Want to know God?

Haven Baptist Church, Madison

Christianity is a battle. It is a battle each day to follow Christ. 

Martin Luther knew this battle all too well. He wrote, “I more fear what is within me than what comes from without.” Sin is not just all around us. It is within us. To conquer sin, we must run to Christ by faith. The Bible states, “The just shall live by faith.”

We hear voices from society calling us to just have faith. Without a doubt, faith is foundational to know God. The apostle Paul said, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Such saving faith must be put into context. It is not faith in ourselves or in our abilities.

First we must understand that it is a gift from God (2 Pet. 1:1; Phil. 1:29). God grants faith so we might recognize His grace to us. 

Second it is grounded in God (Acts 3:16). That is, our faith should be focused in the God-man Jesus Christ. First Corinthians reminds us our faith is rooted in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. If not for this history-altering event our faith would be futile. 

Third faith is given so that we might glory in God (Rom. 4:20, 5:2; 1 Pet. 1:21). Our faith is not about who we are or what we have done. It is about who Jesus Christ is and what He has done. As the famous hymn “In Christ Alone” so beautifully states, “In Christ alone my hope is found; He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. My Comforter, my all in all — here in the love of Christ I stand.” 

J.D. Greear reminds us, “Faith is not the absence of doubt; it is continuing to follow Jesus in the midst of doubt.” 

Let me invite you to cling to Christ. He has already won the battle. His victory can be yours as well.