Belief That Saves And Sanctifies
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Analyzing Martha's faith journey from dogma to belief.
Text: John 11:25-27
Date: 07/29/2018, the Contemporary service.
Series: "John: Encountering Love" Part 98
Description:
In our text for this morning, Jesus famously gives Martha the formula for salvation and sanctification-- true belief that He and He alone is both the Resurrection and the Life. We will carefully analyze these two words, as well as their respective elucidations in the sentence that follows. But what exactly is true belief? Belief in what? What kind of belief? What intensity is required? In this message we will seek to answer these vital questions by monitoring Martha's journey of faith, from belief in dogma to belief in the person of Jesus as the Christ. For it is this journey that illustrates the distinction in a misplaced belief and a belief that saves. Therefore, there is no greater question that any fallen human will ever ask or answer than, "what is the nature of the belief that saves and sanctifies?" For belief is both the portal into life eternal as well as the foundation of an abundant life here on earth.
View:
Options:
I. Introduction, Acts 16:31.
II. Exposition of the text, John 11:25-27.
A. Context, John 11:4,11,21-24.
B. On death, the Resurrection and the Life.
1. An overview of "resurrection" and "life".
a. Prelude to an illustration.
b. The fifth "I AM" statement.
2. Defining "resurrection" and "life", vs. 25a.
a. Defining "the Resurrection", vs. 25b.
i. A portal from death to life.
ii. The vital spiritual perspective.
b. Defining "the Life", vs. 26a.
i. The Life of God, John 1:4, 17:5.
ii. The life of man, John 1:4, Matt. 4:16.
3. Elucidating "Resurrection" and "Life", vs. 25b-26a.
a. Elucidating "the Resurrection", vs. 25b.
i. An inclusive yet exclusive promise, Eph. 2:8.
ii. A timeless promise.
iii. A living promise.
b. Elucidating "the Life", vs. 26a.
i. An inclusive yet exclusive promise.
ii. A double negative.
c. The eschatological tension.
i. The "not yet".
ii. The "here and now".
d. The truth Martha missed.
4. Where the rubber hits the road, vs. 26b.
5. Martha's faith journey, vs. 27.
a. An emphatic belief.
b. A comprehensive belief, Matt. 16:16.
c. An impacted belief, Matt. 16:17.
d. A growing belief.
e. A Kingdom belief, John 1:9.
III. Application
A. The importance of believing in Jesus.
B. The journey to a belief that saves and sanctifies.
1. It starts with spiritual death, Matt. 5:3.
2. Then comes resurrection.
3. Then comes Life.
4. Then comes death.
5. Then comes resurrection.
6. Then comes the life eternal.
IV. Conclusion
