“FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: Remaining Faithful” - 10-24-21

 “FUNDAMENTALS OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE: Remaining Faithful” - 10-24-21

INTRODUCTION

Fundamentals of the Christian Life 

The beginning - hear, believe, repent, confess, baptism, remain faithful

Hearing and listening

Believing and trusting

Repenting and changing

Confessing and witnessing

Baptism and new life

Remaining faithful vs perfection

John Quincy Adams held more important offices than anyone else in the history of the U.S. He served with distinction as president, senator, congressman, minister to major European powers, and participated in various capacities in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and events leading to the Civil War. Yet, at age 70, with much of that behind him, he wrote, "My whole life has been a succession of disappointments. I can scarcely recollect a single instance of success in anything that I ever undertook." 

Charles Sell, Unfinished Business, Multnomah, 1989, p. 233.

I. CONTINUE IN THE FAITH

“Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭1:21-23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Faith in Jesus

B.  Hope in the gospel

C.  Love of God in Christ

II.  CONTINUE UNDER TRIAL

In 1962, Victor and Mildred Goertzel published a revealing study of 413 "famous and exceptionally gifted people" called Cradles of Eminence. They spent years attempting to understand what produced such greatness, what common thread might run through all of these outstanding people's lives. Surprisingly, the most outstanding fact was that virtually all of them, 392, had to overcome very difficult obstacles in order to become who they were.

Tim Hansel, Holy Sweat, 1987, Word Books Publisher, p. 134

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A.  Trials will come

While assembling their new water bed, my sister Betty and her husband, Everett, realized they would need a hose. Everett dashed to the hardware store and bought one. They attached it to the bed, ran it through the apartment to the kitchen tap and left to wait for the bed to fill. About an hour later they checked on its progress. That's when they discovered Everett had bought a sprinkler hose. 

Reader's Digest, March, 1993, p. 123

B.  Tests will come

A friend of mine awoke one morning to find a puddle of water in the middle of his king-size water bed. In order to fix the puncture, he rolled the heavy mattress outdoors and filled it with more water so he could locate the leak more easily. The enormous bag of water was impossible to control and began rolling on the hilly terrain. He tried to hold it back, but it headed downhill and landed in a clump of bushes which poked it full of holes.

Disgusted, my friend threw out the water-bed frame and moved a standard bed into his room. The next morning, he awoke to find a puddle of water in the middle of the new bed. The upstairs bathroom had a leaky drain. 

Reader's Digest, March, 1993, p. 123

C.  Crown of life will come

III.  CONTINUE UNTIL DEATH

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭2:10‬ ‭NIV‬

A.  Persecution until death

B.  Life as a reward

CONCLUSION

One of the most tragic events during the Reagan Presidency was the Sunday morning terrorist bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, in which hundreds of Americans were killed or wounded as they slept. Many of us can still recall the terrible scenes as the dazed survivors worked to dig out their trapped brothers from beneath the rubble.

A few days after the tragedy, I recall coming across an extraordinary story. Marine Corps Commandant Paul X Kelly, visited some of the wounded survivors then in a Frankfurt, Germany, hospital. Among them was Corporal Jeffrey Lee Nashton, severely wounded in the incident. Nashton had so many tubes running in and out of his body that a witness said he looked more like a machine than a man; yet he survived.

As Kelly neared him, Nashton, struggling to move and racked with pain, motioned for a piece of paper and a pen. He wrote a brief note and passed it back to the Commandant. On the slip of paper were but two words -- "Semper Fi" the Latin motto of the Marines meaning "forever faithful." With those two simple words Nashton spoke for the millions of Americans who have sacrificed body and limb and their lives for their country -- those who have remained faithful.

J. Dobson & Gary Bauer, Children at Risk, Word, 1990, pp. 187-188

‬Continue in the faith.  Continue under trial.  Continue until death.  

CHALLENGE

Journaling is an effective tool for spiritual development.  Writing connects our minds, bodies, and spiritual lives.  My challenge to you during this series is to journal about the topic of Sunday’s message on Monday through Friday of the next week.  This week I would like you to journal about faithfulness.  Who do you know that remained faithful until death?  What trials challenge your faith?  Have you endured persecution for your faith?  Does your faith still have hope?  Have you remained faithful?  

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.