Faith Alone: Finding Peace and Purpose in Christ

 

Summary

In our discussion today, we delved into the profound question: "How can I be right with God?" This inquiry presupposes a recognition of a problem in our relationship with God, acknowledging that something is amiss. Romans 5:1-2 provides a foundational answer, emphasizing that peace with God is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ. This faith is not a mere addition to our works but stands alone as the means of reconciliation with God. The Reformers highlighted the importance of "faith alone," cautioning against the human tendency to add works to faith as a means of salvation. Our good works are a result of our faith, not a prerequisite for it.

We also explored the challenges of sharing the gospel and practicing apologetics. Common obstacles include fear of rejection, timidity, and the misconception that one must have all the answers. However, most objections to Christianity are surface-level, and many non-believers are not well-versed in arguments against the faith. Therefore, Christians should be encouraged to share their personal experiences and the transformation they have experienced through Christ.

Furthermore, we discussed the cultural challenges faced by young Christians, particularly the pressure to conform to societal norms regarding ethics and identity. The concept of deconstruction was addressed, emphasizing the need to stand firm in biblical truth while engaging with a culture that often challenges Christian beliefs. The importance of community and identity in Christ was underscored as a means of navigating these challenges.

Lastly, we touched on the role of suffering and grief as a powerful apologetic tool. Christianity offers a unique perspective on suffering, providing hope and meaning in the midst of trials. This understanding can be a bridge to those who are struggling, offering them the hope found in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- Faith Alone for Reconciliation: Peace with God is achieved through faith in Jesus Christ alone, not by adding works to our faith. This foundational truth emphasizes that our good works flow from our faith, not as a means to earn salvation. [01:40]

- Overcoming Fear in Evangelism: Many Christians fear sharing their faith due to potential objections or rejection. However, most objections are surface-level, and believers often know more than they realize. Sharing personal experiences and the transformation through Christ can be powerful. [06:26]

- Cultural Challenges and Identity: Young Christians face pressure to conform to societal norms, particularly regarding ethics and identity. Standing firm in biblical truth and finding identity in Christ and community are crucial for navigating these challenges. [12:33]

- Suffering as an Apologetic Tool: Christianity offers a unique perspective on suffering, providing hope and meaning. This understanding can be a bridge to those struggling, offering them the hope found in Christ. [16:04]

- Addressing Apathy and Individualism: Apathy and autonomous individualism are significant challenges in sharing the gospel. Recognizing these challenges and looking for opportunities to engage with others can help shake them out of their apathy and open doors for gospel conversations. [20:23]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:18] - Recognizing Our Need for God
- [01:00] - Peace Through Faith in Christ
- [01:40] - Faith Alone, Not Faith Plus
- [02:47] - From Wrath to Peace
- [03:55] - The Fallen Tree Analogy
- [04:43] - The Gospel's Core Message
- [05:24] - Overcoming Evangelism Fears
- [06:26] - Common Objections to Faith
- [07:34] - Encouragement in Sharing Faith
- [09:35] - Building Confidence in the Word
- [10:36] - Challenges for Young Christians
- [12:33] - Standing Firm in Truth
- [14:19] - Reality of Christian Suffering
- [16:37] - Hope in Suffering
- [18:22] - Addressing Anxieties and Apathy
- [20:23] - Engaging with Apathy
- [22:10] - Individualism and Worldview
- [24:38] - Lightning Round: Favorite Books
- [25:39] - Evangelism Tips
- [26:08] - Conclusion and Farewell

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Romans 5:1-2
- Ecclesiastes 11:3
- Colossians 2:10

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Observation Questions:

1. According to Romans 5:1-2, how is peace with God achieved, and what role does faith play in this process? [01:00]

2. What analogy is used in Ecclesiastes 11:3, and how does it relate to the concept of being right with God? [03:55]

3. How does the sermon describe the common fears Christians face when sharing their faith, and what is suggested as a way to overcome these fears? [06:26]

4. What cultural challenges are highlighted in the sermon that young Christians face today, particularly regarding ethics and identity? [12:33]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of "faith alone" challenge the human tendency to add works to faith as a means of salvation? Why is this distinction important for Christians? [01:40]

2. In what ways can personal experiences and transformations through Christ serve as powerful tools in evangelism, according to the sermon? [07:00]

3. How does the sermon suggest Christians should respond to cultural pressures to conform, especially in areas of ethics and identity? [12:33]

4. What unique perspective does Christianity offer on suffering, and how can this be used as an apologetic tool to reach those who are struggling? [16:04]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your own understanding of "faith alone" for reconciliation with God. Are there areas in your life where you might be relying on works rather than faith? How can you shift your focus to faith in Christ alone? [01:40]

2. Think about a time when you hesitated to share your faith due to fear of rejection or not having all the answers. What steps can you take to build confidence in sharing your personal experiences with Christ? [06:26]

3. Young Christians often face pressure to conform to societal norms. How can you support someone in your community who is struggling with these pressures? What role can your church community play in this support? [12:33]

4. Consider a recent experience of suffering or grief in your life. How did your faith provide hope and meaning during that time? How can you use this experience to connect with others who are struggling? [16:04]

5. Apathy and individualism are significant challenges in sharing the gospel. Identify one person in your life who seems apathetic about faith. What specific action can you take to engage them in a meaningful conversation about God? [20:23]

6. Reflect on the idea of autonomous individualism and how it might affect your own worldview. Are there areas where you find yourself prioritizing self over God? How can you realign your focus to find fullness in Christ? [22:55]

7. How can you create opportunities in your daily life to share your faith with others, especially in environments where it might be challenging to do so? What practical steps can you take to make your faith known to those around you? [25:39]

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Alone Brings Peace with God
Faith in Jesus Christ is the sole means of achieving peace with God. This faith is not an addition to our works but stands alone as the means of reconciliation. The Reformers emphasized "faith alone," warning against the human tendency to add works to faith as a means of salvation. Our good works are a result of our faith, not a prerequisite for it. This foundational truth reminds us that our relationship with God is based on grace through faith, not on our own efforts. [01:40]

"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to rely on your own works for salvation? How can you refocus on faith alone today?


Day 2: Courage in Sharing Your Faith
Many Christians fear sharing their faith due to potential objections or rejection. However, most objections are surface-level, and believers often know more than they realize. Sharing personal experiences and the transformation through Christ can be powerful. By overcoming fear and embracing the courage to share, Christians can effectively communicate the gospel and witness the impact of their faith on others. [06:26]

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." (2 Timothy 1:7, ESV)

Reflection: Who is one person you can share your faith with this week? What specific steps can you take to overcome your fear and share your personal testimony with them?


Day 3: Standing Firm in a Shifting Culture
Young Christians face pressure to conform to societal norms, particularly regarding ethics and identity. Standing firm in biblical truth and finding identity in Christ and community are crucial for navigating these challenges. By grounding themselves in Scripture and surrounding themselves with a supportive community, believers can resist cultural pressures and remain true to their faith. [12:33]

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." (Romans 12:2, ESV)

Reflection: What cultural pressures are you currently facing that challenge your faith? How can you strengthen your identity in Christ to stand firm against these pressures?


Day 4: Finding Hope in Suffering
Christianity offers a unique perspective on suffering, providing hope and meaning. This understanding can be a bridge to those struggling, offering them the hope found in Christ. By embracing the Christian view of suffering, believers can find purpose in their trials and use their experiences to connect with and support others who are hurting. [16:04]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: How have you experienced hope in the midst of suffering? How can you use your experiences to offer hope and encouragement to someone else who is struggling?


Day 5: Engaging with Apathy and Individualism
Apathy and autonomous individualism are significant challenges in sharing the gospel. Recognizing these challenges and looking for opportunities to engage with others can help shake them out of their apathy and open doors for gospel conversations. By being intentional in their interactions and seeking to understand others, Christians can effectively share the message of Christ in a world that often values self-reliance over community. [20:23]

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways have you noticed apathy or individualism in your own life or community? How can you actively engage with others to foster a sense of community and share the gospel?

Quotes

"What I appreciate about the question is the idea that something is not right. It is the acknowledgment of a problem. And so, I think what we have to recognize is the humility to recognize in your natural disposition, your natural default, your posture, and your practice has left you in a state where you are not right with God. The question presupposes that there is God and something's wrong with your relationship with Him." [00:00:24]

"Romans 5 says, in Romans chapter 5 verse 1, that we have peace with God, and it explains in verse 2 that we've obtained this, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ and that we have obtained this, accessed this, through faith. So, to recognize to have a reconciled relationship with God only comes through His Son and that relationship with the Son is a relationship that is expressed through faith in Him is I think where I would start." [00:01:05]

"I think that's so helpful. Also, I think it's important to think about what the Reformers reminded us that it is faith alone because many people say they believe in God or have faith in God but one of the challenges, even for Christians inside the church, is that our default inclination is that it's always faith plus. So, even though from the pulpit we are saying you much have faith in Christ and that's where your salvation rests, we can have this tendency in our sinful nature to think, 'Yeah, and because I come to church every week,' or 'because I'm at midweek Bible study,' or 'because I don't do what I know my cousins get up to on summer break,' or these other things." [00:01:40]

"It's just so important for us to recognize it's not faith plus works that gets us to heaven. Christ is the One that has worked on our behalf, and it's the faith in Him and in Him alone, and then out of that flows those good works. So, we are not encouraging you to pursue a life of sin. The Christian life is one that bears much, much fruit but it flows out of our faith and trust in Christ alone." [00:02:21]

"One of the ones you mentioned is timidity or fear. We can be just nervous about discussing our faith. 'What are they going to say?' 'Are they going to reject us?' 'Will I have the answer to the question?' And something I don't hear people often remind Christians is that most people don't even have the objections or detailed explanation of their objection to the Christian faith to begin with. So, we are so afraid that they are going to bring up something about evolution or something about, you know, philosophy or whatever it is, but most non-Christians are uneducated." [00:06:04]

"Just like we're here trying to get better equipped to bring apologists because we need that information, most unbelievers have not schooled themselves in how to debunk Christianity. So, most of your fears are actually unfounded. And just for being here today, you probably know thirty times more than your unbelieving friends. So, I think it is helpful so much just to remind ourselves that, you know, what Stephen shared earlier, just saying, 'I'm just sharing what I know. I'm just sharing what the Lord has done in my life.' And most of the objections you're going to hear from your peers are very surface-level objections." [00:06:33]

"I think if I could sort of categorize what I think is happening right now is, in sort of society at large, this issue of truth and challenges, is that it can kind of be put in two categories: ideas and ethics. What I believe and what I want to do or what I want to say about what others do. And I don't know that a lot of sixteen-year-olds are getting in debates over, 'Is the resurrection historically valid?' Now, that is a conversation to be had. Or, 'Is the Bible inerrant?' That's certainly a conversation to be had." [00:10:58]

"I think instead, a lot of sixteen-year-olds are getting into questions about, 'Why are you so hung up on me being gay?' 'Why are you so bothered about what I call my gender?' And so, what's happening is their framing in a type of an ethical way about what we do and how do we respond to that. And so, what's happening for a lot of Christians is they are being challenged in what's kind of a common heard buzzword being used today is this idea of deconstruction." [00:11:37]

"I think one of the reasons why the modern church has not been as powerful in apologetics is because there's often a disconnect between what the church represents or presents as the Christian life and reality. It is certainly not true of what comes from the pulpit here at St. Andrews or at a Ligonier conference, but in broader evangelical circles, we've all seen those Christians, they say, 'Come to Jesus and life will be well. You'll be healthy, wealthy, and wise.' This happy, clappy Christianity." [00:13:44]

"And to be a Christian means you are smiling, everything looks great, and when you walk into the church on a Sunday morning, you have your fresh cup of coffee and a big smile, and everything is wonderful. And if that is your version of Christianity, when you're trying to proclaim the gospel, preach the gospel, share the gospel, and do apologetics, the watching world knows that's not reality. For them, they are suffering, they are struggling. And if you're honest, we know that you have your struggles too, life is hard." [00:14:14]

"In the last eighteen months, people have lost family members, people have died, there has been sickness, there has been divorces, broken relationships, broken hearts, broken bones, plans that were meant to happen that fell through, people who couldn't go to prom or graduation and life sucks sometimes, and particularly with your friends, like they know that, and so if the Christianity that is on offer is one that is just all smiles, there is no real bridge there." [00:14:50]

"But in truth, and what excites me about reality, the true Christian faith, is we actually have an answer for suffering. And I think, grief is this forgotten apologetic for the Christian faith. We have an answer for why life is hard because of the fall. We have an answer for why it hurts when your friends reject you. We have an answer for why it really, really sucks that mom and dad don't like each other anymore and that dad has moved out because that's not God's design. He designed the family." [00:15:28]

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Transcript
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