The sermon, delivered by Eric Bechler, explores the concept of saving faith as outlined in the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, Chapter 14, Paragraph 3. It emphasizes that faith can vary in strength among believers but is fundamentally different from the temporary faith of non-believers. The sermon provides biblical examples of both weak and strong faith, citing the disciples, Peter, Abraham, and a Roman centurion. It contrasts saving faith with temporary faith, noting that saving faith, even if weakened, leads to ultimate victory in Christ. The sermon highlights the role of Christ as the intercessor and encourager of believers and underscores the importance of supporting those with weaker faith. It concludes with guidance on how Christians should interact with others in matters of faith and liberty, emphasizing love, patience, and forbearance.

A reading this morning from the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689, again comes from chapter 14 of Saving Faith. Today is from paragraph 3. This faith, although it be different in degree and may be weak or strong, yet it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it as is all other saving grace from the faith and common grace of temporary believers and therefore though it may be many times assailed and weakened yet it gets the victory growing up in many to the attaining of a full assurance through Christ who is both the author and finisher of our faith. We continue this week in our discussion of saving faith. It is the last of three paragraphs that we're covering.

We will probe deeper into faith and assurance when we reach chapter 18, so I won't go too much into that. Our paragraph this morning starts with introducing the idea that there are different degrees of faith. Some Christians have weak faith, some have strong faith. We see evidence of this when we look at different Christians today and across history. Some have great faith, great assurance and peace, while others seem to always doubt, or at least are anxious.

We can see evidence of this also when we examine ourselves over time. For some, as they grow older, their faith grows stronger. For other circumstances can shake our faith, shake our confidence and leave us doubting. Well what about Scripture? Do we find examples of this in Scripture?

There are others but here are a few examples of what would be called little or weak faith. In Matthew 6, Jesus is rebuking the disciples for their little faith. These are the guys living with Jesus day after day, listening to all he says, seeing him perform miracle after miracle. If anyone would be a candidate for strong faith, we would start with looking at the disciples. And yet he speaks these words to them.

Matthew 6 28 verse 30 and 33. Behold the fowls of the air for they sow not, neither do they reap nor gather into barns. Yet your heavenly father feedeth them, are you not much better than they? Consider the lilies of the field how they grow, they toil not, neither do they spin. Wherefore, if God so clothed the grass of the field which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith.

But Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." In Matthew 8, with the disciples on a ship in the Sea of Galilee during a storm, Jesus was sleeping. And these fishermen, who'd worked for years around boats and would assume had experienced pretty rough seas feared so much for their lives that they woke Jesus up and asked him to save them and Jesus marveled. In verse 26, and saith unto them, Why are you fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm." We have another example in the water in Matthew 14 verses 24 through 33. After Jesus had fed 5, 000 people on a hillside, Jesus sends the multitude away and sends his disciples out on a ship to cross the sea ahead of him so that he could be alone in prayer.

In Matthew 14 24 through 27, But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were troubled saying it is a spirit and they cried out for fear but straightway Jesus spoke unto them saying be of good cheer it is I be not afraid Then Jesus came to them in their time of troubles and fear to calm and to encourage the disciples. Fear had caused their faith to waver. The story continues with Peter calling out to Jesus.

And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me to come out unto thee on the water. And he said, come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, He walked on the water to go to Jesus. It's pretty cool to walk on the water. Peter was actually walking on the water, going out to Jesus.

But Peter got distracted. He took his eyes off Christ. And what was the result? We read in the continuing verses, but when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid and beginning to sink. He cried saying, Lord save me.

And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand and caught him and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? And when they were come into the ship the wind ceased, then they that were in the ship came and worshiped him, saying, of a truth thou art the Son of God. Peter was doing good, walking on the water, but he got distracted by a boisterous wind. It made him afraid, and he began to sink. Is there something in your life that is a boisterous wind?

Is it a secret sin? A conflict at work? A conflict at home? Maybe even just the busyness of life is overwhelming you. Do you feel like you are sinking?

This is where we cry out to God, Lord save me. Just as Jesus caught Peter, he will reach out to you and catch you where you are and in your time of need. Don't doubt, only trust Him. Well, what about examples of strong faith in the Bible? Let's start with Abraham.

Paul comments about Abraham in his letter to the Romans. Even though he was very old and his wife, Sarah, was very old, they believed God that they would have a son. Their faith was strong in chapter 4, 19 through 20. Being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about 100 years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God.

And let's look again at Matthew 8. We have here a Roman centurion coming to Jesus and asking him to heal his servant. In his faith marvels Jesus in Matthew 8, 5 through 10. And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion beseeching him and saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented. And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.

The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou should come under my roof But speak the word only and my servant shall be healed for I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me. And I say to this man, Go, and he goeth. And to another, Come, and he cometh. And to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it." When Jesus heard it, he marveled and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I've not found so great faith. No, not in Israel.

The next phrase in our paragraph can sound a little confusing. It says, yet it, which is again saving faith, it is in the least degree of it different in the kind or nature of it as is all other saving grace from the faith and common grace of temporary believers. The point here in this part is to contrast saving faith with temporary faith to see that they are different. Let's look what's a temporary believer. Someone with temporary faith not saving faith.

A temporary believer is someone who believes for a while and then abandons that belief or profession. Temporary faith is not true faith. We can further contrast weak faith and temporary faith. The one is a work of the Spirit by grace, the other is not. Dr.

Samuel Waldron states, false faith is different from genuine faith, not merely in duration, but in kind and nature. One of the major differences between true faith and false faith is that false faith is temporary. And if temporary faith is the same in nature as true faith, then the temporary believer would have fulfilled the condition of salvation. Hence, God would be bound by his promises to save a temporary believer temporarily. It's not possible to be temporarily justified, adopted, or forgiven.

This is Arminianism. And we don't believe you can lose your salvation. The Gospel of John tells us in 639, and this is the Father's will, which has sent me, that of all which he hath given me, I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. And in John 10, 28 and 29, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father which gave them me is greater than all, and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

We have a number of examples in scripture for temporary faith. We'll cover a few here. First one is Judas Iscariot. He's one of the 12 disciples of Christ. He followed Christ for three years.

He saw it all. He heard it all. And he probably performed some miracles based on what we read in Luke 10, verse 17. And the seventy returned again with joy saying, Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. Not one of the other disciples, the other 11, had a clue that Judas would betray Jesus to the Jews.

Not one doubted that he had saving faith. And yet as Jesus is praying for his disciples before the betrayal and arrest. Jesus mentions that none is lost but the son of perdition. That is Judas Iscariot. He had a false faith, a temporary faith.

We can read that in John 17 12. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name. Those that thou gavest me, I have kept, and none of them is lost but the son of perdition, that the scripture might be fulfilled. Another example is Simon the Sorcerer. Acts 8 tells us he was from Samaria and had bewitched the locals for a long time.

The locals believed in Philip's preaching and so did Simon. And we pick up the story in Acts 8 and verse 13. Then Simon himself believed also and when he was baptized he continued with Philip and wondered beholding the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost, For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then lay they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost.

And when Simon saw that through laying on of the Apostles hands the Holy Ghost was given. He offered them money saying, Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee because thou has thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee for I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity then answered Simon and said pray ye to the Lord for me that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me." Simon's desire was for money and power, not Christ.

His faith was not true faith but a false or temporary faith. Finally, let's take a look at that dreaded passage in Matthew 7. Jesus is warning the people of false prophets and states in verses 21 through 23. Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. But he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name, and in thy name have cast out devils, and in thy name done many wonderful works. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity." These were people who prophesied in Jesus's name. They cast out devils. They did many wonderful things. They looked just like other believers.

And yet Jesus says, I never knew you. Depart from me. Wow. Again, the contrast made was between true faith or saving faith and temporary or false faith. There is a difference between them in kind and nature.

Churches are filled with wheat and tares, true believers and temporary believers, and there are many reasons for this, desire for power or influence, just following tradition or habit. Who knows what else? But it's a certainty that for some, their heart has not been changed, they're not inclined to the Lord, and they have not been given saving faith. In the last part of our paragraph, it focuses on saving faith, even if attacked or weakened, it is still victorious and it leads to salvation for the believer. The life of a Christian is filled with trials and temptations.

The process of sanctification is a lifelong battle. Some battles are lost, ground is lost, and sometimes we despair and doubt. Our faith can weaken, but in these struggles we can turn to God's word. We can put on the whole armor of God with the shield of faith. We are able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked in Ephesians 6 16.

We also rest assured that despite the attacks, We remember God's words in Psalm 119, 114, thou art my hiding place, my shield, I hope in thy word. In 1 John 5, 4, for whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world. And this is the victory that overcome cometh the world even our faith." And finally in Hebrews 6 11 through 12, and we desire that every one of you do show the same diligence to full assurance of hope until the end. That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises." If we look back at Peter, he boasted that he would never deny Christ. Matthew 26, 33-35, Peter answered him, though they all fall away because of you, I will never fall away.

And Jesus said to him, truly I tell you, this very night before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." And Peter said to him, even if I must die with you, I will not deny you. And all the disciples said the same. Yet later that night, this is in fact what happened, Continue in reading from verses 69 through 75. Now Peter was sitting outside the courtyard, and a servant girl came up to him and said, you are also with Jesus the Galilean. But he denied it before them all, saying, I do not know what you mean.

And when went out to the entrance, another servant girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, this man was with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied it with an oath, I do not know the man. And after a little while, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, certainly you two are one of them, for your accent betrays you. Then he began to invoke a curse on himself and to swear, I do not know the man. And immediately the rooster crowed and Peter remembered the saying of Jesus, before the rooster crows you will deny me three times.

And he went out and wept bitterly. It's an interesting contrast between Peter and Judas Iscariot. Peter recognizes his sin and weeps bitterly. Judas recognizes his sin and tries to return the money, perhaps to free himself of the responsibility of what he had done. But that's not how it works.

And then he went and hanged himself. In Matthew 27, 3 through 5. Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priest and the elder saying, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. They said, What is that to us? See to it yourself.

And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed and went and hanged himself. What was the difference here? Peter had saving faith, Judas had temporary faith. But remember what Jesus said to Peter when he predicted his denial. Jesus said he was going to pray for him.

Luke 22, 31-32. And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. Jesus prayed for Peter, that his faith would not fail.

Notice he didn't pray that Peter would not go through this trial, but that he would persevere. Again, let's look at the differences between Peter and Judas as they responded to their sin. Judas didn't remember that Jesus had predicted his betrayal. Judas himself tried to fix things, but he failed. Returning the money didn't accomplish anything, but notice here, he didn't turn to Christ.

He didn't confess. He didn't repent. He came face to face with the realization that he must pay the penalty for his sin. And with nothing else to do, he took his own life. His temporary faith did nothing for him.

It was a false faith. There had been no heart change in Judas. In contrast, we see Peter weeping bitterly. His thoughts turned to Jesus. He remembered what Jesus said, that he would deny him three times.

And he probably remembered also that Jesus would be praying for him. Peter repented and Jesus lovingly restored him in a later passage. Peter having saving faith. Peter had saving faith and it it may have been weak at this time but it was real and it was efficacious. Having gone through all this, where are you?

How do you handle messing up or sinning? Does your pride drive you to try to handle it and fix things by yourself, maybe even secretly? Do you try to manipulate the situation to free yourself from the responsibility of what you've done? Or do you even blame someone else? Or do you humble yourself?

Do you confess your sins and repent? Do you weep bitterly at what you've done and turn to Christ to cry out to Him to help you? What a blessing it is to have Jesus praying for us. Right now, right at this moment, He's sitting at the Father's right hand interceding for us. For me, it's very encouraging to think this, and I hope it is for you as well, that when we're going through a trial or troubles, that Jesus is there at God's right hand praying for us, praying that our faith would not fail and that you would persevere.

Scripture tells us in Hebrew 10, 22 through 23, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with the pure water. Let us hold fast to the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. Where do we go? Where do we turn? In Hebrews 12, 2, looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Look unto Jesus. Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. Remember that Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. He is faithful, the promised. I want to close with some thoughts regarding weak faith.

Sometimes you may feel alone, but remember that you're never alone. We have an intercessor in Christ. We have the Holy Spirit indwelling in us. We are part of His church in the body of Christ with other believers. We had the lambs join us in this body of Christ.

We're here. We can pray for one another. We can help one another. We can encourage one another. Don't forget this.

It's huge. Also, it's normal. It's a normal thing for every believer to have doubts, to get confused about things, or to have fears. This is normal. Every believer goes through this.

To remember, even weak faith is productive. It's true faith. Don't worry about comparing how weak or strong your faith is to someone else. If you have weak faith, it's real. It's true faith, and it yields salvation.

Also remember that even little prayers are answered. Little bullet prayers here and there quickly. The prayers, the simple prayers of our children are so powerful. God loves us and He hears us. We can never forget that.

As Christians, we interact with other believers who demonstrate faith at varying degrees. And let us be careful, especially, how we deal with those around us who have weaker faith. Jesus told Peter that after the trial, What should he do? He should strengthen the brethren. Dr.

Sproul offers some guidelines for dealing with those who are weaker in faith. Three guidelines. The first rule of Christian love is that we receive others who are weaker in faith as brothers and sisters. Every Christian is a servant of Christ. Christ is his master and judge.

I am not to judge those who are Christ's. A second principle of Christian liberty is that a person should not be forced to act according to another person's conscience with respect to matters indifferent. This rule presupposes that Christians are at various levels of personal growth. The third principle set forth, it's actually in Romans 14, is that the stronger brother ought not cause his weaker brother to stumble, but should be considerate. He is not to flout his liberty in front of a weaker brother.

He is not to coax his brother to indulge. A guideline is set down in verse 22, hast thou faith? Have it to thyself before God. Paul declares that the kingdom of God is not in eating or drinking. It is not a matter of indifferent externals.

In these things, we are to have love for each other, respecting the scruples of the individual as well as of his or her liberties. Patience and forbearance are called for. In matters of externals, the internal fruit of the Holy Spirit must be made manifest. Amen.