TEXT:  Heb. 10:35-39

INTRODUCTION:

A.  TRIALS OF PERSECUTION.

          1.  At the hand of their fleshly Jewish brethren.

          2.  An exhortation to resist going back and to keep the faith.

B.  FAITH IS TRUST, BELIEF – A CONVICTION OF THINGS NOT SEEN

          (Heb. 11:1;  1 Pet. 1:8).  NOT KNOWLEDGE.

C.  FAITH IS IMPORTANT IN OUR SALVATION (Rom. 5:1-2;  John 3:16;  Heb. 11:6).

D.  OURS ALSO IS A TIME WHEN FAITH IS CHALLENGED.

          1.  Luke 17:5.  Do I have enough faith?

          2.  Upon what is your faith based? (Rom. 10:17).

E.  OUR TEXT SPEAKS OF “FAITH UNTO THE SAVING OF THE SOUL” (Heb. 10:39).

I.  FAITH IN GOD’S POWER (Heb. 11:1-3).

A.  GOD’S CREATION IS BEYOND US (Psa. 139:6, 14;  Isa. 55:8-9;  Rom. 11:22-36).

B.  WE ARE NOT HERE BY CHANCE! (Gen. 1:1, 26).

C.  EVOLUTION ANSWERS NO QUESTIONS (Gen. 1:24).  “after its kind”

D.  WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF EVOLUTION.  WHAT ARE WE?

II.  FAITH OFFERS AN ACCEPTABLE SACRIFICE (Heb. 11:4).

A.  FAITH WAS THE DIFFERENCE, GOD BEARING WITNESS THRU THE GIFTS.

B.  Rom. 10:17.  GOD GAVE INSTRUCTIONS (2 Tim. 1:13). AND TO US AS WELL.

C.  OUR SACRIFICES (Psa. 51:17;  Rom. 12:1;  2 Cor. 8:5;  Heb. 13:15-16).

III.  FAITH THAT WALKS WITH GOD (Heb. 11:5;  Gen. 5:21-22).

A.  “WALK” REFERS TO OUR MANNER OF LIFE (Eph. 4:1;  1 Thess. 4:1).

B.  NOT EVERYONE WALKS THAT WAY (Eph. 2:1-2;  4:17;  Phil.3:18-19).

C.  HOW ARE WE TO WALK? (Eph. 5:1-2, 15).  In love and circumspectly.

D.  John 8:12.  WALKING WITH JESUS MEANS WALKING BEHIND (2 John 9).

IV.  FAITH THAT HEEDS GOD’S WARNINGS (Heb. 11:7).

A.  GOD WARNS US (Heb. 9:27;  2 Cor. 5:10-11).

B.  WE MUST OBEY! (Heb. 5:8-9;  2 Thess. 1:7-9).

C.  IN ALL THINGS LIKE NOAH (Gen. 6:22).

V.  FAITH TO LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND (Heb. 11:8-10).

A.  CONVERSION INVOLVES REPENTANCE (1 Cor. 6:9-11;  Luke 9:62).

B.  CONFLICT WITH FAMILY AND OLD FRIENDS (Matt. 10:34-38;  1 Pet. 4:3-4).

C.  WE ARE SOJOURNERS LIKE ABRAHAM (1 Pet. 2:11-12).  ABSTAIN!

D.  DON’T CONFORM (Rom. 12:2), BUT COME OUT (2 Cor. 6:16 – 7:1).

VI.  FAITH THAT PASSES THE TEST (Heb. 11:17).

A.  HARDSHIP AND PERSECUTION TESTS US (1 Pet. 1:6-7).

B.  WHAT DOESN’T KILL YOU (James 1:2-4).

VII.  FAITH CHOOSES DELIBERATELY (Heb. 11:24-26).

A.  FAITH IS THE RESULT OF PERSUASION (2 Tim. 1:12).

B.  WHAT WE DO IS A PRODUCT OF CHOICE (Rev. 22:17;  Rom. 6:12).

C.  GOD MAKES SALVATION ACCESSIBLE TO ALL (2 Cor. 5:14-15;  1 Tim. 2:3-4).

D.  WHY AREN’T ALL SAVED?  CONDITIONS PLACE ON SALVATION.

CONCLUSION:

A.  DO YOU HAVE FAITH UNTO THE SAVING OF YOUR SOUL?

B.  HAVE YOU ACTED ON THAT FAITH?