March 07, 2010
Faith in Whom

TEXT: Romans 10:8-10
“The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”

When speaking publically, it is important to be able to clearly communicate one’s thoughts to the audience. When a person says in response that, although they may not agree with what the speaker said, his convictions were stated clearly, it is a compliment. It is frustrating when the speaker is asked what he was trying to say after a sermon or speech.

Politicians have this problem. Sometimes they use an abstract presentation so that when they are later accused of saying one thing, they can reply that it was not what they meant to say. Other times they simply lack the ability to put their thoughts into words. Preachers, teachers, salespeople and others also have these problems in communication.

In the February issue of Time magazine, President Obama was asked what made him appear so calm in the midst of harsh criticism. His answer was, “I have a confession to make: at times I am not so calm. There are times when progress seems too slow and the barbs sting. At times I feel all my efforts are for naught, and I have to confront my own doubts. But during those times, faith keeps me calm.”

In my opinion, President Obama is an excellent speaker. Generally speaking, he makes his message clear and we know where he stands. But in this quote he left something unsaid – faith in what or whom?

Is his faith in the congress, the political party, or the talented advisors who surround him? Is his faith in an indescribable higher power?

I wish the President in all honesty could have confessed that his faith is in Almighty God; or even more specifically, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He left me wondering in what or whom he found his strength and guidance.

It is not just the politicians who use abstract thoughts and words. We preachers are guilty too. Funerals are often where we have the greatest temptation to confuse people regarding the way of salvation. Let me illustrate.

On Sunday morning a person hears the pastor clearly expounding the text for the day. The pastor repeatedly says that we are saved by grace through the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ at the cross. On Tuesday this same person, who is struggling with his faith, attends the funeral for a close friend. This friend’s language and lifestyle would never cause anyone to believe he was a Christian. Yet the pastor refers to the deceased as a “man of faith.” Again we can ask, Faith in what or whom?

Do you remember when we were in grade school and learned how to diagram sentences? There has to be a subject, a verb, and an object. It might be well for us to apply this to our spiritual witness. What or whom is the object of our faith?

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’, and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “An who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, he passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:30-37).

When Jesus finished telling that parable of the Good Samaritan, the man went on his way with a clear understanding of who his neighbor was.

Do you remember the familiar story of Jesus talking to Martha after her brother Lazarus had died? In comforting Martha, Jesus said, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” (John 11:23-26).

In whom does the person believe if he is going to heaven? Jesus clearly gives us the answer – we must believe in Him. He leaves no question or doubt about the answer. A person might not believe what Jesus said, but he could never be confused about what Jesus meant. He did not present an abstract answer, but a concrete answer.

The disciples of our Lord were persecuted and killed because of their clear answers regarding the way of salvation. St. Paul writes in Romans 10:8-10, “The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the word of faith we are proclaiming: That if you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.” Paul’s words are clear – Jesus Christ is the only Savior who will bring you into a personal relationship with the Lord God Almighty.

In Romans 5:1, Paul writes, “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” People never had to ask Paul in whom he believed. The answer was very clear. It was the cross of Christ and His empty tomb. That’s what saves us.

Why is it that, in our conversations with others, we hesitate to mention the name of Jesus? Could it be that we are ashamed of what others will think about us? It might be well for us to remember Jesus’ words, “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32).

If we are living in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, let us have a clear, loving testimony of Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world. Let no one wonder who is our comfort and strength, and who picks us up and forgives us when we sin.

Amen.

Rev. Homer Larsen
Christian Crusaders