Jesus Christ: The Foundation of Christian Faithfulness
Introduction:
Our
greatest freedom is freedom of religion. Americans may believe whatever they
want to believe. Let us narrow our focus a little. Individual level. Is your
faith free to grow? To mature? How
much do we study? Not just read, but
also study? How strong is our commitment to know & truly understand God’s will?
I. Our Starting Point
A.
Saving faith
begins with a very simple knowledge and understanding.
B.
Once a person
enters Christ – it is no longer a matter of finding salvation – it
is a matter of spiritual maturing.
C.
From here, our
starting point, our knowledge & understanding of what God wants for us,
….His word… should change and grow.
II. In
spiritual maturation, our perspective can drift from its primary focus.
A.
From what
perspective do we operate? Jesus must be first!
1.
Philippians
3:8-10 – Paul’s greatest desire was to know Jesus.
B.
We may have
missed that & placed other items before Jesus.
1.
Is our faith
free to trust God & Jesus in the direction God’s word leads us?
C.
Some live
spiritual life from the perspective of believing only what they are told to
believe by religious leaders & teachers.
1.
If a preacher/elders
say it, it is the gospel truth.
a.
Limit the
freedom we have in Jesus Christ. Establishes manmade rules
b.
Letting others
do the work for us never attains spiritual growth.
c.
2 Peter 3:18; Colossians
2:6-8 – growth is a personal responsibility.
d.
Col. 2:7-8
– there is a purpose behind our growth – stability.
D.
There is one
foundation for Christian faithfulness – that is Jesus Christ.
III.
Where must our emphasis be?
A.
Should our
emphasis be more on the church or on Jesus?
B.
In order to
better understand where our emphasis should be, lets ask some questions:
1.
Does the Church
refer to a “who” or “what”? “Who.”
2.
When we talk
about Jesus, do we refer to a “who” or “what”? “Who”
3.
What is the
relationship between the Church and the Jesus?
a.
Eph. 1:23
– the church is the body.
b.
Eph. 1:22
– who is the head of the body? Jesus
c.
Eph. 1:23
– the church is designed by God to be the fullness of Jesus Christ.
4.
Revelation 21:2
– the church is described as a bride.
a.
21:9 – the
bride is the wife of the Lamb. The Lamb is Jesus.
5.
Ephesians &
Revelation teach that the focus should be on Jesus & His significance.
6.
What about 1
Timothy 3:15?
a.
The church is
the pillar and support of the truth.
b.
Who is the
truth? Jesus. John 14:6
IV. How
important is Jesus?
A.
Read the
following scriptures:
1.
John 5:19; 5:30;
6:38; 8:28; 11:25-26; 12:49-50; 14:6; 14:10
B.
As we imitate
Jesus, we will be everything we need to be.
1.
As the church,
we are the body and bride of Jesus if only we reflect Jesus.
C.
Will you come to
Jesus?