Make Your Calling and Election Sure

The world today, brethren, is in a crisis. There are frightful prophecies ahead. We know we're now in the time of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, a riding in conjunction, with ever-increasing intensity. As we know, as we're currently going through this pandemic, diseases are spreading as we have this coronavirus. We also see potential with people, potential possibilities of many people around the world having lack of finances, lack of money, and a potential economic collapse, if not in this country, in many other countries. Lack of food, as we heard some brethren already in Samir is having difficulty in getting food, even in the States, as we heard in the discussion a little earlier. And this whole situation is being politicized. A day will come that religion will also be attacked and it will be more social unrest. That social unrest will get worse and worse and the potential danger of even in the future slavery. And in some cases there is slavery already. Brethren, there's one thing that we know all for sure. The end is near. Now turn with me to Luke chapter 18. Luke chapter 18 and we're going to read in verse 8 and it says in the last section, nevertheless, starting from the middle there, nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he really find faith on the earth? Any other question? When Christ comes, will he really find faith on the earth? Now interesting to read in Greek, because in Greek the word thee is inserted before faith. And so we could read more accurately as it is in the Greek, will he find thee faith on the earth? What is thee faith? Brethren, one thing I think we all realize that our faith is not that strong. You and I, we cannot work up, you know, make it up to have strong faith. That comes from God. We live in a world which is very close to material things. We are busy and even now social distancing, some people finding themselves more busy than before. Others are struggling to make ends meet. And as Mr. Kubik mentioned in the recent E-News, the gods of this world have been hit. Also some brethren, maybe in the past, maybe now they're being more conscious about it, but maybe in the past didn't have enough time for bubble study. Maybe our attitudes have not been surrendered, really surrendered and submissive to God in a submissive behavior and a submissive prayer. I want to look at the example or the parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25 and take a little bit of instruction from there. Matthew 25. Matthew 25. We're just gonna jump in because we know the story, so I'm not gonna read all story. We know the story of the Ten Virgins. But we know, yeah, as we read in verse 2, starting from verse 2 to verse 4, it says, Now five of them were wise and five were foolish.

Those who were foolish took their lamps but no oil with them. And you and I know that oil in this instantiya is symbolic of God's Holy Spirit. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. So in addition to have the lamps and to be able to work a little bit, they had additional oil in the vessels, as if they had a little reserve. Now, brethren, I want to talk a little bit about one point, a very specific point, which is about the faith.

Which faith comes by as a gift of God's Holy Spirit? Sure. But I want to talk a little bit more and understand about faith, and particularly the faith. And one of the things these ten versions, five were wise. They had God's Holy Spirit, they were close to God, they were basically replicating or imitating God's character. And one of God's characteristics is faith and faithfulness. So that's what I'm going to be talking today. And we're going to understand a little bit more about what is faith.

Two, what kind of faith is required for salvation. Three, we're going to talk a little bit about the faith of Jesus Christ. And fourthly, we're going to put all that together. And we're gonna, from the Bible, we're gonna look at what is it that we need to work on, or one of the things that we need to work on, to make our calling and election sure. So let's start at the beginning. What is faith? And you and I know that the chapter in the Bible, which is the faith chapter, is Hebrews 11.

So to get a complete definition of what is faith, let's turn to Hebrews 11 starting in verse 11. I'll be a part of it in verse 1. Hebrews 11 verse 1. And it says, now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen, the substance, the actual reality of what we're helping. Faith is that substance. And it says, is the evidence, is the proof of what we don't see. That is very instructive. It's very instructive because faith is an assurance of receiving what is still hoped, is an absolute confidence.

What I'll use quite a bit today is confidence. Faith is like confidence and its absolute trust, its absolute confidence of what we hope for. And the evidence, oh we don't see. That's an important point. If we already have something, then we don't need faith. Because faith is, as it says, is the substance, right? Is the realization of things that we're still hoping for. And it says the evidence or the confidence of things we hope for. A little bit further ahead, in verse 6, it says, without faith it is impossible to please God.

Without this complete trust, without this complete assurance in what God says that he will do, without this complete confidence that what God says he will do because he's not a liar. Without us having that faith, that confidence, that trust, it's impossible to please God.

Because we must understand, he says, because he who comes to God must believe that he is God and believe that he's faithful, believe that he does not lie and is a rewarder. Now think about the word rewarder because a reward is outcome of a judgment in a positive way.

Think about it. God is our judge. In fact Christ is our judge. The Father gave, delegated all judgment to Jesus Christ. So God is our judge through Christ. And he says that judgment, if you and I have done a good job, it's gonna be a reward. That judgment, if you and I have not done a good job and we must the mark, it's second death. So God is the rewarder. You will reward positively or negatively those, and obviously positively, those who diligently seek him. So faith is not knowing that judgment will come and will come from God and he's faithful in which that he is.

He will reward us positively if we've done our part. So it's a confidence in what God has promised and that God has said. Now for instance, we all know that God is a healer, right? So sometimes people may say, well, I pray for God to heal me. But the pain is still there. But God is our healer. Is God lying?

No. No. Because it did not promise when or how he will heal us. He is our healer. He will heal us. Some, according to his way, maybe now, others a little later, according to his will, according to his plan for us. But he will heal us. His desire is for us to prosper and be a good health.

That is his will. But sometimes we have to be tested to make us better people. And he knows what is better for us. So faith is trusting God that he will do what he has not done yet. You see, if he's done it already, you don't need faith because you already have whatever you're hoping for. Because faith is the substance of things hoped for. So that means you don't have it yet.

So for you to not have it yet, it helps you to build faith, trust, confidence in God that he will do it. So, brethren, remember that we have to be submissive. We have to pay attention to what God says, to what is promised, and believe what is promised.

If we don't believe what is promised in a way, we're actually listening to Satan's wavelength. So faith is relying in God's Word, and the Word of God is Christ, is the Word, is the spokesman, He's the one that spoke to us and speaks to us. God the Father does through Christ the Word, the spokesman. And therefore His Word is true. What God says is true, and what God says through Christ is true because Christ is the same character, the image of the Father.

And therefore there's no lie in them. It's only truth. As Christ said, I'm the way, I'm the truth. So faith is the assurance of God's Word that it's true. God will act. And so to have this trust, this assurance, this complete hundred percent reliance on God, this confidence in Him is faith.

We read during the time of Jeremiah when things went really bad and Judah was taking the captivity, then Jeremiah wrote the book of Lamentations, and Jeremiah says there, Great is thy faithfulness. In other words, God is faithful. In other words, what God says He will do, He will do. And so faith and faithfulness in a sense are tied together because faith is to believe that the other person is faithful. So it's one side of the coin versus the other side of the coin.

Brethren, faith is nothing to do with smelling, touching, seeing, tasting. It's nothing to do with the five senses.

For instance, people say, well I feel that God will do this.

Now it's got nothing to do with your feelings or my feelings.

Faith has to do with God's word, with what He has said and what He has promised to do and that He will do.

That's what faith is. Has God promised in the Bible? Has God said it in the Bible?

Like it says, let you yes be yes and you'll know be no. What God says, that's it.

There's no doubts or questions.

Put it this way. When God says it, you will do it. You may have not said it when.

You may not say that how. Because quite often we say, well if God is God, do it now and do it this way.

Well, you and I cannot put God in a box and say, do it my way. No, it's not my way. It's God's way and it's His time and it's His wisdom because He knows it's better for us, His way and His time. So now we've covered that first point of what is faith. Let me go on to the second point is what kind of faith is required for salvation? So let's look at James chapter 2 verse 24. James chapter 2 verse 24.

You have seen that a man is justified by works and not by faith only. What? Have I heard it properly? You know, people say, no, you're justified by faith only.

But yeah, we read, you see that man is justified by works and not by faith only. Yes, we justified by faith but not by faith only. What does justified mean? You see, here's another problem.

People read, says, well, you're justified by faith. People read, oh, you're saved by faith. The word justified does not mean saved.

Justified means you are made just before God. You are, in other words, reconciled with God. You are now without sin before God. You are clean before God. You have now access to God. You are just before God. You are justified before God. You have access to God. You're not separated anymore. That means justified. Does not mean you're saved yet. Yes, justified therefore means that your sins have been removed, that have been passed over, like we just went through the passover. God passed over. Our sins, through Christ's blood, symbolized as the blood through the door on the Egyptian symbolically, it's Christ's blood makes God pass over, look over. In other words, close his eyes to our sins and just go beyond.

That's what it means. A man is justified by works, not by faith only. You see, brethren, look at verse 19 in the same chapter. It says, you believe that there is one God.

You believe that God, God the Father, he is the Father. Great! Well done! It's like my wife sometimes says to me, I'll give you a naughty badge. You know, you believe that he's a God, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble. You know, believe that God exists.

The demons believe. Why? Because they see him, they know he's there, but they still tremble.

So just believing is not sufficient. Oh, all you need is to believe in Christ and give your heart to the Lord. No! Hogwash! No! So look at verse 20. But do you want to know or foolish man that faith without works is dead?

You see, just believing by itself without works is dead.

Let me give you an example. Let me give you an example.

Say, for instance, you're on the second floor or third floor of a building, and that building has caught fire, and the whole building is alight, and there's no way for you to get out through the stairs or anything like that, but through the window.

And outside, there's the fireman with a big round circle like a special mat for you to, and they say, jump and we'll catch you. Now, are you going to believe the fireman or no?

Are you going to trust them? Are you going to have confidence in them to catch you or no?

If you do have, you're going to jump, because the other alternative is not that exciting either. So you're going to jump. But you see, if you did not jump, believing that they would catch you but not do anything about it would have been useless.

You see, so the act of jumping is works because we trust that the firemen will catch us.

In other words, we trust that they will do what they are promising to do.

And so James very clearly says, in verse 21 and verse 22, he's talking about Abram, our father, justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar.

You see that that faith was working together with his works, and by works, faith was made perfect.

You see, you can go back to the story of, in Genesis 22, when Abram was told to sacrifice your only son, and you may say, well, it's not the only son. Yeah, true, if you read it in that way. But it was the only son that he had that way by faith, because he could not have any children already because the advanced age of him, but particularly of his wife, the advanced age. So it's the only son that came by promise.

And that promise was that through that son there will be a blessing through that son, through the generation there will be a seed, as you read in Galatians 3 verse 16, that seed is Christ. There would be a seed through that descendants. There will be a seed there will be a seed that the blessing would come through that seed to all the nations.

And so he knew there would be through Isaac, through his descendants, all the way it will come a savior, a seed for the whole of mankind.

But yeah, it was a situation where it appeared to be a conflict, because God had promised that through Isaac there would be this blessing.

Not only to his family, but to the whole world.

But now God has said, go and sacrifice your son.

And so it appeared to him, looking at humanly speaking, a conflict. A conflict.

But what happened? He did what God told him to do. He acted on faith. He believed in God's promise that through Isaac there would be a blessing. And you know the story that he was told, don't kill your son, and I was just testing you, proving you. You see, God sometimes tests our trust in him. Remember, it didn't tempt him.

It tested the veracity of whether his faith was real. Do you really trust God? So sometimes our trials go through a certain amount of time to prove us whether we really believe it.

And then God says, okay, now I know. Okay, now I know.

You see, so faith was demonstrated by works of absolute trust and not holding back because Abram had an absolute trust in what God said. And remember, the God that spoke to him was the Word, because no man has seen the Father. And so he was talking to the Word, which was Christ. And so Christ is faithful like God is faithful.

And that is the type of faith you and I need for salvation. A faith that is living, not dead, a real living faith, ready to act when things don't look all that good.

When things look quite bleak, you and I have to act on God's Word, knowing that he will intervene in his way, in his time, and it may not even be in this life. As you read in Hebrews 11, some of the people say they were cut asunder and they suffered different trials and they died, but they died in the faith, always trusting God. And then they'll be resurrected, and indeed God would have rescued them, but not the way they thought. So that is a true faith.

So true faith, faith that you and I require for salvation, is to believe that God will do it.

Because he does not lie, he is faithful. What he says he will do, and we have to prove or demonstrate that trust, that confidence, by acting upon it in faith. In other words, not seeing the reality yet.

Because once we have it, then we don't need faith, because we already have it.

So it is that trust that he will do it, even though it has not done it yet.

Now, let me go on to the third point. So we've looked at what is faith, and we looked at what faith is required for salvation. But let me look at the third point. What is the faith of Jesus Christ? This is important. Now, let's look at Philippians chapter 2, starting in verse 5.

And this is one of my favorite scriptures, and some of you know I turn to the scripture quite often, because it says, let this mind be in you. In other words, you have this character, you have this attitude, you have this mindset, you have this approach of things, just like Christ had.

And what was his approach? His approach was, his attitude was, his mind, his willingness to be faithful. And why do I say his willingness to be faithful? Because remember, he spoke to Abraham, and he said to Abraham, through Isaac, there will be a seed, that through that seed, the whole earth will be blessed. And he knew that he had to humble himself, and to be made flesh, and to be that seed. And he knew what he was saying to Abraham, and he did not lie. He was faithful in what he said, but not only that, let's look at something else in a moment. Because, really in verse 6 of Philippians chapter 2, it says, talking about Christ Jesus, who being in the form of God. Yes, he was in the form of God. He was of the God kind.

He was of the kingdom of God. Do not consider it robbery. Do not consider it identity theft. To be equal with God. But he voluntarily did the Father's wish, and he voluntarily made himself of no reputation. In other words, he emptied himself of that glory, and became a human being. It's like a general or a captain coming to you dressed in civies, that nobody knows who he is. He came to us as just another human being in the flesh, without the power and the glory of being in the God kind as he was. Because as a God kind, as a being in the kingdom of God, under the instruction of the Father, he created everything. But he came now in the flesh as a human being without that equal power. Yes, his voice, his divinity is still there.

His power through his voice, because he said, if I can tell, I can ask, and a multitude of angels can come and protect me, because he was still that person, he still had the authority, but he was not in the power as a being of the God kind. So he made himself of no reputation, took the form of a bond servant, and came in the likeness of man. He became a human being. So he was in the form of God, and then he emptied himself of the form of God and became of the form of man. And verse 8, And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Brethren, and Yah is an amazing thing.

And really, I want you to understand this. Not only was he faithful in what he said that he would come and do, but another thing he had, he had absolute trust that the Father would resurrect him once he would die. Think about it. He had not a single doubt that the Father would resurrect him, otherwise he would have not done it. You see, he, being in the form of God, did not consider Robert to be equal to God, he emptied himself voluntarily, became a human being, and he died for us. Why? Because he, of course, to open up to redeem us, to buy us back through his blood, and all that, yes, but he did that because he had absolute trust and confidence and faith that once he was dead the Father would resurrect him. He had no questions. He knew after three days and three nights being in the tomb, I will be resurrected. There's no questions. He had no doubt that the Father would resurrect him. That is the faith of Jesus Christ. In other words, not only is he faithful, but he has faith. He believes in God the Father. Not a single doubt. He gave not only his physical life, but he gave his eternal life, eternity for us. That's a supreme sacrifice. That is beyond imagination what he did. So Brevin, he did that so that you and I could be forgiven because he loves us, and the Father did that also because he loves us. They both love us.

And Brevin, there's nothing you and I can do to pay back for that. Nothing. Zero. Zero.

And so it's interesting to know that this word, faith and faithfulness and trustworthiness, in the Greek, is a word like pistos or pistis. And look at Philippians. We are seeing that we are in Philippians. Let's look at chapter 3, verse 8 and 9. Chapter 3, verse 8 and 9. It says, Yet indeed I also count all things lost for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord. For me to understand his character, to understand the knowledge of Jesus Christ, in other words, to understand the character that you and I need to imitate, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and I cut them as rubbish as done, that I may gain Christ, and be found in him not having my own righteousness. Paul said, My righteousness is a piece of rubbish. My self-righteousness is nothing, which is from the law. In other words, if I do something right, I can say, well, I did it right, well, I did it. But from the law, you know, brethren, the law just tells us what's right and wrong does not make justifiers. The law merely tells us this way is the right way and that way is the wrong way. It doesn't justify it, doesn't make us right once we've sinned. And it says, But not having my own righteousness. In other words, I can't be made right by the law, because we all have sinned, we all have sooner or later done something wrong, and I cannot make right because I'm now obeying the law. I can't make right, poor sins. I can't. But that which is through faith of Christ, because Christ's faith, because Christ died for us, because Christ had absolute trust in the Father, because He gave up His life for us, because of that you and I can have the righteousness which is from God by the faith, by the faith of Christ. So brethren, it's interesting that in Greek the word in is not there, therefore faith Christ, which is the faith of Christ. So brethren, you and I cannot work ourselves up to have enough faith. You can say, well, I need more faith, so how do I get more faith? Well, yeah, there are things that we need to do to have greater trust in God, sure. But whatever you and I can make up cannot be enough to make us right, to make us, to justify us before God. Yes, when we obey and when we trust God, then that is granted to us as righteousness. But the justification that we receive because of that, to make it that, is because of the faith of Christ that He died for us.

And therefore in verse 10 and 11 says, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death. You and I need to conform ourselves to the same death. In other words, our fleshly lusts, our human desires need to be put away. You and I need to conform ourselves to die as far as our old man. We need to die, to be like Him. In other words, to assimilate, to absorb the same attitude, the same mindset as Christ had of being faithful.

If faithfully completed or fulfilled the promise He made to Abraham, and here He is, and He did that, and He died for us, He had trust in the Father, and you and I need to have the same faith, trust in God, and the same faithfulness that means our yes must be yes, our no must be no, which is the nature of Christ, which is the nature of God, and that you and I need to have in our lives.

So therefore, it says in verse 12, not that I have already attained, or am I already perfect?

You know, I have not achieved full maturity in becoming like Christ, you know, but I press on. I work hard. I make an effort. I make a diligent effort, a hard work diligently that I may hold of that, I may lay all of that, for which Christ Jesus has also laid all of me.

You know, Christ died for us, and we need to do the same thing and become and conform ourselves, imitate Him, be like Christ. Look at verse 14. It says, I press towards the goal.

Paul said, I have to work it. I have to strive to be faithful, to be truthful, to have the nature, the same type of character that Christ has, for the prize of this great call, the upward call of God in Christ Jesus that is for us to be children of God, to be like God, to be like God.

And then he says, verse 15, therefore, let as many as are mature as so as many of us that are mature, that are working towards deeper maturity, have this mind, have this mindset, have this attitude, press on to conquer our fleshly weaknesses and to become more like Christ. And so, brethren, because Christ is faithful. And because Christ has faith in the Father, you and I need to learn to be faithful, to be like He is, because He is the image of the Father.

You and I need to be trustworthy, reliable, so that you and I can be trusted, so that others can believe in what you say or I say. We all need to do this.

And so, we need to understand a little bit more about faith. As I mentioned, I'll try to make it very clear what is faith that is absolutely lying in God's Word in the truth.

I also explain very clearly, I hope, that the kind of faith that you and I need for salvation is a living faith that requires action. If we trust, we're going to do what He says.

And thirdly, I've explained what the faith of Christ is, basically what the faith of God is, which is both trustworthy and faithful, that He will do what He says He will do.

He's absolutely reliable. In other words, He does not lie.

So now, let me put all these things together and come to the final point. What is it that you and I need to do? What is it one specific point?

And yes, there may be others, but I'm focusing today on one specific point. What is it that you and I need to work on to make our calling and election sure?

What is it?

Look with me to Romans chapter 1. Romans chapter 1.

Romans chapter 1 verse 1.

Paul, a born servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated, set aside, sanctified, set aside to the gospel of God. In other words, to the good news that God's given us, that you and I can be children of God in the family of God. In other words, that is the gospel of the kingdom of God. In other words, the good news is that there will be a kingdom of children of God, which he promised through the prophets in the holy scriptures.

This has been promised. This is the faithful word of God. This is what the Bible is about, what you and I ought to be, children of God. That is our goal, to be in that city that Abram looked at, that city, the new Jerusalem, that is to come down.

And this is possible, as it says in verse 3. This plan is possible concerning his son Jesus Christ, our Lord. And this, brethren, is what we rehearse every year through God's annual holy days.

God's annual holy days remind us time and time again, year after year, about this plan of salvation, which is with one end purpose for you and I, ultimately, to be the children of God in the kingdom of God. So that's what it says. And it says, through Christ, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, it was of the seed of Iber, of the seed of David, so that lineage, and declared to be the Son of God with power. So this is a promise he made, and he is faithful. If he'll fulfill that promise, his word is true, his truth.

Christ is the truth. And the seed was promised, and this was possible through the resurrection, to actually become the Son of God. He is the firstborn that way, from physical to spiritual, and we ought to follow that path. And look in verse 5, through him we have received grace. Through Christ, you have received this generous, kind, such wonderful gift of being children of God. That's God's grace. Yes, forgiveness of sins is part of grace, but God's grace is so much more. God's law is grace to us, because it shows us the way to be happy. God's grace is so much bigger. His whole is loving kindness. All is loving care for us, that he died for us, so that you and I can be in his family. That is grace. And this grace it says, for obedience to the faith. For obedience to what God says to his promises to the faith, and this is the faith will he encounter when Christ comes. Well, he will, I think, I hope, because some of us will be there, right? So, but it'll be very few. So, this is the obedience to the faith amongst all the nations, not just amongst the Israelites or the Jews, all the nations.

So, brethren, this faith of Christ in the Father, and this faithfulness of Christ, and remember Christ is in the image of God the Father. In other words, his character is like the Father. They are one of one character, and that's what you and I need to be one of the same character.

This absolute trust is key. Look at verse 16 and 17. It says, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. I'm not ashamed of this gospel of Christ. So, this good news that is possible through Christ.

For it is the power of God to salvation. Through this, it's how God is working out salvation for us. For everyone who believes, who has for the Jew first, who trusts in this, for the Jew first, and also to the Greek, trust is key.

For in the righteousness, for in it, the righteousness of God is revealed. God's righteousness is revealed. And it says then, continuing here, verse 17, revealed from faith to faith.

God's righteous is revealed from faith to faith. In other words, you and I are made righteous because of the faith of Christ. As we explained, yes, because He trusted in the Father. He therefore came and died, and for His blood pays for our sins, and His death therefore reconciles to the Father.

Therefore, for the faith of Christ. But because of His faith and His faithfulness, you and I are to be conformed. We are to imitate Christ and to develop the same attributes, the same character, the same type of faith and faithfulness. And that's why it's from faith to faith. From the faith and the teaching that Christ is giving us of His character, and we have to develop the same faith, the same character, the same attitude from faith to faith. So God is faithful, He's reliable, He's true, and we have to develop the same faithfulness, the same trust. Brethren, look at Romans chapter 3. Romans chapter 3, and verse 3, what if some do not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect? What if some people don't believe what God says? Is God going to say, oh well, because you don't believe in me, therefore I'm going to be unfaithful? No!

God's faithfulness that never breaks. That's His character, and that's what you and I need to be.

That's what we and I need to be. They're certainly not. Indeed, let God be true, but every man a liar. God is true when He says, it's this, it'll be this. That's it. Look at verse 20. Look at verse 20. It says, therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in his side, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. Yes, the Lord just tells us what's right and wrong. But now the righteousness of God, apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the law and the prophets, even the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ to all and on all who believe, because the faith of Christ makes it possible. For there is no difference. All have sinned and all fall short of the glory of God. We are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that He is in Christ Jesus because of the faith that He had in the Father that He did this for us.

So brethren, this is a gift. It's a gift. It's God's grace. We look at verse 28. It says, Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith. You and I are made right with God.

We are made at one with God by faith, by the faith of Christ, not because of things I've done. Exactly. That is what? Therefore, verse 31, do we therefore make the law void? No. No. Why?

Because if the law is void, then Christ would not have to die. Then there would be no sin.

And if there was no sin, there would be no need of a Savior. There would be no need of Christ's Savior. There would be no need of Christ coming to die and do that ultimate sacrifice for us.

But He had to do it because there's a law and the wages of sin is death. You see, God is not above the law. God is submissive to His own law. Why? Because God's law is love and that's God's character. As simple as that. So, certainly not. We don't make the law void through faith.

On the contrary, we establish the law. The law has to be fulfilled. The wages of sin is death. And that's it. And it says, life for life. And so Christ had to give His life for us. That's what the law says. So, brethren, the law is, and therefore in Romans 5 verse 8, Romans 5 verse 8 says, but God demonstrates His own life towards us in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us. Christ did this for us while we were sinners. In fact, before you and I were born. And therefore, verse 9, how much more than having now been justified by His blood, by His sacrifice, by Him giving His life. The life is in the blood. He gave His life for us. We shall be saved future.

We shall be saved. And verse 10, if we were, when enemies, we're reconciled to God through the death of His Son. Yes, we're reconciled. We made that one. We were justified. We're reconciled with God.

How much more having been reconciled, being made that one, being made justified, we shall be saved by His life.

We're not saved yet. We shall be saved by His life. How come? How is that? Because Christ is our high priest. You read in Hebrews chapter 4, 14 and 16, He's our high priest. He was tempted like we are tempted and He never sinned. Therefore, He is now our defense advocate. Every time you and I slip up and do something wrong, there's Satan very quickly saying to the Father, Ha ha! Look at George, or look at, put your name in there. Look at him, or look at her, look at what he's done, ha ha! And you call him your son and daughter, and then you go on your knees at that moment, and you ask God for forgiveness, and you repent, and you really strive to change. Do you know what Christ does at that moment? Because He's alive as your advocate. He's not right there through the Holy of All is to God's throne. As you read in Hebrews 10, through a living and new way, He is there interceding for you.

And you know what the Father says? It's forgiven. It's forgiven. So brethren, you know, a lot of parables talk about this faithfulness of God, and that we need to be faithful. Let's just very briefly touch a few parables, or just glance them to highlight this point. One of them, for instance, is in Matthew 24, verse 45 and 46. Matthew 24, verse 45 and 46.

And it's talking about here, who is a faithful and wise servant, whom is master made ruler of his household. You know, brethren, you know, the spiritual symbolism of this is that God is our master, the Father, and He wants to make us through Christ, rulers in His household. In other words, He wants to make us kings under the King of Kings, which is Christ, in His household, which is the kingdom of God. That's what it is. That's what He's talking about. So He wants to make us rulers, in words, kings in the kingdom of God. And so, who is this person that God is going to do that? And blessed, look at verse 46, is that servant, and you and I are servants of God, whom His master, which is God, when He comes through Christ, God will come in the presence of Christ. Christ is the King of Kings. When He comes, we'll find Him so doing.

Do you know what that is?

A man that is faithful, that is self-doing. He's a faithful servant. He says, who then is a faithful and wise servant? Yeah, we need to be faithful, brethren. We need to be faithful. He, God, expects us to be faithful, to just keep doing regardless, not give up.

We need to develop faithfulness, become trustworthy, and you know, faithfulness is evidence by works.

Just like Noah believed, when God told him, it's going to rain, and every human being is going to cease from existing. So, build this huge ark, and he did. And it took him many, many years to build it, in faith, in absolute trust. You see, it required action.

Look at another parable about money. In Luke 19, there's the 10 talents, the parable of the 10 talents, or the 10 meaners. Luke 19. And you know that parable, so I don't want to spend time on it, but I just want to highlight the point here, that he gave his servants, each one, a talent. And look at verse 15. It was just going to start straight into verse 15. And so, it was when he returned, having received the kingdom. It was talking about Christ.

You know, is this Lord, this man that gave them talents, you and I have certain capabilities.

God's given you certain capabilities. God's given me some capabilities. And you and I need to be faithful servants and be found so doing. And he says, and when he came, ever received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to whom he had given the money. It was the talents, the abilities, the abilities that you have, the things that you are able to do. Called him, then he might know how much they had gained by trading. In other words, how much, how faithful were you with the little that God's given you, how much have you developed? And look at verse 16. Then came the first sign, Master your mena, your talent, has earned 10 menas, 10 talents. Then he said to him, verse 17, well done, good servant, because you were faithful.

Invariable. Faithful. You see how God expects us to be faithful.

Brethren, why were you cold? Why were you and why am I cold? Now, you could say, I was called to be saved. But think about it.

If you say, I was called to be saved, and that is the only reason why you're cold, then you could have been called in the second resurrection, because those will be saved.

Why are you cold now?

You see, if we say we're called to be saved, and indeed we are called to be saved, but if you and I say we're only called to be saved, we're only called for self-preservation, isn't that kind of selfish? Now, there's nothing wrong. That is the goal for us to be in the kingdom, but you and I are called to do a work. You are now called to be trained to prepare a people to be trained to be faithful so that God can trust you, as we saw in Luke 19, with greater things to do, because he has many mansions, as it says in John 15 and he says, he has many mansions for us, and therefore he's got a big job for us. He wants us to help him realize the great hope of mankind, the only hope for mankind, which is Christ's coming, establishing God's government on earth, because you and I see things in the earth today that you and I can do nothing about it. Yes, you can pour money and send money and pour money, but you know what? You don't have enough money to pour into these halls because there's no hope. Yes, I'm not saying don't do your part. Do what you can, but what I'm saying is the only hope is Christ's coming to establish his government on earth. And you know what? Christ has chosen you and I, you know, as he's called and chosen you and I, to be with him so that you and I can help him in the world tomorrow. That's the gospel. That's the gospel. And you know what? When Christ comes back, you read in Revelation 17 verse 14. It says, when he comes back, those that will be with him are called and chosen. And you know what else?

Revelation 17-19, those that will be with him are called and chosen and faithful. Faithful. Are we faithful till the end? That's why it says, he who perseveres to the end will be saved. Yes, we will be in the kingdom. But the calling now is to be amongst the pioneers, the leaders in the world tomorrow, to serve mankind. And you and I have to be faithful in little things so that he will give us bigger things tomorrow because he knows that he can trust us from faith to faith. Because he knows we've put on his faithfulness.

That's why Peter says, grow in grace and knowledge.

Grow in this kindness and loving kindness of God and in this knowledge of the carrot of God. And one of the carrots of catatrices of God besides love is faithfulness.

He is truth. When he says he's going to do it, he does it.

That's what you and I need to put on. Brethren, when we pray and we read Luke 21 verse 36, it says, watch and pray therefore and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of Man. In other words, pray and watch. Watch what? Watch yourself as you read two verses before verse 34. Watch yourself. You watch yourself. Why? That you and I are becoming like Christ. That you and I are becoming faithful like God is like Christ is.

So that we can stand with him when he comes back. That says, and to stand before the Son of Man. Those that will stand with him are those that are called, chosen and faithful. And so, if there's one thing you and I need to make sure our election and calling is sure, let's read that in 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 10 and 11. 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 10 and 11.

2 Peter chapter 1.

When you read this chapter, it says at the beginning, it says, grace and peace be multiplied to you. So, grow in grace, says that in verse 2, and the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ.

So, the knowledge of God, of his character, let us grow in that. So, grow in grace and knowledge of God and of Christ. And it says, we need to put on this divine nature. And he says, we may be partakers of this divine nature, as it says in verse 4. And he says, when you put on, you start by faith, as it says there. You start by faith, giving all diligence, all effort, to absolutely trust in God. Faith. And then, you add the virtue. In other words, you add the knowledge. You understand what God is like, or Christ is like. And then, we gotta add self-control, self-discipline, to say, let me work to be like that. And then, you gotta stick to it, persevere.

In other words, be faithful, persevering till the end. And to perseverance, becoming more and more like God, godliness. And then, we start becoming, having more godly love, being brotherly love, and then godly love. And then it says, if anyone lacks, these are short-sighted.

And then it says in verse 10, therefore brethren, therefore brethren, be even more diligent.

Work harder, be more diligent, to make your calling and election sure. Why? Because you are striving to emulate God in these characteristics of being faithful like He is.

And it says, for if you do these things, you will never, never leave the church. Yeah, you'll never stumble. In other words, you'll never leave the church.

For so an entrance. Because this way, you will be given an entrance.

We'll supply it to you abundantly. You will enter without any doubt. In other words, like it says, watch and pray to your counted worship.

Yes, you'll be counted worthy to escape, and you will be given this entrance, abundant to stand with the Son of Man. In other words, to enter into the kingdom of God. It says, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. So brethren, now that we understand what is faith, what kind of faith is required for salvation, now we understand about the faith of Christ. Let us work in emulating, becoming like God and like Christ, having the same faith, belief, and trust, and the same degree of faithfulness, in our words and in our actions, persevering to the end, so that we can make our calling an election sure.

So, let us work in emulating, becoming like God and loving Christ. Let us work in emulating, becoming like Christ.