Cross-eyed Basics
March 30, 2008
If you were to design your own boarding pass, where would you want to go?
Ask: How is possession of a boarding pass evidence of faith?
Holding a boarding pass evidences your faith that you will be on a plane.
Faith is the reality of what is hoped for.
Hebrews 11:1-2 says "1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 2 This is what the ancients were commended for. "
Think about what a passenger might hope for as he holds his boarding pass. (good seat, etc.)How is faith the foundation of hope?
What does a boarding pass prove? How does faith prove what is not seen?
How is faith different from the feeling that what is wanted will happen?
How has faith been demonstrated throughout generations in your family?
Faith is like a boarding pass to expectant travel with God.
Faith is God's gift placed into our hands, but also requires obedient response. Ask: Who is usually waiting at the end of a long journey? What emotions are experienced?
Hebrews 12:1-2.
1 Therefore since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run with endurance the race that lies before us, 2 keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.
There are two ideas being contrasted here- being weighed down on the race or being able to run with no extra weights adding time.
List the things that can weight us down or make us stumble in our walk with Christ.
List the daily habits that strengthen your faith.
Jesus was placed on a cross so we could live lives of faith and be united with God.
We don't need a boarding pass to experience a life of faith and adventure. Our faith pass was paid with Jesus' death and resurrection. All we have to do is to accept Him as the Lord and Savior of our lives. We need to be born again.
"Now there's a phrase with some baggage. It's been used to describe movements, political leanings, and life philosophies- not always with the best results. But the very first time it was used, it came in a different context. Jesus used the phrase in talking to a man named Nicodemus who was too afraid to approach Him in broad daylight because of the social repercussions. His topic of discussion for Jesus was not unique- He wanted to understand the fullness of who this Teacher, this Rabbi, really was. That's when Jesus threw out the bomshell: 'I assure you: Unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God' (John 3:3).
The fact is, we need to be changed. It's not enough for us to believe there is a God or just be a spiritual person. That doesn't take care of what our real issue is- sin- not just the little white lies we tell, but the fact that our nature, our very identity is corrupted with rebellion against God. That's why we need a complete change. That's why we must be born again.
According to Jesus, there's something that must happen inside us if we are to fully embrace who He is. That 'something' is so drastic, so life-changing that the only way to describe it is through the process of 'new birth', and that's exactly what Jesus offers. According to the Bible, this sin problem is universal in scope, and the just punishment is separation from God for all time (Romans 3:23). In His death, Jesus took that punishment on our behalf and now He offers us a chance to receive His righteous nature, to be born again (2 Corinthians 5:21).
This does not happen by our good works. It can't be manufactured, earned, or bought. This new birth comes through faith, for as Jesus told Nicodemus, 'everyone who believes in Him (the Son of God) will not perish but have eternal life' (John 3:16). Jesus is the only one who can give us new life (John 14:6).
Ready to be something different than you are? How about a child of God? The offer is there. Acts 2:21 says 'And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' Why don't you take the chance today and send us a comment if you want to find out more about being born again?"*
Or send us a comment answering any of the questions in this post. Here is one final question to think about or comment on.
Name one way you will get rid of the baggage that keeps you from living a life of faithfulness.
*This information was copied from the book "Bible studies for Life- Life Matters- published by Lifeway".
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