Faith in Jesus: The Path to True Salvation

Devotional

Day 1: The Essence of Faith in Salvation

Faith in Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of salvation, not education, experiences, or personal achievements. It is not a faith rooted in self-confidence or the belief in one's own goodness, but a faith that comes from the Spirit of God. This faith is not about knowing more or doing more, but about surrendering more to Jesus. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMA0Ry_DAY&t=750s))

Bible Passage: Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."

Reflection: Reflect on your faith journey. How has your understanding of faith evolved over time? How can you surrender more to Jesus in your daily life?

Day 2: The Symbolism of Communion

Communion is a powerful symbol of being cleansed from one's old life and being born again as a new person. It serves as a reminder of Jesus' sacrifice and the new life that can be found in Him. This new life is not about escaping the past, but about embracing a new future in Christ. ([22:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMA0Ry_DAY&t=1335s))

Bible Passage: 1 Corinthians 11:26 - "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes."

Reflection: How does participating in communion deepen your understanding of Jesus' sacrifice? How can you live out this new life in Christ in your daily interactions?

Day 3: The Power of Looking to Jesus

The biblical story of Moses lifting up a snake in the wilderness parallels Jesus being lifted up on the cross. Just as the people in the wilderness were saved by looking at the bronze snake, we are saved by looking to Jesus on the cross. This salvation is not about what we do, but about who we look to. ([34:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMA0Ry_DAY&t=2040s))

Bible Passage: Numbers 21:8-9 - "The Lord said to Moses, 'Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.' So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived."

Reflection: How does the story of Moses and the bronze snake deepen your understanding of salvation? How can you keep your focus on Jesus in the midst of life's challenges?

Day 4: Assurance Found in Jesus

Assurance should be found in Jesus, not in education. The story of Charles Templeton, who sought further education to address his doubts about Christianity but ultimately walked away from his faith, serves as a cautionary tale. This assurance is not about having all the answers, but about trusting in the One who does. ([45:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMA0Ry_DAY&t=2705s))

Bible Passage: Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."

Reflection: How does your education or knowledge sometimes interfere with your faith? How can you cultivate a deeper trust in Jesus?

Day 5: The Dual Nature of Jesus

The title "son of man" encompasses both Jesus' humanity and his deity. This interpretation is supported by a vision given to Daniel in the Bible, where the "son of man" is described as having authority, glory, and sovereign power. This dual nature is not a contradiction, but a beautiful mystery that invites us to know Jesus more deeply. ([56:10](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBMA0Ry_DAY&t=3355s))

Bible Passage: Daniel 7:13-14 - "In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him."

Reflection: How does understanding Jesus as both human and divine deepen your relationship with Him? How can you embrace this mystery in your faith journey?

Sermon Summary

The sermon emphasizes the importance of faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, rather than relying on education, experiences, or personal achievements. The pastor uses the biblical story of Nicodemus, a respected intellectual who approached Jesus with self-confidence and a belief in his own goodness, to illustrate the kind of faith that Jesus does not trust. Instead, Jesus trusts faith that comes from the Spirit of God. The pastor also highlights the destructive nature of sin and the freedom and new life that can be found in Jesus.

The pastor further discusses the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and the importance of surrendering and trusting in Him. He uses the example of communion to symbolize being cleansed from one's old life and being born again as a new person. The pastor also shares a personal anecdote about a conversation with a new Christian who had recently put her faith in Jesus after attending a Christian concert, emphasizing that being a Christian is about knowing Jesus, not just about emotions and experiences.

The pastor also discusses the biblical story of Moses lifting up a snake in the wilderness as a parallel to Jesus being lifted up on the cross. Just as the people in the wilderness were saved by looking at the bronze snake, we are saved by looking to Jesus on the cross. The pastor also recounts the story of Charles Templeton, a man who sought further education to address his doubts about Christianity but ultimately walked away from his faith, emphasizing that assurance should be found in Jesus, not in education.

The pastor then discusses the significance of Jesus referring to himself as the "son of man," arguing that this title encompasses both his humanity and his deity. He supports this interpretation by referencing a vision given to Daniel in the Bible, where the "son of man" is described as having authority, glory, and sovereign power. The pastor concludes by emphasizing the importance of belief and the posture of the heart in understanding and accepting God's teachings.

Key Takeaways

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Sermon Clips

1. "If you look to him, you will be saved. What education do you need to look? What kind of experiences or accolades or achievements do you need to look? What kind of work does it take to look? Takes none, just look."

2. "There's a freedom, there's a cure, there's a new life that you can have if you look to the Son of God to deliver you and you will be born again. That is the gospel."

3. "Jesus does not trust a faith that looks to education for eternal life... it's about furthering your knowledge once you have eternal life."

4. "Our faith is all in Jesus and I really encourage you just, you know, read the Gospel of John and it's all about Jesus Christ."

5. "There are so many Christians who grow up in church having feelings and emotions and experiences going through Sunday school who don't actually believe in Jesus."

6. "Is my heart prepared to believe in the word of God? Am I doing this because I believe it or am I doing this because my great-great-granddaddy said we should go to church?"

7. "That's the picture of the Gospel. Jesus gets lifted up on the cross because somebody has to pay the price for sin, somebody has to bleed, somebody has to be crushed, somebody has to be sent to hell for all the wrong in this world. Somebody's got to, and Jesus says, 'I love you so much.'"

8. "It's not about how good I can be, it's not about how bad I've been, it's about Jesus who paid the price in full."

9. "We cannot rely on our experiences. You can't look to them now. Do experiences come? Yes, they do. But you do not stand before God and say, 'I'm coming into heaven because of the things I've felt or the things I've done.' It don't work that way."

10. "The only kind of Faith Jesus trusts is the one that comes by the spirit of God."

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