Kinds of Faith that Fail to Save

Us

Mark 9:17-27

2

3

Mark 9:17-27

“And one of the crowd answered Him, "Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute; [18] and whenever it seizes him, it slams him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth and

stiffens out. I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it." [19] And He answered them and said, "O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put

up with you? Bring him to Me!" …”

4

Mark 9:17-27

“…[20] They brought the boy to Him. When he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling around and foaming at the mouth. [21] And He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. [22] "It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and

help us!" …”

5

Mark 9:17-27

“…[23] And Jesus said to him, " 'If You can?' All things are possible to him who

believes." [24] Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my

unbelief." [25] When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You deaf and mute spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again." …”

6

Mark 9:17-27

“…[26] After crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came

out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, "He is dead!" [27] But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.”

7

8

1 Timothy 1:5

“But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good

conscience and a sincere faith.”

9

10

Mark 9:24

“Immediately the boy's father cried out and said, "I do believe; help my

unbelief."”

11

12

Counterfeit Faith

•2 Corinthians 11:13-14

13

2 Corinthians 11:13-14

“For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising

themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises

himself as an angel of light.”

14

Matthew 7:15

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but

inwardly are ravenous wolves.”

15

Matthew 15:8,9

“This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far away from Me. 9

'But in vain do they worship Me, Teaching AS DOCTRINES THE

PRECEPTS OF MEN.'”

16

Matthew 23:27-28

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed

tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness. 28 "So you, too, outwardly appear righteous to

men, but inwardly you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

17

18

Faith in Self

•Proverbs 16:25“There is a way which seems right to a

man, But its end is the way of death.”•Proverbs 28:26

“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be

delivered.”

19

20

Self-Righteous Faith

•Job 4:6“Is not your fear of God your

confidence, And the integrity of your ways your hope?”

21

Self-Righteous Faith

•Luke 18:9“And He also told this parable to some

people who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and viewed

others with contempt:”

22

Luke 7:36-50

“Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to dine with him, and He entered the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. [37] And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, [38] and standing

behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and kept wiping them

with the hair of her head, and kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume. …”

23

Luke 7:36-50

“…[39] Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he said to himself, "If

this man were a prophet He would know who and what sort of person this woman is who is touching Him, that she is a sinner.“

[40] And Jesus answered him, "Simon, I have something to say to you." And he

replied, "Say it, Teacher." [41] "A moneylender had two debtors: one owed

five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ...”

24

Luke 7:36-50

“…[42] "When they were unable to repay, he graciously forgave them both. So which of them will love him more?" [43] Simon answered and said, "I suppose the one

whom he forgave more." And He said to him, "You have judged correctly." [44] Turning toward the woman, He said to

Simon, "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has wet My feet with her tears

and wiped them with her hair....”

25

Luke 7:36-50

“…[45] "You gave Me no kiss; but she, since the time I came in, has not ceased to kiss My feet. [46] "You did not anoint My

head with oil, but she anointed My feet with perfume. [47] "For this reason I say to you,

her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is

forgiven little, loves little." ...”

26

Luke 7:36-50

“…[48] Then He said to her, "Your sins have been forgiven." [49] Those who were reclining at the table with

Him began to say to themselves, "Who is this man who even forgives sins?"

[50] And He said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace."”

27

Self-Righteous Faith

•To trust in our own righteousness

•… is to reject the only real means of righteousness God has provided–Romans 10:3

28

Romans 10:3

“For not knowing about God's righteousness and seeking to establish

their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of

God.”

29

30

Partial Faith

•Need to have a more “wholehearted” faith–2 Chronicles 25:2

“He did right in the sight of the Lord, yet not with a whole heart.”

31

32

Mis-Oriented Faith

•1 Corinthians 2:1-5

33

1 Corinthians 2:1-5

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom,

proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with

you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of

men, but on the power of God.”

34

Mis-Oriented Faith

•The only faith that saves is faith in the Lord–2 Timothy 1:12

“For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to

Him until that day.”

35

36

Skeptical Faith

•Avoid being “double-minded”– James 1:6-8“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to

expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man,

unstable in all his ways.”

37

Skeptical Faith

•We also need to avoid being cynical about the Lord–Matthew 27:11

“Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, "Are You the King of the

Jews?" And Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."”

38

39

Small Faith

•Our faith must be strong enough to “stand the test”–Matthew 14:28-31

40

Matthew 14:28-31

“Peter said to Him, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

29 And He said, "Come!" And Peter got out of the boat, and walked on the water

and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, "Lord, save me!" 31 Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand

and took hold of him, and said to him, "You of little faith, why did you doubt?"”

41

Luke 22:31,32

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; 32 but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you,

when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers."”

“Help my unbelief”Mark 9:24

“The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!"”

Luke 17:5

43