Recall Jesus' words:
Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it. (Mark 10:15)
We have seen that, to receive the Kingdom of God, a person must receive Jesus Christ as their Lord or King, and their Saviour from sin. This is a personal step. No one can take it for you.
Knowing God Accepts Me
Read John 5:24
This tells the believer something about the present and something about the future.
Present: 'he...has eternal life'. Point out the present tense, has. It is not boasting to say, 'I know I have eternal life.' It is just taking God at his word, i.e. it is faith. Nor is it saying, 'I am good'. It is saying that what Jesus has done, not what I have done, makes me acceptable to God.
Future: 'he will not be judged'. Jesus is talking here about the judgment which determines our eternal future, heaven or hell. The believer will not face that judgement, as no charge can be brought against him/her.