WELCOME TO CENTRAL CHURCH OF CHRIST. Let’s talk about FAITH in God’s love, God’s Story, and God’s family! We’re wrapping up the Fruit of the Spirit today.
- “… the righteous shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17)
- Philippians 3:9 “…righteousness … is through faith in Christ….
- Ephesians 6:16 “… shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.”
- Hebrews 11:6 “…without faith it is impossible to please God…”
“…if you have faith and do not doubt… you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done.” Matthew 21:21
- (Hebrews 11:1)
“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
“… by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food!…. Hebrews 5:12-13
Ephesians 2:10 “…we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Essentially, “2nd Work of Grace” is the teaching that you get the Holy Spirit on two occasions
1st – when you’re saved the Holy Spirit comes into your life
2nd – later in life, you essentially get a booster shot of the Spirit that leads you on to a higher level of maturity.
Now, I say this is a “man-made” doctrine for two reason:
1) the phrase never shows up in the Bible. That doesn’t necessarily disqualify doctrines, but it should make us at least look at such teachings closely.
2) there’s absolutely no Scriptures that teach this idea.
Hebrews 11:1 –“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
II Corinthians 3:18 describes it this way: “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” (KJV)
Galatians 5:25 “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.”
CLOSE: Let me close with this observation about TOMBSTONE
TOMBSTONE CLOSE: – OUTLAW OF FAITH (1993 Movie)
Tombstone is the story of legendary lawman, Wyatt Earp, his brothers Virgil and Morgan, and the Shakespeare-quoting, dentist-turned-gunslinger sidekick, Doc Holliday, as they cleaned up Tombstone, Arizona, in the 1880’s. Recently, I watched clips. Just like my first viewing of this movie, I was riveted. I was no longer tired or exhausted, but sat straight up, drinking in each scene of triumph of good over evil.
As the story unfolds, the Earp brothers are retired from law enforcement, have left Dodge City, and are settling down with their wives in Arizona, looking for some peace and quiet. Tagging along with them is the ubiquitous, tubercular Holliday. Little do they know that the town is run by a weak mayor, has a crooked sheriff, and is under a virtual siege of terror from the marauding Clanton and McLaury gangs, along with the bloodthirsty outlaw, Johnny Ringo.
The Earp brothers have no interest in cleaning up another town. But after the local U. S. Marshall is gunned down in the streets in front of terrified women and children, steely-eyed and flinty Virgil Earp is persuaded to become the new Marshall, deputizing a young and idealistic Morgan, and a reluctant and resentful Wyatt.
As I sat there, I wondered why, after all these years, I was still drawn to this movie.
Tombstone is a guy flick. It’s rough and earthy. Tough, rugged men fight bad guys, protect women and children, and bring law and order by spilling their own blood. They shoot and they get shot. They stand tall and they ride hard. Guys watch movies like this and live their lives vicariously through the bold and courageous characters. The stories call out the slumbering warriors in us who, deep inside, yearn to be bold heroes to our wives and children, and soldiers of faith to our Commander, Jesus the Christ.
Until we go to be with the Lord, we are living in Tombstone today. It is often a lawless town. The Clantons and McLaurys are here. Johnny Ringo lays in wait outside our doors. The innoccent desperately need us to people filled with the Spirit. The bride of Christ needs us to guide in FAITH. God is calling us to be Gideons, the Elijahs, the Shadrachs, Meshacks, & Abednegos. Our Marshall, Jesus Chrisdt is in town. He has called you to live by His Spirit, to wear the badge of faith. So Saddle your horses.
Put on His Badge in Confession, Repentance, and Baptism. Be immersed in Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self Control. Walk in the Holy Spirit of Christ today