Eric Ludy Sermon Podcast: Church at Ellerslie

Faith is not a heavenly recommendation, but a heavenly requirement. In fact, it’s impossible to function as a real Christian in this earth without it. We’re not talking about the sort of pseudo-faith that crumbles at the first sign of resistance, but rather the intrepid stuff that refuses to back down even when the mountains are crumbling to the sea. As Christians, we need to have this mighty substance packed within our souls—it’s our armor, it’s our strength, it’s our real-world currency in all spiritual matters. So, how does one acquire such a thing as “real faith?” How is this sort of faith built? And how do you know if you have the real thing?

The Fatherly nature of God is the touchstone for our confidence. Our God is unchanging, and if it is true that He is who He says He is, then we can place the entirety of our trust in His amazing nature. And He is legally bound never to fail us when we place our hope in Him.

The basis of our faith is in the nature of our God. And the basis of God's nature is found in the fact that He is first and foremost a father. The word "Ab" (Father) is the first word in the Hebrew language; similarly, the first words in our new birth are to be "Abba."

Entire givenness to the will and agenda of Christ Jesus—that's the essence of Christianity. To many this sounds like the oppressive whim of a taskmaster god, but to those made alive by the grace of our God, such a life is considered the ultimate privilege.

Everything in the Christian faith hinges on the validity and trustworthiness of the Bible. This amazing supernatural book is certainly worthy of our confidences, but there are few today in the Church an have an intelligent answer for why.

Jesus is our strong man—the one who took the blow meant for us. And He desires to train up His followers to model the same disposition—men and women made strong in order that they might spend their strength on behalf of the weak.