Where Should I Place My Faith?

1) Building on the rock: Safe and solid …. Believe in God (Hebrews 11:6) — We are to believe that “He is” (Exodus 3:14). We are to believe that “He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him” (Matthew 7:7-8; Isaiah 55:6-7; Acts 15:16-17). We should believe in God as: (a) the pardoner of our sins as David did (Psalm 51:1-2,7-9); (b) the bearer of our burdens as Nehemiah did (Nehemiah 1:4-11); (c) the source of our strength as Paul did (Philippians 4:13); (d) the place of our safety as David did (Psalm 46:1); (e) the spring of our hope as John did (1 John 3:1-3); (f) the crowner of our lives as Paul did (2 Timothy 4:6-8).

2) Believe in Christ as the Son of God (Acts 16:30-31; John 8:21,24; John 20:30-31) — We should believe in Christ as: (a) our Savior (John 4:42); (b) the King and Lord of our lives (Revelation 17:14); (c) our Mediator and High Priest (1 Timothy 2:5; Hebrews 3:1); (d) our coming Judge (Matthew 25:31-46).

3) Faith in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, is the basis of our confession unto salvation (Acts 8:36-38; Romans 10:8-10; Matthew 16:16).

4) Believe in the Bible as the truth of God (2 Timothy 3:16-17) — We are saved through "sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13). The truth is the Word of God (John 17:17).

5) Building on the sand: Unsafe and sure to fall — The doctrines and commandments of men. The Pharisees worshiped in vain because they taught for doctrines the commandments of men (Matthew 15:9). We are not to give heed to the commandments of men that turn from the truth (Titus 1:14).

6) False Teachers — We are to beware of false prophets (Matthew 7:15; Colossians 2:8). False prophets bring damnable heresies (2 Peter 2:1). False teachers are to be marked and avoided (Romans 16:17).

7) Lies — Every tear that has bedewed our cheek and dimmed our eye, every wrinkle that has furrowed our brow, every tribulation that has assailed us, every adversity that has laid us low, and every open grave by which we have stood, are but a few of the results obtained from Eve hearing, believing, and obeying a lie (Genesis 3). If we believe a lie, we shall be damned (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). —Wendell Winkler

—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets