We’ve come along on quite a journey since we began. What started out as preaching a few unrelated sermons that I had already preached and somewhat perfected has turned into a series of three messages on the faith, which turned into four messages, which turned into five messages, which now has its culmination in six messages on the faith.

Jd. 3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

We’re not just talking about faith as a subject, but the faith, which ushers us into a holy and righteous, close-knit relationship with the God of the Universe. Where God is not just the God of all creation, but He is my God; our God. He is our Father; He is our Savior and Redeemer. He is even our closest Friend.

We started out by defining what faith is in He. 11:1-7. We then discussed how faith is demonstrated in verses 11-16. We then discussed how we know whether or not we actually have faith in He. 12:1-2. And then we discussed the role of discipline, which brings us assurance in the faith. And then last week we discussed ways we can pass on the faith.

Once you see the pattern of faith, you begin to see those same patterns everywhere:

• 1Pt. 1:3-9; 2Pt. 1:3-11

• Ep. 1:3-14; 2:8-10; 3:1-3

• Mt. 5:1-16

• Mt. 13:1-9; 18-23

It is with that, I would like for you to hear the most terrifying, and at the same time, the most reassuring verses of Scripture in the Bible: Mt. 7:21-23, 24-27.

• True believers will do God’s will 7:21-23

o Is it possible to do Christian work and still be lost? Yes! Judas

 John Steingard – Hawk Nelson

 Marty Sampson – Hillsong

 Bart Ehrman

 Josh Harris

• True believers will hear God’s Word and Respond in Obedient Works 7:24-25

o “acts on them” or “does” “poieo” – wide range of meanings.

o Same word as found in verse 22 “perform”

o Lk. 9:1-10a

o In this sense, it is a spiritual state of mind. The works performed are energized by the Holy Spirit

• False believers will hear God’s Word and Respond in Unauthorized Works 7:26-27

o Notice in verse 26, the foolish man still built a house, but he had no foundation for it.

o The works performed are energized by the flesh. Look at

o We must remember that Jesus is the only one who knew Judas was unsaved (Jn. 6:66-71; Jn. 13:27-30).

True believers are those who can be hurt by this life, can be persecuted, can be pruned by the Savior, and can have a life filled with trials and tribulation but still produce fruit (Adoniram Judson). False converts will experience the trials associated with the faith and fall away. Rev 2:11, 17; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9.

Where are we today? Do we tend to respond to Christ with emotion, live by our emotions, only to face disappointment and say, “This Christianity stuff doesn’t work!” That explains this generation.

Let’s decide right now that in the year 2024 that it will be a year of complete surrender to the Lord.