Scripture Reading: Hebrews 3:1-15

Faithful In Christ

Intro.

1. “Faithful” is often taken to simply mean, “That person attends every service, or seldom, if ever, fails to assemble.”

2. While faithfulness requires this, it is not all that is involved in being faithful.

3. Understand what faithfulness is so we can be faithful people.

I. FAITHFULNESS MEANS TWO THINGS:

A. Faithful is Something You Do. (Subjective description of what you do): Trusting, Relying, Confiding, Believing (i.e., full of faith).

1. Usually translated “believer/believing.”

2. Examples:

a. Jno. 20:27 – Trust in the fact that Jesus was raised.

b. Acts 10:45 – Jewish believers.

c. 2 Cor. 6:15 – Believer in Christ.

d. 1 Tim. 4:3 – Believe and know the truth.

e. 1 Tim. 5:16 – Active believer.

B. Faithful is Something You Are. (Objective description of who or what you are): Trustworthy, Reliable, Dependable (i.e., worthy of trust).

1. Usually translated “faithful.”

2. Examples:

a. Deut. 7:9-11 – God...therefore, Israel.

b. Prov. 11:13 – Confidant; trusted friend.

c. Matt. 25:21 – Act in the master’s interests.

d. 1 Cor. 4:2 – Quality of stewards (Moses, Nu. 12:7; He. 3:2, 5)

e. 1 Cor. 10:13 – God is faithful … use His ways of escape.

C.God Expects Us to Have Both Qualities – Eph. 1:1 (Col. 1:2).

1. Trust Him: Take God at His word & do whatever He says (2 Cor. 5:7).

2. Dependable to do His will (be worthy of trust). cf. Acts 11:22-24; 16:15

3. If we really trust God, we will be reli­able to do His will.

II. FAITHFUL PEOPLE WILL:

A. Express Their Faith in Obedience – Phil. 2: 12-13; Gal. 5:6.

-Lk. 6:46 - Expressed by doing His word.

B. Express Their Trust Through Action – Jas. 2: 17-18.

1. Praying frequently (Lk. 18:1-8) – Trust its effectiveness.

2. Studying diligently (1 Tim. 4:13, 15; 2 Tim. 3:16-17) – Trust its benefits.

3. Giving generously (2 Cor. 9:6-7) - Trust in its blessings.

4. Teaching with opportunity (Gal. 6:9-10; 2 Tim. 2:2) – Trust its good without growing weary.

5. Assemble regularly (Heb. 10:24-25; Lk. 4:16) – Trust assembled worship to provoke love & good works, 1 Cor. 14:26.

6. Living in purity (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 1: 14-16) – Trust that pure living helps us be like our heavenly Father.

7. People who trust in God will strive to do all these things.

a. And, are disappointed in themselves when they fall short in any of these areas – 1 Tim. 4:12.

b. But, not disappointed to the point of despair! – 1 Jno. 2:1; 1:9

C.Be Reliable to do the Will of God (above-mentioned things) - Matt. 6:33.

1. Matt. 24:45-46 – Faithful servant accepts his duties & does them. He is reliable.

2. Can the Lord, the church, your family & the lost depend on you to fulfill your duties to Him, to them?

3. Can they trust you to do your best? – Matt. 25:15, 21

Conclusion

1. “Faithful” discussed in two senses: Trust­ing (believing & obeying) & trustworthy (de­pend­able to do God’s will).

2. Faith (confidence, trust, belief) in God motivates us to obey Him (be dependable, faithful) – Gal. 5:6.

3. Questions:

a. Do you really realize your need for God (i.e., do you trust that His will in your life is what you need, & obey it)? (Trust & obey)

b. Can God & others depend on you to do your best?

4. Faithfulness demands both of these!

(Adapted from outline by Shane Carrington)