Eph2:8-10 One Foundation: Faith in Christ

## One Foundation (3):
# Faith in Christ

[(Elbing Catechism)](https://archive.org/details/catechismorbrief00elbi "ref")
[(Workbook)](https://archive.org/details/catechismworkboo00unse "ref")

---

# What must we **do** <br/> to be **saved**?

>>>
+ salvation is not **universal**:
  + Christ **died** for all, but
  + not all will be **saved**:

---

## One Foundation <span class="ref">(Elbing)</span>
1. **Creation** (who *God* is) <span class="ref">(wk 1)</span>
1. **Fall** (who *we* are) <span class="ref">(wk 2)</span>
1. **Redemption** (how we are *saved*)
  1. Divine **Provision** <span class="ref">(wk 2)</span>
  1. Human **Response**
    + **Faith** in Christ <span class="ref">(wk 3)</span>
    + **Life** and Conduct <span class="ref">(wk 4)</span>
  1. **Consummation** <span class="ref">(wk 5)</span>

>>>
+ last week: **God's** plan to save us
+ this + next week: our **response**

---

## Week 3: Faith in Christ
1. Saving **Faith**
  1. New *Birth* and Godly *Life*
1. Being Made **Holy**
  1. *Justification*
  1. *Sanctification*
1. The **Sacraments**
  1. The *Church* of God
  1. *Baptism*
  1. The *Lord's Supper*

>>>
Outline for today:
+ What does it mean to have **faith** in Christ?
+ Are we **holy / righteous** in God's sight?
+ What are the **sacraments**?
  + holy (set aside, special) rituals
  + **symbolic** meaning

---

These have been written <br/>
so that you may **believe** <br/>
that Jesus is the **Christ**, the **Son of God**;

and that believing <br/>
you may have **life** in His name.

>>>
+ **purpose** why John recorded gospel:
  + **believe** (faith) in Jesus:
    + is the **Christ**
    + is the Son of **God**
  + have **life** in Him (regeneration)
+ repentance ⇒ **faith** ⇒ new **life**
+ so what does **faith** entail?

---

Q.125: What does **true faith** imply?

A: Real **repentance** and **sorrow** for sin: <br/>
that we become **convinced** of our sinfulness, <br/>
and **repent** thereof.

>>>
+ **repentance**:
+ recognize we are utterly **lost** without Christ
+ **turn**: change of heart

---

**Cast away** from you all the **transgressions** <br/>
that you have committed, <br/>
and make yourselves a **new heart** <br/>
and a **new spirit**!

**Why** will you die, O house of Israel? <br/>
For I have **no pleasure** in the death of anyone, <br/>
declares the Lord God; so **turn**, and **live**.

<div class="ref">
Ezekiel 18:31-32 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ God **desires** that all may be saved
+ but we must **turn**:
  + **away** from sin + selfishness
  + **toward** God
+ **new heart**:

---

He **saved** us, not because of **works** <br/>
done by us in righteousness,

but according to his own **mercy**, <br/>
by the washing of **regeneration** <br/>
and **renewal** of the Holy Spirit

<div class="ref">
Titus 3:4-5 (ESV)
</div>
[Great Smoky Mountains, USA. Jordan Whitt](https://unsplash.com/photos/b8rkmfxZjdU "caption")

>>>
+ regeneration: born again (Nicodemus)

---

Now faith is the **substance** of things **hoped** for, <br/>
the **evidence** of things **not seen**.

By faith **Abel**, ... **Enoch**, ... **Noah**, ...

<div class="ref">
Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
</div>

>>>
+ "substance" (ὑπόστασις): support
  + NAS/ESV: assurance
  + NIV: confidence
+ "evidence" (ἔλεγχος): proof
  + NAS/ESV: conviction
  + NIV: assurance
+ **life** of taking God at His Word

---

# What kind of **faith** <br/> saves us?

>>>
+ **repent** (turn):
  + away from sin
  + toward God
+ **believe**: Christ, Son of God
+ **live**: taking God at His Word

---

## Week 3: Faith in Christ
1. Saving Faith
  1. New Birth and Godly Life
1. **Being Made Holy**
  1. **Justification**
  1. **Sanctification**
1. The Sacraments
  1. The Church of God
  1. Baptism
  1. The Lord's Supper

>>>
+ justification: deemed **righteous**
  + no longer under **judgment**
+ sanctification: cleansed **holy**
  + **clean** vs unclean
  + set **apart**, distinct, not common / defiled

---

We beg you on behalf of Christ, <br/>
be **reconciled** to God.

He made Him who knew **no sin** <br/>
to **be sin** on our behalf,

so that we might become <br/>
the **righteousness of God** in Him.

<div class="ref">
2 Corinthians 5:20-21 (NASB)
</div>

>>>
+ become **righteousness**: justified
+ through **unfairness** of sin **imputed** to Christ

---

But now that you have been set **free from sin** <br/>
and have become **slaves of God**,

the **fruit** you get leads to **sanctification** <br/>
and its end, **eternal life**.

<div class="ref">
Romans 6:22 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ v20-21: slave to sin
  + ⇒ fruit of shame
  + ⇒ end is death

---

As **obedient** children, do not be conformed  <br/>
to the **passions** of your former **ignorance**,

but as he who **called** you is holy,  <br/>
you also **be holy** in all your conduct

<div class="ref">
1 Peter 1:14-15 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ standard is **God**
  + not **other** people
  + not graded on a **curve**

---

For by a single **offering** <br/>
he **has perfected** for all time <br/>
those who **are being sanctified**.

<div class="ref">
Hebrews 10:14 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ last week: single offering
+ has perfected: finished justification
+ being sanctified: in progress

---

# Are we **righteous** in God's eyes?
# Are we **holy**?

---

## Week 3: Faith in Christ
1. Saving Faith
  1. New Birth and Godly Life
1. Being Made Holy
  1. Justification
  1. Sanctification
1. **The Sacraments**
  1. **The Church of God**
  1. Baptism
  1. The Lord's Supper

---

To the **church** of God that is in Corinth, <br/>
to those **sanctified** in Christ Jesus,  <br/>
**called** to be saints together

with all those who in **every place**  <br/>
**call** upon the name of our Lord **Jesus Christ**,  <br/>
both **their** Lord and **ours**

<div class="ref">
1 Corinthians 1:2 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ this is the **church**:
+ **sanctified**
+ **called** together
+ **call** upon Christ as **Lord**

---

And let us consider how to **stir** up <br/>
one another to **love** and **good works**,

not neglecting to **meet together**, <br/>
as is the habit of some,  <br/>
but **encouraging** one another,  <br/>
and all the more as <br/>
you see **the Day** drawing near.

<div class="ref">
Hebrews 10:24-25 (ESV)
</div>

---

## Week 3: Faith in Christ
1. Saving Faith
  1. New Birth and Godly Life
1. Being Made Holy
  1. Justification
  1. Sanctification
1. **The Sacraments**
  1. The Church of God
  1. **Baptism**
  1. The Lord's Supper

---

Go therefore and **make disciples** of all nations,

**baptizing** them in the name of the Father <br/>
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

**teaching** them to observe <br/>
all that I have commanded you.

<div class="ref">
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV)
</div>

---

Q.146: What is the **purpose** of baptism?

A: It **identifies** the believer with his Lord.
+ It is also an **ordinance** of Christ <br/>
  serving as a **sign**
  + of being spiritually **born** of God,
  + of **putting on** Christ,
  + and of being **united** with the Church.
+ It is the evidence of a **covenant** with Christ.

<div class="ref">
Elbing Catechism
</div>

---

We were **buried** therefore with him <br/>
by **baptism** into death, in order that,

just as Christ was **raised** from the dead  <br/>
by the glory of the Father,  <br/>
we too might walk in **newness of life**.

<div class="ref">
Romans 6:4 (ESV)
</div>

---

## Week 3: Faith in Christ
1. Saving Faith
  1. New Birth and Godly Life
1. Being Made Holy
  1. Justification
  1. Sanctification
1. **The Sacraments**
  1. The Church of God
  1. Baptism
  1. **The Lord's Supper**

---

When He had given thanks, He broke it and said, <br/>
“This is My **body**, which is for you; <br/>
do this in **remembrance** of Me.” ...

“This cup is the **new covenant** in My blood; <br/>
do this, as often as you drink it, <br/>
in **remembrance** of Me.”

<div class="ref">
1 Corinthians 11:24-25 (NASB)
</div>

---

Let a person **examine himself**, then, and so <br/>
eat of the bread and drink of the cup.

For anyone who eats and drinks <br/>
without **discerning** the **body** <br/>
eats and drinks **judgment** on himself

<div class="ref">
1 Corinthians 11:28-29 (ESV)
</div>

>>>
+ "discern" (διακρίνων): **judge** back-and-forth
  + distinguish, separate, recognise distinction
+ body of **Christ**: recognize uniqueness of sacrifice
+ **own** body: judge by God's standard
+ body of **church**: called out from the world

---

# What is the symbolism of **baptism** and **communion**?

---

For by **grace** you have been saved <br/>
through **faith**.

And this is not your **own doing**; <br/>
it is the **gift of God**, <br/>
not a result of **works**, so that no one may **boast**

<div class="ref">
Ephesians 2:8-9 (ESV) (p.1/2)
</div>

>>>
+ Christ showed **grace** to us
  + free **gift**
+ Our response is to **trust** Him
  + repentance, belief, life

---

For we are his **workmanship**, <br/>
created in Christ Jesus for **good works**,

which God prepared beforehand, <br/>
that we should **walk** in them.

<div class="ref">
Ephesians 2:10 (ESV) (p.2/2)
</div>

>>>
+ God **formed** us for good **works**
  + not **passive** enjoyment
+ **next** time: what are these **good works**?

---