Saving Faith: Treasuring Christ Above All Else

In today's exploration of faith, we delved into the profound nature of saving faith and its intrinsic connection to treasuring Christ. We began by examining 2 Corinthians, where the new birth is described as a transformative experience that enables believers to see the glory of God in the face of Christ. This sight is not merely intellectual but involves a treasuring of Christ as the ultimate treasure. This treasuring sight is a fundamental aspect of saving faith, as it reflects a heart that values Christ above all else.

Moving to 2 Thessalonians, we explored the relationship between faith and love for the truth. The text highlights the peril of not welcoming a love for the truth, which leads to perishing. This love for the truth is contrasted with a love for unrighteousness, emphasizing that saving faith involves a shift in what we love. It is not enough to intellectually assent to the truth; one must also find pleasure in it, indicating that faith is deeply affectional.

In Hebrews 11, we saw faith described as the substance of things hoped for, with Moses as an exemplar. Moses' faith led him to reject the fleeting pleasures of sin, choosing instead the reproach of Christ because he was looking to the reward. This demonstrates that faith involves a confident expectation and treasuring of future rewards, which empowers believers to forsake temporary pleasures for eternal ones.

The Gospel of John further illustrates the affectional nature of faith through metaphors of eating, drinking, and seeing. Believing in Christ is likened to eating the bread of life, drinking living water, and seeing the light, all of which satisfy deep spiritual longings. This satisfaction is only possible through the new birth, which transforms our desires and affections.

In conclusion, saving faith is not merely an intellectual agreement but a profound treasuring of Christ, a shift in loves, and a confident expectation of future rewards. It is an affectional experience that transforms our desires and aligns them with the truth of the Gospel.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Saving faith involves a treasuring sight of Christ's glory, which is a result of the new birth. This sight is not just intellectual but deeply affectional, as it reflects a heart that values Christ above all else. [17:13]
• 2. The relationship between faith and love for the truth is crucial. A failure to welcome a love for the truth leads to perishing, highlighting that saving faith involves a shift in what we love, from unrighteousness to truth. [22:36]
• 3. Faith, as described in Hebrews 11, involves a confident expectation and treasuring of future rewards. This empowers believers to forsake temporary pleasures for eternal ones, demonstrating the affectional dimension of faith. [27:32]
• 4. In the Gospel of John, faith is illustrated through metaphors of eating, drinking, and seeing, which satisfy deep spiritual longings. This satisfaction is only possible through the new birth, which transforms our desires and affections. [32:16]
• 5. Saving faith is an affectional experience that transforms our desires and aligns them with the truth of the Gospel. It is not merely an intellectual agreement but a profound treasuring of Christ and a confident expectation of future rewards. [35:01]
  ** [35:01]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [16:53] - The Glory of Christ in the Gospel
• [18:24] - Faith and Love for the Truth
• [19:52] - The Danger of Loving Unrighteousness
• [21:02] - The Shift of Loves
• [22:00] - Connection Between Faith and Love
• [23:12] - Believing and Loving the Truth
• [25:19] - Faith as Expectation of Reward
• [26:28] - Moses' Example of Faith
• [27:32] - Treasuring the Reward
• [30:22] - The Gospel of John's View on Faith
• [31:48] - Faith as Eating, Drinking, and Seeing
• [33:12] - The Affectional Nature of Faith
• [34:41] - The Necessity of New Birth
• [35:38] - Conclusion: Treasuring Christ

1. 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
2. 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12
3. Hebrews 11:1, 24-26
4. John 6:35, 51; John 7:37-38; John 3:18-19

1. In 2 Corinthians 4:6-7, what does it mean to see the "glory of God in the face of Christ"? How is this related to the concept of treasuring Christ? [17:13]
2. According to 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, what are the consequences of not welcoming a love for the truth? How does this passage describe the relationship between faith and love for the truth? [22:36]
3. In Hebrews 11:24-26, how is Moses' faith demonstrated through his actions? What does this tell us about the nature of faith as described in the sermon? [27:32]
4. How does the Gospel of John use metaphors like eating, drinking, and seeing to describe faith? What do these metaphors reveal about the nature of saving faith? [32:16]

1. How does the concept of "treasuring sight" in 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 challenge the common understanding of faith as merely intellectual? What implications does this have for how believers view their relationship with Christ? [17:13]
2. In 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12, what does it mean to have a "shift in loves" from unrighteousness to truth? How does this shift reflect the transformation that occurs in saving faith? [22:36]
3. Hebrews 11:24-26 describes Moses' faith as looking expectantly for a reward. How does this expectation influence a believer's ability to forsake temporary pleasures for eternal ones? [27:32]
4. The Gospel of John presents faith as an affectional experience. How does this perspective on faith differ from a purely intellectual understanding, and what does it suggest about the role of emotions in faith? [32:16]

1. Reflect on your own life: Do you see Christ as your ultimate treasure? What practical steps can you take to cultivate a deeper treasuring of Christ in your daily life? [17:13]
2. Consider the things you love and take pleasure in. Are there areas where you need to shift your love from unrighteousness to truth? How can you begin to make this shift in your life? [22:36]
3. Moses chose to endure hardship rather than enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. Are there temporary pleasures in your life that you need to forsake in order to pursue eternal rewards? How can you make this change? [27:32]
4. The metaphors of eating, drinking, and seeing in John suggest a deep satisfaction found in Christ. Is there a spiritual longing in your life that you are trying to satisfy with something other than Christ? How can you redirect that longing towards Him? [32:16]
5. Saving faith involves a transformation of desires and affections. What specific desires or affections in your life need to be aligned with the truth of the Gospel? How can you work towards this alignment? [35:01]
6. How can you practically welcome a love for the truth in your life? Are there specific actions or habits you can adopt to nurture this love? [22:36]
7. Think about a time when you experienced a "new birth" in your faith journey. How did this transformation affect your desires and affections? How can you continue to nurture this transformation in your current walk with Christ? [35:01]