“Leap of Faith” summary
Home > Pastor's Blog > “Leap of Faith” summaryIs FAITH a LEAP into the UNKNOWN?
How many have SEEN GOD.. Jesus Christ? None! So it’s also a “Blind” Leap
HOW do you KNOW God is There to catch you? “Bible Says So?” Muslims have a book that Says Allah is out there… Hindus have Books that say Brahman is out there – “He Lives within my Heart… Feel the Holy Spirit?” Buddhists feel the Spirit of the Universe
Aren’t Christians taking a HUGE LEAP in the UNKNOWN to live a Holy Life & maybe even Die a Martyrs Death for Some GOD they’ve never Seen?
A Little Background – on LEAP of/to FAITH
I’m NOT a Philosopher – here’s a quick summary:
– Scholasticism –(1100-1500) understanding of God, man, and the universe studied & taught in Church Universities by theologians who drew upon Plato, Aristotle, and early Church writings – It was God centered
-Then the Scientific Age dawned– with Study, Exploration, Experimentation, Innovation. Despite some challenges to religious dogma – many notable figures of the scientific revolution – Copernicus, Kepler, Newton, Galileo — remained devout in their faith.
-14th to 17th Cent – Rennaissance – Shift focus from God to Man – Man became the Measure of all things
-18th Cent Enlightenment – Age of Reason – They referred to all knowledge & philosophy from earlier years as the “Dark Ages”
–The Rationalists –i.e.Descartes – believed earlier philosophy started w/ too many assumptions – like God – Instead of “God IS – therefore I Am” – Descartes said “I think therefore I am” – from a God centered Philosophy to Man Centered – Humanism – Tho he doubts God – The idea of God did not originate with him – therefore there must be a God – Tries to Prove God from Human Reason – again, Man Centered
–The Empiricists –i.e. Locke and Hume; We can only Know what our Senses Experience -Scientific Method -Since God can’t be put in a Test Tube, Faith is completely separated from Knowledge
-Idealism -Kant – Impossible to know anything for sure – Reality is only perceptions of the mind -Knowledge is just a “category of the Mind” -Led to Agnosticism, Skepticism, Pessimism, Despair
–Nietzsche – announced “God is Dead” – Enter > Darwin, Marx, Hegel, Hitler
-Kierkegaard –attempting to “save” Christianity – “father” of Existentialism Our existence is UnExplainable in Rational or Scientific terms – Our Life is to be Lived, not a mystery to be solved – Don’t have to Prove God – just take a “Leap to Faith” in God ! -Why Leap into the Arms of a DEAD GOD?
–Post Modernism – Skeptical of Science being able to solve Life’s ultimate Problems – so NOW – Post-Modern man is turning to Pluralism – All Philosophies are Meaningless – so Choose the one that Works best for you: Atheism – Agnosticism – Paganism – Pantheism – New Age – Environmentalism – Occultism – Syncretism – even Satanism
Sunday Night on PBS “Nature” – Himalayan Mountains – Describing the Animals – mentioned Evolution – Then started describing the Buddhists who live in the area – Then the Connection between Humans & Animals & Nature – Then Re-incarnation- that Humans were Animals in previous lives and Animals were Humans in previous life – ALL is ONE – “At ONE” with the Universe = Basis of Respect for the Environment
They ASSUMED that the BUDDHIST understand of things was TRUE – But they never asked the Philosophical Question? HOW do you KNOW that what the BUDDHIST BELIEVE is TRUE ? Buddhism ALSO requires a HUGE LEAP of FAITH into the DARK… UNKNOWN
(Philosophy may be boring to Most – but Modern/Post-Modern Philosophy is the driving force behind our Education System – SO before we Pack our Kids off to School and encourage them to pay attention and make all “A’s” maybe we ought to KNOW a little about what they are teaching. )
God does NOT tell us to take a “Leap into the Dark” As my Philosophy professor at SEBTS – Dr Russ Bush – used to say “Biblical faith is contrasted with Sight but NOT with Knowledge.”
2Co 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight: Faith is walking.. living w/o Sight – but NOT w/o Knowledge – 2Ti 2:12 … for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
HOW can we KNOW GOD w/o SEEING GOD? because GOD HAS SPOKEN. To quote Dr Francis Shaeffer – “God is THERE and HE is NOT SILENT” Heb 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son
Tho Modern Scholars have tried to Banish Jesus from our Memory – He is STILL There… Here. Western Civilization Hinges on the Life, Death, Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The reason this year is 2011 – is because of Jesus – AD “In the Year of our Lord” Act 26: 25 [Paul] said, “I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason. 26 “For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27 “King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe.” 28 Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You almost persuade me to become a Christian.”
Jesus Christ is a Person who Lived in History – UnDeniable – Romans & Jews tried VERY HARD to FIND the BODY of CHRIST . But you have 11 Disciples who, at the Cross, were scared to Death – NOW Running around Boldly proclaiming that Jesus has Risen from the DEAD – and they are Willing to DIE – rather than DENY that Jesus is LORD & GOD . THEIR FAITH SOUNDS like MORE than a “BLIND LEAP into the UNKNOWN”
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
-SUBSTANCE – Grk word – hupostasis = basis, firm foundation
NAS> Assurance; NIV> being Sure; NLT> Confident Assurance
Faith is the BASIS of our BLESSED HOPE of Salvation in Jesus
-EVIDENCE – Grk word, el-eng-khos = Evidence, Proof, Conviction
NAS> Conviction; NIV > Certain
Faith is the EVIDENCE/PROOF of things Not SEEN
WHAT KIND of EVIDENCE do we have that GOD Exists?
Like CSI or NCIS on TV – Something happened at this CRIME scene
-the Cause of this Crime is NOLONGER HERE –
-But there is Evidence that will lead us to the CAUSE
WHAT KIND of EVIDENCE do we have that GOD Exists?
1st Clue -Look at CREATION – Gods Fingerprints are Everywhere ! Heb 11: 3 – By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. —- Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork. 2 Day unto day utters speech, And night unto night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language Where their voice is not heard. (INTELLIGENT DESIGN!)
2nd Clue – CONSCIENCE – that tells us that we are Doing RIGHT or WRONG . WHO Wired Human beings w/ this Innate Understanding of Right/Wrong; Good/Evil ? It’s Evidence of a MORAL GOD – Heb 11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good testimony…. 5 By faith Enoch was taken away so that he did not see death, “and was not found, because God had taken him”; for before he was taken he had this testimony, that he pleased God.
3rd Clue is the SCRIPTURES – 11: 3 by the WORD of GOD
4th Clue – is Gods SON, Jesus Christ – Heb 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith
Sure we Walk by FAITH and NOT by SIGHT – but NOT w/o KNOWLEDGE – All kinds of Evidence & Witnesses
Study Romans – See the Same list of Evidence
-Creation
-Conscience
-Jews – History – Speaking of History : Mormonism requires a HUGE Leap of Faith – Book of Mormon Tells the Story of Great Civilizations & Huge Cities in North/South America- Native Americans – descendents of 10 Lost Tribes of Israel – Not a Shred of Historical or Archeological or DNA Evidence to back it up
-Scriptures – God has SPOKEN, thru Prophets & Apostles
-Jesus Christ – GOD CAME DOWN!
Tho God is Spirit – and invisible to our Eyes – There’s Plenty of Proof, EVIDENCE that HE is THERE and HE is NOT SILENT –
SO if OUR FAITH is NOT a BLIND LEAP – WHAT IS IT?
1st Part of Faith is BELIEF – in the GOD who is There and who has Revealed Himself to Us — Rom 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” But it’s NOT Enough to just Believe – and give Mental Assent to the FACT that there is a GOD. – Jam 2: 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe — and tremble!
2nd Part of Faith = TRUST Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. — Believe God Exists + TRUST God to REWARD your FAITH – to keep His Promise – To Save You and give you Eternal Life on the other Side of Death – see Heb 11:13-16 – Paul says the Same – 2Ti 2:12 … for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
FAITH is more than BELIEF & TRUST
3rd Part of FAITH = OBEDIENCE – Heb 11: 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
So according to the Bible – FAITH is NOT a BLIND LEAP into the UNKOWN
FAITH means to BELIEVE, TRUST, and OBEY the GOD who we may not SEE but we KNOW is There
Conclusion – Peter described faith like this: 1Pe 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls.
