* Critical Qns: Are you a believer or an unbeliever?
* The line between a believer and an unbeliever has beenblurred these days.
* Many classifications of believers these days.
E.g. pre-believer, nominal believer, lukewarm believer, etc.
* The bible does not endorse all these “pseudo faith category”.
* “…Behold, NOW is the favorable time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation” <2 Cor 6:2>.
* … make every effort to confirm your calling and election <2 Peter 1:10>.
* Giving people time and space to find out what Christianity is all about is different from giving them concession to make light of faith matters.
* Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith… <2 Cor 13:5>.
<1 Kings 18:21>: Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing.
* The Israelites were sitting on the fence regarding Jehovah and Baal.
* “Sitting on the fence” is simply used to describe a situation where someone is undecided or refusing to take a clear stance on an issue.
* Doing so is equivalent to disbelief.
* <Jer 17:5,7>: This is what the Lord says: “Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord… “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him.
* <Jer 17:15>: They keep saying to me, “Where is the word of the Lord? Let it now be fulfilled!”
* <Jer 17:14>: “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
1. The Bible is only concerned about one distinction of men: Believers or Unbelievers?
* Genesis: Abel Vs Cain
* Revelation: Inside God’s city Vs outside city
2. What determines that distinction?
* The Word of God – “Where is the WORD of the Lord??”
* Theattitude and respond to the Word of God shows the critical distinction.
3. False Notion about the Christian Faith
* The kind of life we live.
* Feelings and experiences.
* Religious work or involvement in Christian activities.
4. What is God’s word to us today?
1) Warnings (the coming judgment because of the sins of men)
2) Calling to true repentance in Christ
* But what is our respond to it?
* There is no sitting on the fence.
5. What is true about all unbelievers?
1) They live in unbelief.
* Because of unbelief, he does nothing about his spiritual condition.
* Even a temporary belief is no belief at all.
* Passive resistance is a form of unbelief also.
* Yet the worst thing is when we tell them about those “pseudo faith category” they are in.
2) They defy and scoff at God’s Word.
* “We don’t see judgment” they say.
* They trust in science and technology.
* They even try to suggest religions as helpful for men.
3) They are ignorant.
* Ignorant of Biblical history.
* Ignorant of World history.
* Ignorant of God’s compassion and longsuffering.
* Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water <2 Peter 3:3-5>.
* They believe half-truths.
6. What is true for believers then?
* Jeremiah said: “Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise”.
* In weakness and helplessness, he comes before God to seek mercy and grace
* He will not live in the status quo of half-belief.
* His faith will grow and mature.
7. God’s active work upon the believer to mature his faith
Read <Mk 6:45-52>
45 Immediately Jesus made his disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. 46 After leaving them, he went up on a mountainside to pray. 47 Later that night, the boat was in the middle of the lake, and he was alone on land. 48 He saw the disciples straining at the oars, because the wind was against them. Shortly before dawn he went out to them, walking on the lake. He was about to pass by them, 49 but when they saw him walking on the lake, they thought he was a ghost. They cried out, 50 because they all saw him and were terrified. Immediately he spoke to them and said, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” 51 Then he climbed into the boat with them, and the wind died down. They were completely amazed, 52 for they had not understood about the loaves; their hearts were hardened.
* Jesus dealt with the disciples harden hearts.
* Bringing their focus to Christ, instead of honor and success in this world.
* True Christianity calls us to put away with all our idols, and live a life of true obedience.
