Faith of Christ

So the title of today's message is faith of Christ. My intention today is to tie faith into the meaning of the days of unleven bread. So, let's start by oh, turning my this on. Look at that. So, there's two sides of unleven bread. Let's start off maybe just quick review. Let's go to Exodus 13. to Exodus 13 and we see these two sides.

So Exodus 13 verse 6 it says seven days you shall eat unleaven bread. So unleaven bread is a unleavened is a component and on the seventh day there shall be a feast to the Lord. So today is a feast to the Lord. unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days and no leavened bread, so this is the other side, right? No leavened, and we've already heard about this, right? Several different messages.

No leavened bread shall be seen among you. Nor shall leaven be seen among you in all your quarters. So, we see the two sides, right? And I've put it up there, and hopefully that's clear. Hopefully, your screen is clearer than mine. Uh, we put sin out, right? The leavened, and we put Christ in the unleavened. All right.

Who thinks they know where I want to go to next? 1 Corinthians 5. Yep. Let's go there. Let's go to 1 Corinthians 5. And I know others have gone here in in messages this past week. But but we've picked out script verses. I'm just going to start right at verse one. Okay. So, first Corinthians 5. And again, we see these two sides of the unleven bread of the the meaning 1 Corinthians 5:1.

Read the first few verses to start with. Here it says it is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you and such such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles. The man has his father's wife. So this was a sexual sin happening in the church that it said people outside the church, well outside of Israel in this case, but they don't even think about doing this.

And then it says, "And you are puffed up." So now we have some of that imagery from Levan, right? Levan is a rising agent. And this chair was quite good because I go like this. Woo! Rise up. It's a rising agent. And we love it because it puffs up bread. a puff sap that cake that Tony said no to that came into his work space and you were puffed up and have not rather mourned.

So there should have been mourning happening in the Corinthian church with what was happening in the church that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed as absent in body but present in spirit have already judged as though I were present concerning him who has done this deed.

Right? So this is the the one side the sin to be put out. And we've spoken a lot about that this week. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. So continue in verse four. When you are gathered together along with my spirit with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh that a spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

So the sin needs to be addressed. Let's keep reading because then it very clearly says in verse six that the leaven is to be put out. Your gloring is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavenvens the whole lump? So this incredible physical analogy that God gives to us each year, just a small amount can cause havoc.

And it was causing havoc in the Corinthian church at this time. Therefore, and you know I love therefors, right? So we've just read the verses before. Therefore, purge out in verse 7, purge out the old leaven, right? What is that? It's like p get rid of that old man. purge out the old leaven that you may be a new lump since you truly are unleavened for indeed Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us so the only way we can be unleavened right it's impossible task the physical cleaning of our homes which I hope hopefully some of you got that lesson

this year I don't know in your cleaning but spiritually being unleavened is only possible through Christ our Passover who was sacrificed for us. And I'm going to point right at me. That Passover sacrifice was for me. Take it really personally. And and then it said then it talks about in verse eight that we're to put the unleavened in.

We're to put Christ in. Therefore, verse 8, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leavenven of malice and wickedness. Now, we start to see some specific things this leaven can represent, right? It's sin, but specifically, what is it? Malice, wickedness, being puffed up. But you're to keep the feast with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, purity, cleanness.

We're to put on the unleavened. Mr. Gothal's sermon on the Sabbath gave us quite a list of things to put on. Put on righteousness. Put on I'm not going to redo it. That list that Mr. Gothals gave us. You had that written down. And what are we putting in? This has been said. This was said in the sermon this morning about the bread of life.

Just notch that in your head. Christ is the bread of life. Let's I know you know these verses. Let's go to John 6:32 and just because this is what we're putting in John 6, just pick it up in verse 32 and we'll read through verse 35. Then Jesus said to them, most assuredly I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven.

This was a shocker statement. Right. To get their attention. It's like what? Hold on. What are you talking about? The mana from heaven. My father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. Right? This is the bread of life. Then he said to him, 'Lord, give us this bread always.

And I don't I just love, don't you love that way of responding? Okay, give us this always. It's like the zeal of Peter. Okay, not just my feet, but wash my my head and my hands, right? that you know when it clicks and now Christ emphasizes with an I am statement. Verse 35. Then Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger and he who believes in me shall never thirst.

really powerful. So I said I'm going to tie in faith with the meaning of unleven bread. I'll throw out this question to you. What is the standard of faith that you are striving for? When you pray to God for faith, what is the standard that you are praying for? And now I'm going to give a wild statement.

Christ was Christ did it very well, right? When he talked about Moses didn't bring you the bread from heaven. Here's a wow statement I'm going to make. Our faith is to exceed that of the apostles. That was my wow statement. What? Daniel, how can you say that? Come on. Well, I'll put a proviso. Our faith has to exceed that of the apostles in the section that we're going to read here next.

Let's go to John 20. John 20. Is it possible for our faith to exceed that of the apostles? Well, I put it to you that it is if our standard is the right standard of faith. Okay, let's look at this section in John 20 verse 19. Now, in this section, um there's a the the apostle named Thomas got a um a moniker that has stayed with him because we refer to him as doubting Thomas.

But let's just look at this with me because it wasn't just Thomas. So, verse 19 and 20. Let's start there. Now in the in the sermon this morning was brought out, Christ was resurrected and he kept teaching them and he was and this is one of the examples here. Then the same day at evening before the first day of the week when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews.

So why were the doors shut? Right? If if they had dead bolts, they had those bolted. If they had, right, they were shut. So someone from the inside needed to open the door. And so there's a miracle straight away because Christ then is in their midst. Let's let's read it. It says, "The doors were shut for fear of the Jews.

Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, "Peace be with you." Now, how did that come across? All of a sudden, Christ is in their midst. Peace be with you. What? You know, were they looking all of a sudden? There could have been a little bit of apprehension right there. What does Christ do straight away? Let's keep reading. Verse 20.

Now when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So he had to pull off his garment somehow. He showed them his hands and and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. It doesn't say they were glad when he said, "Peace be with you." It was after he showed them his hands and his side and then they were pleased because they saw with their eyes and they ah it's Christ.

Let's pick it up again in in verse and we'll read verses um 24 through 29. But Thomas, now I'm just going to pause. Thomas was not with the rest of the disciples when Christ first appeared to them. So he hadn't been shown Christ's hands and his side. Did Christ Did Christ know that Thomas needed even more? Was Thomas a tactile learner? was Thomas I I don't know right but I can I can I I I used to teach a little bit so I know about these different ways people learn but what's really powerful for me is Jesus Christ knows what is the best way

for every individual that includes all of us in this room that includes includes all of those people who are yet to be called. We'll also see in this section that Christ can also listen to our conversations. It's really, this is really powerful. But Thomas, let's Okay, let's read the verses.

Thomas, verse 24, but Thomas called Ditimus, one of the 12 was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Look, unless I see his hands and the print of the nails." Well, the other apostles had already seen that. But then he says, "And put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand.

" So, it just gives you an idea of the size of that that wound that wound that finally took Christ's life at the crucifixion. Unless I put my hand in into a side, I will not believe and after eight days, so over a week had gone past, right? And Thomas had said, "Unless I put my finger in his hands, put my hand in his side, I won't believe.

" After eight days, his disciples were again inside. Christ does the miracle again. He's right there and Thomas with them. So now, just making sure they're all there. Thomas with them. Jesus came the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said peace to you now may maybe the rest of the apostles were a bit more relaxed now but Thomas hold on what's this happening and then what does Christ do this is how Christ teaches he turns to Thomas.

He turns to Thomas and he says, "Reach your finger here and look and look at my hands." So he said for Thomas, he said, "Feel this, see this." So he had the tactile learning, he had the visual learning, he had his voice, the auditory learning. I don't know how Christ said it, but I think he said it in a manner that was best for Thomas.

And reach your hand here and put it into my side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. Now, Thomas, you know, is often referred to as doubting Thomas. But you think from this point on when when there was conversations happening and and somebody started saying giving sharing doubts, right? The the morning sermon pointed out the teaching of Christ being risen, the teaching of the gospel.

How do you think Thomas responded? He could say from that point on, I saw the risen Christ. I put my finger in his in the holes in his hands. I put my hand in his side. He would have said that with I think with such zeal from then on. He was a witness. But this is where I say our faith has to be greater than the apostles here.

Why do I say that? Because then Christ says, right? So Thomas answers verse 28. And Thomas answered and said to him, Lord, my Lord and my God. What does Christ say in verse 29? Jesus said to him, "Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." That's us.

That's us in this room. So, our faith has to be greater than what the apostles were at this time. Blessed are those who have seen yet have not seen yet believe. Now the tendency and the apostles had this tendency. We have also have this tendency. The tendency is to be stuck in the physical. Now I know during these days of unle bread I had great unleaven bread at lunchtime.

Probably most of you had something really good. My wife had put smoked cheese and they just come out just fantastic. Then I put chicken salad on. I thought this unleted bread can't get any any better. And then it got better when I added the chicken salad. So physically we can eat the un bread but we don't want to be stuck in the physical.

The physical is the tool to teach us us the spiritual lesson. Let's go to John 14 back a few chapters. John 14. Now, these are some of the words that we read at the Passover service. We'll read parts from John 13:14, 15, 16, 17. Why do we read these at Passover? Why do we read these words at Passover? Because these are some of the last words that Christ left.

He knew what was going to happen. He knew he was going to be crucified. He also knew he was going to be resurrected. These are some of the last words that Christ left teaching us. That's why we read them every year. There's a depth of meaning in here. Let's we'll read some of this today. So John 14, we'll read verses 1-6. It says, "Let not your hearts be troubled.

You believe in God, believe also in me." Now, why would their hearts be troubled? Because Christ has been telling them, "I'm going to be leaving. I'm going to be taken. I'm going to go through trial." Right? It was prophecies from from the prophets from the psalms that told that said about this what was to happen. The disciples have just had three years with Christ and their teacher, their master is talking about not being around.

So he's reassuring them. In my father's house, verse two, are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. There's a lot in that verse. There's a place being prepared. I should point at somebody. For you, right? And you. And you, right? There's a place being prepared for me.

Do you ever stop and just think about that? What? I I don't deserve that. That's right. I don't. But God says, "I'm preparing a place. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go, you know, and the way you know." The apostles are sitting there thinking, "What? How? How do we know the way? Where you going? Thomas said to him, okay, Thomas, but the other apostles were thinking about this as well.

Thomas said to him, Lord, we do not know where you are going and how can we know the way? Now, if I was the teacher here, I might have a little bit of exasperation, Thomas. But remember, Christ was the ultimate teacher. He is the ultimate teacher. He knows what is best of each individual. I probably would have messed it up right here.

But Christ says, Thomas, so um we had verse 5, verse 6. Jesus said to him, and now he hits it with another I am statement. I am the way. I am the truth. I am the life. Right? I emphasized extra I ams in there. Right? I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. What has Christ just said in verse six? Where I'm going, I'm going to the father.

How do you How do you get there? Through me. Right. Through Christ. Christ was always pointing to the father because that's the destination, right? The ark sermons. What's the ultimate destination? I think it's been worded that God wants to dwell with men. I'm going to word it slightly differently. I believe God wants men to dwell with him.

If you had known me, verse 7, you would have known my father also. For from now on you have, sorry, you know him and have seen him. Okay, you've seen me, you've seen the father. Okay, now Philillip chimes in. What does Philillip say? Christ is teaching. Philillip said to him, Lord, show us the father and it is sufficient for us. Let me see.

Show me with my own eyes. Show us the father and that'll be sufficient. Oh, Philillip, how long have I been teaching you? Do do you think does do you think Jesus Christ sitting at the right hand of the father sometimes says something like, "Ah, Daniel, how long have I been teaching you and you've only just understanding this?" Remember, God knows the best way to teach us.

Okay? So picking back up, Philillip, Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the father and it is sufficient for us." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you so long and yet you have not known me, Philillip?" Now I want you to think about this. I know Philillip spoke up, but it's also when your teacher, imagine you're in a classroom and your teacher says, you know, "Pick someone out.

" Dwayne, we we've gone over this before, haven't we? Yep. That's right. I mean, this is like being pulled out. It's like if somebody's phone was going off and they'll call out by name in the middle of services. We got to have fun with these things, right? But this is what Philip needed. He who has seen me has seen the father.

Had Christ already told them this. But it's okay to tell tell them again. Most students don't get things the first time it's said. Some rare students do and then they have to hear it a different way. Christ fully had Philip's attention, didn't he? Philillip, how long have I been teaching you? Do you do you think Phil um yeah quite a while and then he just says it directly I I imagine right we don't have all the we don't have a screenplay here so we know all the background but I believe he had eye contact locked in with Philillip

Okay. So verse nine picking up halfway there is he who has seen me has seen the father. So how can you say show us the father? Do you not believe that I am in the father and the father in me. The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own authority. So straight away now he's saying this authority comes from the father.

The words that I speak to you are from the Father. If you know what I'm saying, you know the Father. But the Father who dwells in me does the works. Just stop and think about the example of Christ right there. Had Christ performed incredible miracles, incredible works, healings and it there was none of from Christ. Look what I've done.

It was the authority to do the works that you've seen is from the father. Believe me that I am in the father and the father in me. or else believe me for the sake of the works themselves. This is our savior who said the works that I've done are through the authority of the father. Okay, let's keep going. Verse verse 13.

And whatever you ask in my name that I will do that the father may be glorified in the son. If you ask anything in my name I will do it. Just pause and think about that. Anything I'm in my name. So it's got to be in Christ's name. So that means it has to be according to the will of Christ and the father. You ask anything in my name, I will do it.

If you love me, keep my commandments and I will pray the father and he will give you another helper that he may abide with you forever. So the Holy Spirit made available to us to fully abide in us. Christ said, "I'm going to give to you." What spirit is it? It's the spirit of Christ and the father. Okay. We're to eat unleven bread seven days.

There was a really nice thing said in um and it was reminded to me at lunchtime. I was up in Seattle on the first day of un bread. There's one day we're told to have 11 out and there's seven days we're told to have 11 in. It was a math guy that was given the seminary, but I really like that he's a ratio guy.

So, I'm going to emphasize we're putting in a little bit here as well. Now, just just I know we're again Leviticus 23. I'll just pick that one up first and I'll come back to John. Leviticus 23:6. On the 15th day of the same month is the feast of unleaven bread to the Lord. Seven days you must eat unleven bread.

Right? This emphasis we're to eat unleaven bread, right? For the sake of eating bread. No, because of what it means. We are putting in Christ. Okay. Come back to John. Let's go to John 6. John 6. Oh, I started getting excited and was scrolling way past. I was already in John John chapter 6 and we'll pick up verses 46 through 48 I think would be good.

John verse 46 of John 6. Not that anyone has seen the father except he who is from the father from God. He has seen the father. Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me has everlasting life. And then another I am statement repeating what we had earlier in this chapter. I am the bread of life. I am the bread of life.

The symbolism each time you took a piece of unleaven bread and I I know you know this, but we're emphasizing it from God's word. The symbolism, you took that piece of unleven bread. I took some at lunchtime and I even said I'm eating the bread of life just to because I'm a bit slow sometimes.

I want yeah sometimes I have to verbalize and say it for myself. Now that was just a physical piece of bread but the symbolism was being conscious. Remember Tony Rose said he had to be conscious not to take leaven in. Well, the symbolism of unleaven bread is to be conscious of taking Christ in taking Christ in. It's a big step from what? From relying upon ourselves.

I'm I'm read some verses that Paul shared with us shortly. Let's go to Oh, sorry. Isaiah 55 first. Isaiah 55. While we're getting there, Isaiah 55, we'll read verses 8 and N. What are we reaching for my thoughts? For my thoughts are not your thoughts. Christ was able to say my thoughts are the father's thoughts.

That's how we could say I and the father are one. Right? They are one in thought. But my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are my ways, sorry, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. So the the the standard is not the thoughts that the Apostle Peter had.

The standard is not the thoughts that the Apostle Paul had, although we're going to learn from what they said. The standard is to have Christ living in us, right? This the depth of the meaning that we learn from the days of unleven bread, right? And let's go to I I've mentioned Paul.

Let's go there because Paul realized Christ is in me and he realized Paul realized he could not rely on his works. Go to Philippians 3 with me. Philippians 3. Philippians 3 and we're going to read verses 1-9. Okay, I love Paul. He says, "Finally, my brethren," and he's got two more chapters to go. Finally, my brethren, verse one of chapter 3, rejoice in the Lord.

For me to write the same things to you to you is not tedious, but for you it is safe. Paul's saying, I'm okay writing the same things again to you. Who did Paul learn from? Okay, so now some warnings. Beware of dogs. Beware of evil workers. Beware of the mutilation. For we are the circumcision who worship God in the spirit.

So what circumcision are we talking about here? The circumcision of the heart. Rejoice in Christ and have no confidence in the flesh. though I might have confidence now Paul's going to actually give his credentials. So of anybody that could have confidence in their own works, Paul would have been one of them. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so.

Paul's not bragging here, by the way. He's actually just stating some facts. He's giving his credentials. I more so circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel. Not just of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews. Concerning the law, a Pharisee. And that's not a negative statement right there.

The Pharisees were learned men when it came to the law. And what did Paul say? He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees. There was no one more academically strong than Paul. Just sink in. Just let that sink in. But we know what h I'm getting ahead of the story here. But what happened to what had to happen to Paul? Christ knew exactly how to work with Paul.

He could took a 2x4 and hit him across the back of the head. Symbolically, what did he do? He struck him blind. Just think about that. Paul, who we learned so much from his writing, from what he shared with us. Paul had to be struck blind to listen. So look at these credentials concerning zeal, persecuting the church, right? He was the most zealous.

concerning the righteousness which is in the law blameless. Just pause and think about that. This this would be like uh Mr. Gothals. I'll refer to his sermon again. He referred to the young rich man. Remember that young rich man says all these things I've done from from a child. That guy was a catch. He was rich.

He he was doing things right. And Christ said, "Okay, I want more from you. I want you to give up everything and follow me." That young rich man, do you comprehend? Christ was giving him a chance to be one of the apostles to sit at the feet of the teacher. Now, I think that young rich man will have another chance.

That's what I believe. But that's above my pay grade. So, I don't have to I'll find out one day. Okay. Blameless. Verse 7, but what things were gained to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. All of that past I had now. Was it of value? Paul knew scripture. That was of value, wasn't it? But what was Paul really getting at here? It's the lesson of unleven bread.

Paul before he was struck blind thought he could do it by his own power from his knowledge of the law from by his zeal. Remember one of the lessons we of unleaven bread you try we try to clean our homes and our cars. I was vacuuming the car, the van, the place we go that's got these really good vacuums.

They weren't working that day. They were installing a new set. The owner came over to me and said, "Oh, they got really good suction when we when we get approval to, you know, get them started." They had to give a city check, but they did provide me with a shop vac. But that shopv has got all that suction, but still can't get right down in those crevices.

What would I have had to done? I would had to unbolt the seats if I wanted to get every speck right of of living. I would have had to pull the panels off the doors and even then I wouldn't have got all the 11 out because it takes a miracle from God. Okay, verse seven, I'll read it again. But what things were ga But what things were gained to me? These I've counted loss for Christ. But Christ, but sorry.

But indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and counted them as rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him not having my own righteousness. Right? What would Paul's just saying it straight up here, isn't he? I could have bragged about all my accomplishments, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith.

Now, I just read that in the King James, sorry, the New King James. How many of you got New King James? Had the same. Does who has the authorized King James? anybody like the old King James, the first King James. Okay, so one person has I don't know if you notice it reads differently. Okay, so I'll put up there verse 9.

That's what I just read. Through faith in Christ, notice the King James. and be found in him, not having my own righteousness which is from the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Do you notice the difference? I've highlighted instead of in faith in Christ, this is faith of Christ.

What's the standard we're striving for? How can our faith be greater than that of the apostles? Now it seems that there is a you could say a theological debate here between the older translation and the newer translation. I am not a Greek linguistic scholar. When you have a look at this, it seems to be that when it talks about the faith here, it would be Christ apostrophe s faith.

Faith that belongs to Christ. So the older translations say of many of the modern translations say faith in Christ. I lean towards the older translation in this case. I'm going to put up also um Young's literal translation for you. Not having my righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith of Christ, the righteousness that is of God by faith.

Now, does that put a change on that? Do we need faith in Christ? Yes, we do. But if we can go to God and say, "Can you please give me the faith of Christ?" Wow, that's a whole that's a whole other other level, isn't it? That doesn't that changes things? When you have been striving this week to put unleavened in, what have you been asking for? I'm focusing on faith in this message.

The faith of Christ. We've been asking to put Christ in the bread of life. Woo. That's a high standard. How is that possible? Well, if you're relying on yourself, Daniel, if you're relying on yourself right now, it is impossible. But whatever you ask of me through my name, I will give you. It takes a miracle. It takes a miracle.

And that type of faith produces works, right? It's a it just happen. It's an you can't it cannot not happen. Christ produced works. So our works to be the fruit of Christ living in us. Our works are to be the fruit of Christ living in us. Let's go to the book of James. The book of James is a is beautiful, isn't it? because it shows us faith and works.

James 2 verse 14. We'll start there and we'll read through the the rest of the chapter. James 2:14. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled.

" But you do not give them the things which are needed for the body. What does it profit? Thus also faith by itself if it does not have works is dead. But someone will say you have faith and I have works. Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. Well, that's good.

You do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. But do you want to know, oh foolish man, that faith without works is dead? What do we need? The bread of life. So that's living bread. What do we need? A living faith. Living faith produces works. Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works and by works faith was made perfect and the scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness

and he was called the friend of God. I'll raise my hand for you. Um my assumption is this will be unanimous. I want to be called the friend of God again. Oh, I could just sit down. We all just think about that statement. Abraham was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. So we want faith that produces the works of faith. What are we talking about? We're talking about the bread of life.

Right? That's why I wanted to give the sermon on faith that is shown to us through unleven bread. Let's go to Romans 4. Let's go to Romans 4. Don't you love the book of Romans? This morning we went to Romans chapter 6, I believe. Let's go to chapter 4. Well, let's start in verse 14. Romans 4:14. For if those who are of the law are ears, faith is made void, and the promise made of no effect.

faith is made void because the law brings out wrath. For where there is no law, there is no transgression. Therefore, it is of faith that it might be according to grace, so that the promise might be sure to all the seed, not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all.

As it is written, verse 17, I have made you a father of many nations. Right? That was a promise given in Genesis to Abraham and his offspring. And this was said in the presence of him whom he believed, even God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. Who contrary to hope and hope believed, so that he became the father of many nations, according to what was spoken, so shall your descendants be.

and not being weak in faith, he did not consider his own body already dead since he was about a hundred years old and the deadness of Sarah's womb. We don't even need to ask the midwife about that, do we? We understand she wasn't supposed to be able to have children. He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what he had promised, he was also able to perform.

And therefore, it was accounted to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, not just for Abraham's sake, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

Right. And this right here is talking about the death and resurrection of Christ, isn't it? We heard about that the morning message. This is all about faith. Chapter 5. What does chapter 5 start with? Therefore, I'm talking about the faith of Christ. I'm just going to pause before I read chapter five. What is the faith of Christ? We heard about some of this in the in the this morning's message.

What is the faith of Christ? The faith that Christ has in the plan of salvation for all mankind. The faith that Christ had when he was crucified, when he knew he'd be in the tomb three days and three nights, and he knew he would be raised by the father. That's the faith of Christ. That's the faith that I want. Okay. Chapter 5 of Romans.

Therefore, so the therefore comes from the verses we read in chapter four. Therefore, having been justified by faith. How are we justified? By the faith of Christ, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. through whom also we have access by faith into his grace in which we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations. What? Okay. How can you glory in tribulations? That is possible if you have the faith of Christ living in you. It's the only way. This is not something you can stir up of your own power. I mean, look at me. I'm sitting in a chair.

I don't have lots of physical energy today, but I'm reading God's word. But not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that the tribulation produces perseverance. And I don't pray, God, please help me to have more perseverance. I just don't I don't have that prayer. Maybe maybe I do need it. I don't know. and perseverance character and character hope.

Now hope does not does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. This is all about Christ living in us. This is all about Christ living in us. The spiritual leaven of unleven bread is that we are striving for Christ to live in us. To what point? That the faith of Christ is living in us.

So does the faith of Christ live in me? Does the faith of Christ live in us? Let's go to Galatians 2. Galatians chapter 2. Galatians chapter 2 verses uh 15- 20. We who are Jews by nature and not sinners of the Gentiles, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ.

Even we have believed in Christ Jesus that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law. For by the works of the law, no flesh shall be justified. But if while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found sinners, is Christ therefore a minister of sin? Certainly not.

For if I build again those things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law died to the law that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. So that was a New King James.

I'm going to put the authorized King James up there for you. Verse 20. I am crucified with Christ. Nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of God. I live by the faith of the son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.

I'll put another translation there for you. This one is BBE, Bible in Basic English. I love this. Just listen to this one. I have been put to death on the cross with Christ. We heard about that in the this morning's sermon. Still I am living. No longer I, but Christ is living in me. And that life which I now am living in the flesh, I'm living by faith.

the faith of the son of God who in love for me gave himself up for me. So what faith does it say in this translation? I'm just going to read that again. It says, I now am living in the flesh. I am living by faith. The faith of the son of God who in love for me gave himself up for me. I've I hadn't thought about this this way until this unleven bread.

So if this is not helpful for you, it's okay. It's been really helpful for me. It's the definition of faith. Let's go to Hebrews 11 as we start to wrap this up. Hebrews 11. What's the definition of faith? Verse one. Now faith is a the substance substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Remember I said the apostles, they saw and then they were witnesses, right? And they needed to be. Christ said, "Blessed are those who believe and have not seen." Verse verse six. Without faith, is it impossible to please him? For he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him.

Let's pick up. Oh no, sorry. Verses 8 through 10. By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would afterward receive as an inheritance. And he he went out not knowing where he was going. Who received that inheritance? By the way, the physical. He went out and saw it, but it was his descendants that actually received it.

By faith he sojourned in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. That's what we look forward to. So the lesson of unleven bread that we've been keeping the seven days.

Yes, we must put aside the leaven. But you notice it's not this is not called the days of no leaven. This is called the days of unleavened bread. So we must have the faith of Christ living in us. So, I've got a couple more verses to go. You might have had a piece of physical leaven bread at lunchtime today. What did I say? Unleavened.

You didn't have physical I was just making sure you're still awake. Somebody says, "Dan, you have to keep me awake." You may have had a had a piece of unleven bread today. I did. You might have a chance before sunset to have a you another meal before sunset and maybe have another chance to take in some physical unleven bread.

But then the days of unleven bread are finished for this year. But the lessons of our unleven bread continue, right? We look forward to Pentecost. We look forward to those other holy days. We continue to strive. And what level of faith are we striving for? We're striving, right, the bread of life. We're striving for the bread of life to be living in us.

We're striving for the faith of Christ to be in us. So, a final couple of scriptures. I'm going to go Mr. Gothals went here and I added this in since this this last Sabbath 2 Corinthians 13 because Mr. Gothals only read the first part of verse 5. So I'm going to read the whole verse. These last couple of verses I think are what it's all about.

2 Corinthians 13:5, "Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith." What faith? The faith of Christ. Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the in the faith. Prove yourselves. Remember, it's talking about faith. And what is said there? Do you not know yourselves that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you are disqualified.

So how could you be disqualified if you don't have Christ living in you? But don't get discouraged. Don't start thinking, "Oh, am I disqualified?" Let's read verse six. But I trust that you will know that we are not disqualified. That's a that's encouragement to me. All the mistakes I've made in my life. And Christ says, "You are not disqualified if you have Christ living in you.

" That's something to take encouragement from. as incredibly talented as this group of people is in front of me. With all your talents, with all your learning, it's not possible. As Paul said, without Christ in comparison, it's all rubbish, for the glory of Christ. Okay, let's go to Hebrews 12.

Our final scripture and I believe this is Oh, I got excited. Don't touch the clicker. Hebrews 12. Let's go there. Because to me, this summarizes the meaning of the days of unleven bread. So, we're going to finish here. Hebrews 12. And it starts with a therefore. Therefore, so it's referring back to all these incredible examples of men and women of faith that are listed in in chapter 11.

And it even says, and time doesn't allow to mention everybody. Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnees us. Does that sound like getting leaven out? Let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ens snares us. and let us run the race with endurance, the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, right? And this is the this tells you about the the faith of Christ here. For

the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.