Putting our Faith in Jesus

1. Read: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

2. About the Text:

1) Everyone believes in something – the government, science, family, or another.

2) We cannot go through life without trusting someone.

a. When we drink water, drive somewhere, take our kids to school, etc.

b. How do we know that we trust others? We act in a way that displays our trust

3) We are accustomed to putting our faith in others, but we also realize that others fail us.

4) Even in light of significant failures, we continue to put our faith in others.

3. Sin causes betrayal of trust.

1) When our trust is betrayed, often we turn to self.

2) Since I can’t trust anyone else, I will just trust myself.

3) This also is a greater error because we have the capacity for great self deception.

4) “All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way” (Isaiah 53:6).

5) “There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25).

6) Our own heart deceives us into thinking we are doing what is right when we are not.

7) “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give every man according to his ways, According to the fruit of his doings” (Jeremiah 17:9-10).

8) Jesus is the heart-knower. “I am He who searches the minds and hearts” (Revelation 2:23).

9) “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding” (Proverbs 9:10).

4. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. He “had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man” (John 2:25).

2. This is because Jesus created us; “All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made” (John 1:3).

3. Jesus is in the perfect position to honestly tell us what we need to hear. We may not like the things that Jesus has to say, but He will always tell us the truth, and we need to hear the truth because that is what will free us from our sins (John 8:31-32).

4. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

1. In addition to not deceiving us, Jesus gives us the teaching and example that we need to live a life of faithfulness to God.

2. Satan did not have a claim on Jesus (John 14:30 ESV).

3. “And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him.” (John 8:29).

4. Peter tells us that we can walk in His steps because He committed no sin “For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’’” (1 Peter 2:21-22).

5. Faith does that which is pleasing to God, and so faith will follow Jesus (Hebrews 11:6).

6. “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20).

7. With the example and teaching of Jesus faithfully practiced in our life, we can live by faith in the Son of God.

1. The Bible tells us that Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18).

2. This includes the authority to forgive sins (Matthew 9:6, Mark 2:10).

3. Today, Jesus forgives all of our sins when we are baptized (Acts 2:38).

4. Paul the apostle had his sins forgiven when he was baptized (Acts 22:16).

5. He serves as an example to us that Jesus can forgive anyone.

6. “This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. However, for this reason I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering, as a pattern to those who are going to believe on Him for everlasting life” (1 Timothy 1:15-16).

1. “O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).

2. “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

3. “This is a faithful saying: For if we died with Him, We shall also live with Him. If we endure, We shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself” (1 Timothy 2:11-13).

1. Not obeying Jesus is not really believing in Him because when we don’t obey Jesus, we end up falling back upon the standard of self.

2. Hebrews 5:8-9, “though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.”

3. We begin our life of faith in Jesus when we obey the gospel (Romans 10:16, 2 Thessalonians 1:8, 1 Peter 4:17).

4. We obey the gospel (1 Corinthians 15:1-4) by being baptized into the likeness of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection (Romans 6:1-11).

5. By so doing, Jesus promises to save us (Mark 16:16).

1. Just as a baby born into the world from the mother’s womb begins living, being born into the kingdom of God begins our life in Christ (John 3:3-7).

2. As newborn babes, we need spiritual milk which comes from God’s word (1 Peter 2:2).

3. We listen to Jesus’ teaching and follow His example; we learn who Jesus is.

4. Being faithful to Jesus isn’t just following a list of dos and don’ts, it is a personal relationship between two people, Jesus and me, that transforms my life in a way that brings me back to who God originally created me to be.

5. It is God’s desire that I be conformed to the image of His Son: “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29).

1. Why not trust Jesus this very hour?

2. Invitation