[Listen to this sermon]

If you were on a dark, cold, and stormy sea in a small inflatable life raft and I asked you if you would survive the night, you may answer, “I have faith in this life raft”. But tell me, if you make it through the night, will it be because of your faith or because of the life raft?

We are all deeply trusting something or someone as the purpose of our life. Some have the deepest faith in this country. Some have deep faith in humanity, or a code of moral conduct, or a religion. Many devote their lives to themselves.

Jesus would ask us to do an amazing thing – embrace him as the center and purpose of our lives. Cling to him as our only hope in life and death. In the gospel of John we find a very clear proclamation of how we actually do this – by faith.

John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him (lit. is believing, or believing into) shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:36 (NIV)
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.

John 6:40 (NIV)
For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.

John 11:25 (NIV)
Jesus said to [Martha], “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies;

Today I’d like to look at three things. The goodness of Jesus, the power of Jesus, and what happens when we believe in, or have faith in him. This is very important because, again, when you place your faith or your trust in something or someone, it is not your faith that carries the day – it is the object of your faith that is trustworthy – or not. It is the object of your faith that carries the day – not your faith. Your faith is a waste of time if the object of your faith has no integrity.

The goodness of Jesus:

For many today Jesus is someone to align with because he was a “good” person – and he was a good person – he IS a good person. The focus is to see in Jesus the image of who we could, and should be. Jesus healed the sick; attacked the faulty, religious power structure of the day; he fed the hungry; he cared for his mother; he stood between the broken and those who would only judge and not help; he saw humanity in “the enemy” and had compassion;

Mark 10:45 (NIV)
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NIV)
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

While we should try to emulate Jesus, if you think this is the primary goal of Scripture, as some do, you may as well follow Gahnde.

Hebrews 4:2 (NIV)
For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they (those delivered from Egypt) did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.

The Power of Jesus:

Jesus did many miricles of different types when he was training his disciples and moving toward the cross. The crowds loved it all until he asked them to trust him as God. As God he would ask the people to surrender their lives to his agenda – they would have nothing to do with that.

John 5:18 (NIV)
For this reason the Jews tried all the harder to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

John 8:55-58 (NIV)
Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. ⁵⁶ Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” ⁵⁷ “You are not yet fifty years old,” the Jews said to him, “and you have seen Abraham!” ⁵⁸ “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”

Philippians 2:6 (NIV)
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

Having faith in Jesus carries with it an understanding that you are trusting the One who created all that exists and, interestingly, cares tenderly for his children. God sets the agenda.

So what happens when biblical faith connects us to Jesus:

Our sins are forgiven

Acts 10:43 (NIV)
All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.

We receive eternal life:

John 3:16 (NIV)
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Gain access to God:

Ephesians 3:12 (NIV)
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

If you think about it, trusting Jesus as our greatest value and hope carries with it the reality that trusting ourselves is not the answer. If I was my answer, I would trust in me. Believe me, I am not the answer.

Acts 20:21 (NIV)
I (Paul) have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.

Those who have faith in Jesus have a robust, living, all sufficient savior. It’s important that you know him – Jesus longs for this.

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)
God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful.

John 14:23 (NIV)
Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

DO YOU KNOW HIM?