How Faith Really Works

February 2, 1997

The epistle lectionary for this day was from I Corinthians 9— just a short passage about discipline: (9:24-27)

Do you not know that in a race the runners all compete, but they do not all get the prize? Run in such a way that you may win it. Athletes excercise self-control in all things; they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one. So i do not run aimlessly, nor do I box as though beating the air; but I punish my body and enslave it, so that after proclaiming to others I myself should not be disqualified.

That reminded me of another passage by the same author, written to his favorite son in the faith. This other passage is:

2 Timothy 1-16 This is just a bit modernized in my own language, but I believe very true to the scripture:)

2:1 Timothy, I really want you to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that you have heard me speak before many people, I want you to entrust, to pass on to faithful believers, who in their turn will be able to teach others also. [ If the faith does not die with us we will have to:]

I ask you to dare to endure hard times, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one who is in a warfare gets entangled with the affairs of this life; we need to live to please the One who called us to follow him to be a soldier in His army.

I ask you to be like an athlete who goes into training, and studies the rules. You know that if someone competes as an athlete they don't win anything if they don't know the rules and play by them.

I ask you to be like a good farmer: A farmer works hard, but even farmers have to understand and live off the land.

Really meditate on this lesson, and God Himself will give you insight regarding your faith.

Remember that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Royal Son of David, Himself was raised from the dead according to this gospel. And even I, your teacher, suffer trouble, as an evil doer; even now I am in prison writing this letter. But the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of God's called people, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

We can count on it: If we have died with Him (in baptism), we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. But if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he carries forward in the faith: he cannot deny himself.

2:14 Teach these things! Challenge believers beforeGod not to get into debates about words that will do no one any good, only turn people away.

2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

The exhortation

I don't have a sermon, proper just now. I guess after this morning I just want to talk with you as pastor about a few things.

  1. The certainty of change. The church is changing.
  2. The absolute need for love between the different changing parts. Love can bridge a lot of gaps. Chinese-Caucasian— that is obvious. But generation and cultural gaps are not so easy—they take deliberate understanding and love (We need to believe in each other even when we don't understand!! each other!!)
  3. The on-going call to "pass the good news along: ( And the things that you have heard me speak before many people, I want you to entrust, to pass on to faithful believers, who in their turn will be able to teach others also.) We are to be links in an unbroken chain from Jesus to the world to the end of time.
  4. The need for personal discipline.
    • I ask you to dare to endure hard times, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
    • I ask you to be like an athlete who goes into training, and studies the rules.
    • I ask you to be like a good farmer: A farmer works hard, but even farmers have to understand and live off the land.

Right here in Wollaston we ALL have an opportunity to love and share with generations, ethnic differences, as we walk into exciting (and threatening) change....

The invitation

779 We Are Called to Be God's People