Larry Siegle
Link to sermon video: Faith and The Faith of God – L Siegle
THE PROCESS OF REDEMPTION
“FAITH and THE FAITH OF GOD”
(ISAIAH 28:5)
Series: The Process of Redemption
Thesis: The PROCESS of Redemptive history unfolded exactly as God has intended.
INTRODUCTION
1. We begin a series of messages that takes us into the very heart of God and the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
2. The title of the series is THE PROCESS OF REDEMPTION
3. Last week we established the fact that ATONEMENT with God and REDEMPTION was a PROCESS that was set into motion “before the foundation of the world”—from “ages” past (Titus 1:1-3; John 17:24; Eph. 1:4; I Pet. 1:20).
4. We introduced the concept that in order to appreciate last things, (eschatology), it is essential for us to concentrate
on the subject of salvation (deliverance) (soteriology).
a. The Bible presents a cohesive and interconnectedness between the movement of redemptive history toward the
end or the goal of what God sets about to achieve over the course of time.
b. This is what we have designated as the process and unfolding of God’s purpose.
5. A process is, “a series of actions or steps taken in order to achieve a particular goal or end”
a. The steps we take in life do not always exhibit the will of God (Jer. 10:23).
b. It is not by the outward manifestion of what we do that always determines the directionality of our faith (Rom.
4:9-12).
1) The contrast between those “circumcised” and those “uncircumcised” as a measurement of faith and
Devotion (4:9).
2) The manifested (demonstrated) “faith” of Abraham was accounted to him for “righteousness” (Gen. 17:13).
a) This was the ‘sign’ of the Abrahamic “covenant” that every male was required to participate eight days
after their birth (Gen. 17:10-13).
b) But God had foretold that judgment would come upon both those who were “circumcised” and those
who were “uncircumcised” (Jer. 9:25).
c) Instead of trusting in God as the Source of their righteousness, they focused their attention of the
physical ‘sign of the covenant’ apart from faith.
3) The Bible teaches Baptism “into Christ” is an essential element of our salvation because of what it represents
(death, burial, and resurrection) (Rom. 6:3-5).
a) We cannot place of trust and devotion into having been baptized apart from having a daily relationship
with God based upon what it means.
b) There is no magic in the “water”…salvation is in the shed blood of Christ and His substitutionary sacrifice
on our behalf (I Pet. 1:17-19).
c) Believers become ‘lifelong’ disciples as we walk each day in faith and obedience to what God has
commanded (Rom. 6:17)
4) Response to the “gospel of Christ” (Rom. 1:16) is the empowerment necessary to declare ourselves ‘set free’
from the dominion of sin and death (Rom. 6:7-14).
a) RESPONSIVE FAITH is that which draws a line of demarcation between being “dead to sin” and “alive to
God”—being made “instruments of righteousness” (v. 13) in how we think, what we say, and the actions
that follow.
b. The process of God is transformative, because God by His Spirit, through the Word of God cleanses us
(Rom. 6:22, 23; Eph. 5:26, 27).
THE CALL OF GOD REVEALED IN THE GOSPEL (ROM. 1:16, 17).
1. Collectively, the work of God during the “last days” would be accomplished—completed (Phil. 1:6)—God was moving
the church toward maturity (as a body of people)—Heb. 5:12-6:1-3; Eph. 4:11-16).
2. Individually, it is the responsibility of each one of us to ‘move forward’ in our own spiritual “completeness” (Phil. 1:7-
11).
a) We grow “in grace” and “in knowledge”—the spiritual “fruits of righteousness” (Phil. 1:11; II Pet. 3:14-18).
b) God shapes us into being who and what He wants us to become (Isa. 64:8; Jer. 18:2-6).
3. In the case of Israel, their central focus was on the outward circumcision rather than allowing God to reach into their
hearts (Rom. 2:25-29).
4. The will of God for each one of us is to surrender to what His Word shows genuine discipleship to actually be.
5. This is a lifelong process that is with us until the “end” of our days (II Tim. 2:4-8).
6. The “living hope” in us is “kept by the power of God” (I Pet. 1:5).
HOLINESS SEPARATION FROM SINFUL THOUGHTS, WORDS, AND ACTIONS
1. The “world” around us seeks to lure us (gradually) to accept and to embrace its standard (Rom. 12:1-2).
2. There is a “battle” of the mind (I Pet. 1:13-19).
The command to “be holy” is not simply a suggestion but God’s expectation for our identity “in Christ”
a. There is an amazing transformation that takes place on the inside of our hearts (changes our desires, changes our
thoughts).
b. The purpose of God has been brought to completion (redemptive history), but the believers manifestation of the
reality of that purpose is testified in our lives everyday—not sinless perfection, but rather progressive holiness.
REPENTANCE
1. Conviction moves believers in the direction of repentance (Luke 3:8)
2. The “fruits” of repentance demonstrate the reality of what happens on the inside of our hearts and minds (Acts 3:19).
a. We do not pray “Lord, forgive us for our many sins…” because our daily walk in the light moves us in the direction
of having sin but not a ‘mountain of sin’ (I John 1:7-9).
b. It is the blood of Jesus that provides ‘continual’ cleansing as we walk in the light.
CONCLUSION
1. There is an awakening that is taking place in the lives of believers.
2. What we do and practice arises form God’s work that is taking place on the inside of us.
3. The process of redemption is fulfilled collectively and individually we grow each and every day.
Outline (Word document): THE_PROCESS_of_Redemption_II.docx