What Child "Sacrifice" Teaches you about Faith

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“And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets…

And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” -Hebrews 11:32, 39-40

We all have heroes.  The author of Hebrews dedicated a whole chapter of his letter to address heroes of the faith.  Before he can tell us what it means to be a “hero of the faith,” he begins his chapter by defining what faith is.  He writes, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” - Hebrews 11:1

Within his discussion he gives us the importance of faith.  He writes, “ And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” – Hebrews 11:6.  Faith is belief in God, and that belief in God brings some sort of reward.  Faith is not just belief, but true faith sees faith as something to be valued.  This faith was found in all of the writers heroes of faith.

He walks through the Old Testament recounting classic stories of the faith!  Anyone who has been to church or a VBS has probably heard a few of these stories.  Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, Samson, Gideon…..Jephthah? Some of you might be asking, “Who?  Jephthah?  Who is that?”  While others of you might be asking, “Jephthah?  The guy from Judges who sacrificed his daughter?  How was he a hero of the faith?”  The answer may just surprise you…

“If you have thought of this dying thief only as one who put off repentance, I want you now to believe of him as one that did greatly and grandly believe in Christ. And oh, that you would do the same! Oh that you would put a great confidence in my great Lord! Never did a poor sinner trust Christ too much. There was never a case of a guilty one who believed that Jesus could forgive him and afterward found that He could not–who believed that Jesus could save him on the spot and then woke up to find that it was a delusion. No; plunge into this river of confidence in Christ. The waters are waters to swim in, not to drown in. Never did a soul perish that glorified Christ by a living, loving faith in Him. Come, then, with all your sin, whatever it may be, with all your deep depression of spirits, all your agony of conscience. Come and grasp my Lord and Master with both the hands of your faith, and He shall be yours, and you shall be His.”

-C.H. Spurgeon, The Power of the Cross of Christ, 80

Restoring A Broken Faith...In The Church

I have this friend who the Lord used to lead me to Christ. Though, once totally on fire for the Lord, now, it is hard to separate him from the rest of the "lukewarm Christians" that seem to fill the pews in America.

I can only imagine that this how John felt coming the sermon he wrote to the church at Ephesus (This sermon is recorded in the book of 1 John). Three main themes are addressed in this book: True Doctrine, True Obedience, and True Devotion. The latter of these themes are the answer to the other two, and this is found within the Local Church.

Stuff Christians Can't Answer

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I’ve been away from doing this series in the old blog for a while. This is due to lack of material to use. If you can find contradictions in the Christian faith email me at Shownthewayblog@hotmail.com and I will use them in future blogs.

Now to today’s “crisis with faith.”

Is the God of the Old Testament the same as the God of the New Testament?

I believe 100% yes! Let me make my case through some iconic Old Testament events. Let give Three Points.

The Statements Of Jesus


Let’s start in Exodus 3. God visits Moses from within a burning bush and gives him his mission of taking the Israelites (God chosen people) out of Egypt. In verse 14, Moses wonders what name he should call God,

God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’” ~Exodus 3:14

Lets contrast this too the New Testament. In John Ch.8 (verses 48-59), the Jews and religious leaders of the time are skeptical of Jesus and claim Him to be “demon possessed.” Jesus ends out the chapter by making this statement, “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” ~John 8:58. His listeners knew very much what He was talking about by the fact that they tried to stone Him following His speaking. (verse 59)

Jesus claimed to be God. Now, is there evidence to His claim? Let’s continue.