Larry Siegle · Romans 10:5-13
Link to sermon video: Believing, Knowing and Doing – L Siegle
SALVATION SERIES II
“BELIEVING, KNOWING, and DOING”
(Romans 10:5-13)
Series: SALVATION SERIES
Thesis: There is ONE Lord, ONE Faith, ONE Baptism, ONE God.
INTRODUCTION
1. We are continuing a series of messages that explores the PRACTICAL of the meaning of salvation
2. The title of the series is THE SALVATION SERIES
3. The title of our message today is: “BELIEVING, KNOWING, and DOING”
EVERYTHING IS PRACTICAL NOT THEORITICAL
1. What is the difference between a fact and a theory?
a. “A fact is a statement that can be proven to be true or false based on evidence or observation.”
b. “A theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that is based on a body of evidence and repeated testing.”
2. According to secular research “faith” does not fall into either the category of fact or theory and this leaves people with the impression that “faith” is wholly subjective (personal) without the need for any substance or proof of the reality associated with it.
a. This is why when you ask someone about some matter associated with faith the answers given are something like this:
1) “Well, here is what I think…”
2) “I feel it means this or that…”
3. When what Naaman expected the prophet to do to heal him of his leprosy, he became angry (II Kings 5:11), “behold I thought” (ASV). He said to himself (on the inside) and the reality is that his impression was the wrong impression.
4. God’s ways are not our ways (from a “natural” perspective) (Isa. 55:7-9; Prov. 16:20-28).
BELIEVING, KNOWING, AND DOING ARE PROGRESSIVE STEPS
1. Each of us has had difference experiences and impressions in what we once believed in our past about a multiplicity of things—some of which were true and helpful and some of which were false and destructive.
2. God, from the very beginning wanted to impart knowledge, wisdom, and understanding to those who love Him, and He gave principles in His Word, that when understood and put into practice have benefits for the lives of believers
(Exod. 31:3; 35:31).
a. God equipped Solomon with “wisdom” to lead the people (I Kings. 4:29, 34).
b. The older we get, the more our wisdom should increase (Job 12:12, 13)
c. 49x the word “wisdom” occurs in the book of Proverbs (2:6, 7; 3:13; 4:5).
ISAIAH 59 AND THE EXAMPLE OF HOW PEOPLE WANDER AWAY FROM THE LORD
1. Over and over again, throughout the book of Isaiah, the prophets points out how God’s people, by their thoughts, words, and actions, have abandoned what is right gradually, over time, and would face the consequences that follow.
2. These areas of “sin” and disobedience to the Lord were the “root” cause of their separation from Him, and how they had become alienated to the point that God could no longer hear their prayers or accept their sacrifices (I Sam. 15:22;
Hos. 8:13). God was no longer pleased with their ‘going through the motions’ but without a heart totally devoted to the Lord.
3. When we talk about salvation we are pointing to the ultimate expression of the message and meaning of it: rescue, deliverance, being set free from the areas of our lives that can keep us in bondage and take away the happiness that
God wants each of us to experience.
4. In this series we are going to explore three areas that need our attention:
a. surface issues, things in our lives that seem to be ‘out of step’ with what we believe, know, and allow to slip away (dishonesty, disrespect, our appearance, our language, how we use our time).
b. inward attitudes that are often seen by our outward actions that are symptoms of what God wants to deal with in our lives (inferiority, anger, fear, worry, rebellion, envy and jealousy, boredom, insecurity, guilt and frustration).
c. root causes of bitterness, temporal values, moral impurity, habits that are developed over time.
5. Sometimes we just skate over the surface without asking ourselves the penetrating questions of to why certain qualities manifest themselves in a problematic sense and how the principles found in God’s Word are given to provide
guidance every “step” of the way (Psa. 119:105).
a. “If we are not careful, we may begin to conclude that the deeper things of our lives God really does not care about, or address—provides no way for us to overcome”
b. “Well, this is just the way I am…” (and excuses will follow, a confession of helplessness).
FAITH (TRUST) IN GOD AND HIS WORD ARE JUST THE BEGINNING
1. At the point of salvation we become God’s project—His workmanship (Eph. 2:8-10).
a. The Greek word poiema is defined as, “a product, a thing made, crafted, fashioned”
b. The Greek word ktizo is defined, “to take out of chaos, from a state of disorder or wildness, to build something worthy, to be adorned”
2. Zenith had a slogan years ago, “the quality goes in before the name goes on” (God takes pride in His ability and craftsmanship). Zenith is a subsidiary of LG (Life’s Good) electronics and so did not totally pass away.
3. Assurance was given to the first century believers that God would finish or complete the ‘work’ He had begun in their lives (Phil. 1:3-7). It was in process at the time.
THE INSEPARABLE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND ACTIONS THAT FOLLOW
1. The apostle Paul affirmed that nobody could be saved by obedience to the “works of the law” (Gal. 2:16-19).
a. It was through the Old Covenant “law” that Paul “died to the law” in order that he would live in God (Gal. 2:19-21).
b. The “dead works” of the law were never equipped to provide salvation (Heb. 6:1; 9:14).
c. Salvation was not ex ergon (“out of works”) (Eph. 2:8, 9), and the end result was going to be that a believer becomes God’s workmanship and is thus qualified to stand justified “in Christ” (Col. 1:9-14).
2. The areas we listed before become the ‘core’ of God’s’ work in our lives to transform us into the “image” of Christ (Rom. 8:29).
a. Both life and immortality have come through the gospel (II Tim. 1:9, 10), as He leads us by the principles and precepts found within His Word.
HOW DO WE UNDERSTAND AND APPLY THE PRINCIPLES OF SCRIPTURE.
1. The Bible has been given as a “lamp for our feet” (Psa. 119:105).
2. Verses have one interpretation (Exod. 23:19)—Israel was given a law regarding a common practice of idolatry among the nations (boiling an animal in its mother’s milk)—the practice was forbidden.
3. The Bible has many principles and applications in what it declares.
a. How many of us like to eat meat?
b. How many of us enjoy the taste of milk?
1) Thousands of years after this prohibition it was discovered that if a person has milk at the same time he eats meat, it actually affects the ability of the human body to absorb the iron from the meat and the combination
of the two things can cause negative effects (indigestion, stomach pain, etc). God knew this, Israel did not, and science did not discover the details until much later.
2) The Bible often states a principle but without explaining the actual meaning of how the principle is applied.
4. Deut. 22:11 is about mixing together “wool” and “linen” garments.
a. In 2003, Dr. Heidi Yellen discovered the energy of the wool flows from “left to right” and the energy of the Lenin flows in the opposite direction from “right to left” creating a problem for the two when mixed together.
1) God knew and knows what is best for us.
CONCLUSION
1. We are not looking at principles that have no practical application or are just in the realm of theory.
2. God has provided us with sound principles of how to apply His Word even when we do not fully understand the reason at the time.
3. God wants to equip each one of us with the “wisdom” to know beyond any doubt that His Word and His Counsel are true (James 1:5).
Outline (Word document): SALVATION_SERIES_II.docx