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February 25, 2007
“Faith: Biblical Faith is Not a Leap”
Hebrews 11:1

When our modern world uses the terminology “leap of faith” they usually do so to disparage our faith. Even when Christians use such language they usually mean something by it that is not true. Some have misunderstood passages like Proverbs 3:5-6 to such a degree that they count faith to be (just like the world does) a “willingness to believe in absurdity” as if our faith were absurd. Yet, this is not at all the case; we have an intelligent faith, a faith even that expands our minds!

I. Our faith is a substantive faith and through and through it is all about substance – Hebrews 11:1
1. We believe in a real God, with real, specific attributes –
A. God is a Spirit – John 4:24
B. God is infinite – 1 Kings 8:27
C. God is eternal – Psalm 90:2
D. God is unchanging – Malachi 3:6
E. God is all wise – Proverbs 3:19
F. God is all powerful – Psalm 147:5
G. God is all holy – Exodus 15:11
H. God is perfectly just – Deuteronomy 32:4
I. God is all goodness and truth – Exodus 34:6-7
2. As a REAL Person, God will not be anything anyone might want to make Him!
A. The Pastor Arnold Brevick illustration / car illustration
3. Real things must be dealt with as they are, not in a willy-nilly manner, for example: “I would like to think of God as my BIG Daddy-O in the sky who would never send anyone to Hell” “I would like think of my car as one that would run on cool aid and lollipops instead of gasoline.” Some say it does not matter what you believe as long as you believe it wholeheartedly, wrong!
4. We believe in a real Heaven and a real Hell, these places have real attributes, one is comfortable the other is not, one is a place of pleasure the other a place of punishment; since they are real we need to be concerned about them.
5. Our faith is intelligent, full of content, it expands our minds -

II. Our faith is an evidential faith, it is based on solid evidence – Hebrews 11:1
1. From the Bible – John 20:31
2. From true science –
A. Creation / Intelligent Design – Hebrews 11:3 back by evidence, evolution takes a “leap of faith” -
"There are only two possibilities as to how life arose. One is spontaneous generation arising to evolution; the other is a supernatural creative act of God. There is no third possibility. Spontaneous generation, that life arose from non-living matter was scientifically disproved 120 years ago by Louis Pasteur and others. That leaves us with the only possible conclusion that life arose as a supernatural creative act of God. I will not accept that philosophically because I do not want to believe in God. Therefore, I choose to believe in that which I know is scientifically impossible; spontaneous generation arising to evolution." (Wald, George, "Innovation and Biology," Scientific American, Vol. 199, Sept. 1958, p. 100)
B. The Heavens declare the glory of God – Psalm 19:1-2

III. Our faith is a living faith –
1. We serve and trust a “living God” – 1 Timothy 4:10; 6:17; Hebrews 3:12; 9:14; 12:22
2. We seek a “living hope” – 1 Peter 1:3
3. We will live and minister eternally – John 17:3, among living creatures – Revelation 5:6-14, even drinking “living water” – John 4:10-14; 7:37-38

IV. Our faith is faith in Jesus Christ –
1. The word “faith” is used 245 times in Scripture but only twice in the Old Testament – Deuteronomy 32:20; Habakkuk 2:4
2. This is because faith is connected to Christ – Romans 3:22-26 3. Faith in Christ (belief) is what will divide those in Heaven from those in Hell – John 3:36, those saved from the unsaved – Acts 3:16; Acts 4:8-12

We believe in Who He is: the Eternal Word, Son of God – John 1:1-14; John 20:31

We believe in what He has done: He died on the cross for our sins – Isaiah 53:1-6; 1 Corinthians 1:18

Pastor Arnold Brevick