Is there a connection between beliefs and action?

“People are no longer afraid of hell or sin. When we preachers preach this so hot and heavy, the lost are not usually in the crowd.

What is the biggest reason people reject the gospel? In my opinion, the reason is – Christians. We don’t always live what we proclaim.

We are often as anxious, nervous, angry, vengeful, self- seeking, un-loving, rude and on and on as those who do not claim to be saved.

Where is our love, joy and peace? Where is our contentment? If the gospel is real and means anything, it should change the whole focus of life!”

If I say I hold to a specific belief, but fail to respond to the claims of the proposed belief, do I really hold to the belief?

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;

24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.

26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Background: –Practical –Alluding to the Sermon on the Mount –Pastoral Exhortation

HOW WE RECEIVE GOD’S WORD MATTERS!

Receiving God’s Word: Recognize its Authority Respond to its Authority Trust in its Authority

WE MUST DO SOMETHING!

We Must Do Something: Saved by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ Alone. Saved to WORK

DOERS: Pre-Meditated Spontaneous

Hearer Only: Entertainment Value Academic Value

Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

SAVING FAITH AFFECTS HOW WE ACT

Saving Faith’s Effect: 1.How We Speak 2.How We Help 3.How We Guard Our Devotion

How We Speak: Do we speak to build up or tear down? Do we speak to exalt Jesus or exalt self?

How We Help: How do we respond to the helpless in our society?

How We Guard Our Devotion: What do we pursue to fuel our devotion to Christ? What do we avoid to maintain our devotion to Christ?

RESPONDING TO FAILURE BY REPENTANCE

Responding to Failure: Repent Correct Keep Hearing Keep Doing

ARE YOU WILLING TO PUT YOUR FAITH TO WORK?