TEXT:  2 Cor. 5:7

INTRODUCTION:

A.      PARENTHETICAL - PROFOUND.

B.      WHAT IS FAITH?( Heb. 11:1, 6 ).

C.      WHERE DOES FAITH COME FROM?( Rom. 10:17 ).

                   - that which is not revealed is not of faith( 14:23 ).

D.      IN THIS LESSON - THE DIFFICULTY IN WALKING BY SIGHT.

I.      WHY DO WE WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT?

A.      MAN CAN'T FIND THE RIGHT WAY ON HIS OWN

          ( Prov. 14:12;  Jer. 10:23 )

B.      WE CAN'T FIND GOD WITHOUT HELP( 1 Cor. 1:21 ).

C.      GOD HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US( Rom. 1:18-19 ).

D.      THE REVELATION OF HIS WILL IS THE GOSPEL

          ( John 1:18;  Rom. 1:16-17 )

E.      SO, IN SEEKING GOD & SALVATION ONE MUST TURN TO GOD'S WORD

          & FOLLOW IT.  THIS IS WALKING BY FAITH( Rom. 10:17; 2 Cor. 5:7 ).

II.     FOLLOWING WHAT SEEMS RIGHT IS WALKING BY SIGHT.

A.      IT SEEMS MAN CAN BE SAVED OUTSIDE "ORGANIZED RELIGION."

          1.       All spiritual blessings come thru Christ( Eph. 1:3 ).

          2.       Redemption & forgiveness are in Christ( Eph. 1:7 ).

          3.       The church is the fullness of him( Eph. 1:22-23 ).

          4.       The church, the precious bride( Eph. 5:23, 25-27 ).

B.      IT SEEMS MAN CAN BE SAVED WITHOUT BAPTISM.

          1.       No logical connection - Naaman( 2 Kings 5),blind( John 9 ).

          2.       Mark 16:16;  Acts 2:38;  22:16;  1 Pet. 3:21.

C.      IT SEEMS DOCTRINAL DIFFERENCE IS INSIGNIFICANT AS LONG AS

          YOU ACCEPT JESUS AS YOUR PERSONAL SAVIOR.

          1.       Paul says there is one faith( Eph. 4:4-5;  1 Cor. 1:10 ).

          2.       He tells us to love doctrinal truth( 2 Thes. 2:10-12 ).

          3.       We have these warnings( 2 Tim. 4:1-4;  2 John 9;  Gal.1:6-9 ).

D.      IT SEEMS MAN CAN BE SAVED BY FAITH ONLY.

          1.       James 2:14-27.

          2.       Many believed but were fearful( John 12:42-43 ).

          3.       More than acknowledgment is required( Mat. 7:21 ).

E.      IT SEEMS ALL WORSHIP, NO MATTER WHAT IT IS, IS ACCEPTABLE.

          1.       What about "calf-roping."  The stripper.  The athlete.

          2.       There's a prescription for worship( Mat. 15:7-9;  John 4:24 ).

III.    THOSE WHO WALK BY SIGHT WILL BE LOST.

A.      Prov. 14:12.

B.      MOST PEOPLE WALK THIS WAY( Mat. 7:13-14 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      ARE YOU WALKING BY FAITH?

B.      DOES THE BIBLE GUIDE YOUR EVERY FOOTSTEP?