Building Faith: The Foundation of Obedience in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: Obedience as the Heart of Faith

True faith is not just about professing belief in Jesus but is demonstrated through obedience to His teachings. Jesus challenges us to align our actions with our words, emphasizing that those who truly love Him will keep His commandments. This obedience is not a burdensome duty but a natural response to understanding His love and lordship. The connection between love and obedience is integral, as it reflects a genuine relationship with Christ. [09:11]

"Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." (John 14:21, ESV)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you demonstrate your love for Jesus through obedience today? Identify one command of Christ that you can actively live out.

Day 2: Building a Resilient Spiritual Foundation

The parable of the builders illustrates the necessity of a strong spiritual foundation. A life built on the teachings of Christ and the apostles can withstand the storms of life, while one built on superficial beliefs will crumble under pressure. This foundation is not just about knowledge but involves a deep commitment to living out the principles of the faith. The strength of our foundation is tested in times of trial, revealing whether we have truly anchored ourselves in Christ's teachings. [11:42]

"Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock." (Matthew 7:24, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to strengthen your spiritual foundation today? Consider one area of your life where you need to deepen your commitment to Christ's teachings.

Day 3: Avoiding the Pitfall of Hypothetical Faith

Many claim to believe in God, yet live as if He does not exist. This disconnect between belief and practice is a form of lawlessness that Jesus warns against. Our lives should reflect a genuine fear of God and adherence to His Word. Hypothetical faith is dangerous because it gives a false sense of security, leading to spiritual complacency. True faith is evidenced by a life that consistently seeks to honor God in thought, word, and deed. [27:26]

"They profess to know God, but they deny him by their works. They are detestable, disobedient, unfit for any good work." (Titus 1:16, ESV)

Reflection: Is there an area in your life where your actions do not align with your professed beliefs? How can you begin to bridge this gap today?

Day 4: Embracing Apostolic Doctrine

The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings, which are foundational to our faith. Engaging with scripture and understanding apostolic doctrine is crucial for building a life that is firmly rooted in Christ. This involves not only studying the Word but allowing it to transform our lives. The teachings of the apostles provide guidance and wisdom, helping us navigate the complexities of life with a Christ-centered perspective. [21:43]

"And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." (Acts 2:42, ESV)

Reflection: How can you incorporate the study of apostolic teachings into your daily routine? Identify one specific teaching you can focus on this week.

Day 5: Pursuing Authentic Faith through Self-Examination

We are encouraged to examine our lives and ensure that our faith is not just a verbal profession but is evidenced by our actions and obedience. The authenticity of our faith is tested by the fruits we produce and our adherence to Christ's commands. Self-examination is a vital practice that helps us identify areas of growth and align our lives more closely with God's will. It requires humility and a willingness to change, trusting that God will guide us in the process. [26:55]

"Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!" (2 Corinthians 13:5, ESV)

Reflection: What is one area of your life that needs closer examination? How can you invite God into this process to help you grow in authentic faith?

Sermon Summary

In today's reflection, we delve into the profound teachings of Jesus as recorded in Luke 6:46-49, where He challenges us with the question, "Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" This passage is a stark reminder of the importance of not just professing faith but living it out through obedience. Jesus uses the metaphor of two builders to illustrate the consequences of our choices. One builder constructs his house on a solid rock foundation, ensuring stability and resilience against the storms of life. The other, however, builds on sand, leading to inevitable collapse when trials come.

This parable is not just about the physical act of building but serves as a metaphor for our spiritual lives. It emphasizes the necessity of a strong foundation rooted in the teachings of Christ and the apostles. The foundation of our faith is not merely in acknowledging Jesus as Lord but in actively living out His commandments. The true test of our faith is seen in our obedience and the fruits we bear. Jesus warns that many will claim to know Him, yet He will declare, "I never knew you," to those who practice lawlessness.

The foundation of the church, as described in scripture, is built upon the apostles and prophets, with Christ as the chief cornerstone. This foundation is found in the Word of God, which provides the bedrock for our lives. As believers, we are called to examine our lives and ensure that we are not merely giving lip service to our faith but are genuinely rooted in the teachings of Christ. Our lives should reflect a deep, personal relationship with Him, characterized by obedience and a commitment to His Word.

Key Takeaways

1. The Importance of Obedience: True faith is demonstrated through obedience to Christ's teachings. Merely professing belief is insufficient; our actions must align with our words. Jesus emphasizes that those who truly love Him will keep His commandments, highlighting the integral connection between love and obedience. [09:11]
2. Building on a Solid Foundation: The parable of the builders teaches us the necessity of a strong spiritual foundation. A life built on the teachings of Christ and the apostles can withstand the storms of life, while one built on superficial beliefs will crumble under pressure. [11:42]
3. The Danger of Hypothetical Faith: Many claim to believe in God, yet live as if He does not exist. This disconnect between belief and practice is a form of lawlessness that Jesus warns against. Our lives should reflect a genuine fear of God and adherence to His Word. [27:26]
4. The Role of Apostolic Doctrine: The early church devoted themselves to the apostles' teachings, which are foundational to our faith. Engaging with scripture and understanding apostolic doctrine is crucial for building a life that is firmly rooted in Christ. [21:43]
5. Self-Examination and Authentic Faith: We are encouraged to examine our lives and ensure that our faith is not just a verbal profession but is evidenced by our actions and obedience. The authenticity of our faith is tested by the fruits we produce and our adherence to Christ's commands. [26:55]
** [26:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:11] - Introduction to the Scariest Text
[01:29] - Reading from Luke 6
[02:51] - The Calamity of a Weak Foundation
[04:07] - Questioning Our Profession of Faith
[05:24] - The Warning of False Intimacy
[07:03] - The True Test of Knowing Jesus
[09:11] - Obedience as Proof of Love
[10:33] - The Parable of the Builders
[12:25] - Understanding the Wadi
[14:21] - Building on the Rock
[15:26] - The Consequences of a Weak Foundation
[17:05] - The Biblical Metaphor of Foundations
[20:25] - The Church's Foundation in Apostolic Doctrine
[24:47] - Personal Reflection and Application
[28:27] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

But why do you call me lord, lord, and not do the things which I say? Whoever comes to me and hears my sayings and does, I will show you whom he is like. He's like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. [00:01:38]

And when the flood arose the stream beat vehemently against that house and could not shake it, for it was founded on the rock. But he who heard and did nothing is like a man who built a house on the earth without a foundation, against which the stream beat vehemently. [00:02:10]

And immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great. Now in this very brief parable, Jesus warns us of that calamity that will surely come if our lives are not built upon a proper foundation. These are his words not mine, and they come to us now through the superintendence. [00:02:37]

Not everyone who says to me lord, lord shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my father in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, lord, lord, have we not prophesied in your name, cast out demons in your name and done many wonders in your name? [00:04:55]

And then I will declare to them, I never knew you, depart from me, you who practice lawlessness. Now some of you may recall that when we looked at this text in Matthew years ago, I pointed out the unusual character by which Jesus is addressed. [00:05:24]

He says many, many will come to him presumably on the day of judgment and not only call him lord, but will repeat the title, calling him lord, lord. And on that occasion that I expounded this text in Matthew I went through about 15 references in all of scripture. [00:06:00]

Anyone can say that they love Jesus but the proof of the pudding is in obedience. If you love me keep my commandments and if you don't keep my commandments please leave your workers of lawlessness and of disobedience. And so Luke puts it in question form why do you call me lord. [00:09:14]

And you don't do the things which I tell you to do see when you say lord, you're saying you're my authority, I submit to your kingship, I acknowledge that you are sovereign over me and that whatsoever you command me I am under obligation to do. [00:09:44]

And so Jesus says well why do you say that I'm your lord when you don't do what I tell you to do. He follows up that question with this brief parable about the building he said whoever comes to me, hears my saying and does them, I will show you whom he is like. [00:10:16]

The foundation of the church are the prophets and the apostles and let me show you how that works in sacred scripture. If I can turn just for a moment to the book of acts, read in chapter 2, verse 42 after 3,000 people had been added to the church. [00:20:38]

And they continued steadfastly in what they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship and in the breaking of bread and in prayers. This is a glimpse of life in the primitive Christian church after Pentecost in Jerusalem that the people of God gathered together. [00:21:00]

To be grounded in the word of God is to dig the foundation of your life down to bedrock where you take that word and you embrace that word and you are able to stand against anything the world of the flesh and the devil throws at you. [00:24:00]

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