The sermon by Eric Bechler discusses the concept of saving faith as described in the Second London Baptist Confession, particularly focusing on chapter 14, paragraph 3. It emphasizes that saving faith varies in degrees among believers but is distinct from temporary faith. The sermon highlights that justification is based on Christ's work, not the strength of individual faith. Various biblical examples, such as Abraham, the Roman centurion, and Peter walking on water, illustrate the fluctuations in faith due to circumstances and challenges. The sermon contrasts temporary faith, as seen in the parable of the sower and Judas Iscariot, with saving faith that remains victorious despite weaknesses. The speaker encourages believers to rely on Jesus, who intercedes for them, and to seek strength in prayer, scripture, and the assurance of God's promises.

A reading today from the Second London Baptist Confession comes again from chapter 14 of Saving Faith. Today is paragraph three. This faith, saving faith, Although it be different in degrees, being weak or strong yet is even in the least degree 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 attainment of a full assurance through Christ who is both the author and finisher of our faith. We finish our discussion of saving faith today by introducing the idea that there are different degrees of saving faith and contrasting it with temporary faith.

But let's remember that saving faith, the saving faith that we have is a gift, a grace we receive from God. It is through this faith and the imputation of Christ's righteousness that we are justified. But and I want to make this clear any variation in someone's saving faith does not affect our justification or justification race rests on what Christ has done period does not rest on our deeds or our merit. It doesn't rest on whether we have strong faith or weak faith. It rests on Christ and what He's done.

The reality is, and we've all seen this, that some Christians seem to have a stronger faith than others and some Christians seem to have a faith that isn't very strong, seems weaker than others. In fact, all of us have had over time, probably, periods of stronger faith or weaker faith. This is normal. Circumstances can cause our faith to strengthen or waver. And hopefully over time we find that we grow in our faith.

I once read a book about George Mueller. If you're not familiar with him, I would really recommend his biography and all that he did. He trusted in God to provide for the children of an orphanage he established. And he was remarkable. God granted miracle after miracle in his life.

He's a great example of expectant prayer and great faith. What about examples in the Bible? Paul comments about Abraham's faith in Romans 420. He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. In Matthew 8, 5 through 10, we have the story of the Roman centurion coming to Jesus to heal a servant.

His response to Jesus results in a remarkable comment by Jesus. Assuredly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel. What about the flip side? In Matthew 6, Jesus is rebuking the disciples for their little faith. These are the guys living with Jesus day after day for three years, listening to all that he says, seeing him perform miracle after miracle.

If anyone would be a candidate for strong faith, we would start with the Apostles themselves. And yet Jesus speaks these words to them. Do not worry saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what shall we wear for after all these things the Gentiles seek for your heavenly father knows that you need all these things but seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added to you." Matthew 6, 31 through 33. And 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 all their lives around boats and around the Sea of Galilee, and one would assume had experienced pretty rough seas, feared so much for their lives, they woke Jesus up and asked him to save them. And we were all familiar with C.S.

Lewis, the author of Mere Christianity, an apologist, a man of faith. But when his wife died, it shook him to the core. He had doubts about God. He struggled, and he questioned everything. But in reality, God used it to grow his faith to bring him from a theoretical faith to a real trusting faith.

C.S. Lewis wrote in one of his books, you never know how much you really believe anything until it's truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It's easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to court a box, But suppose you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it? Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.

In Matthew 14, we have the story directly after the feeding of the 5, 000 that the disciples cross over the Sea of Galilee. And Jesus later walks on the water out to the boat, which was to say the least unexpected, and caused great fear in the disciples. The story continues with Peter calling out to Jesus, Lord, if it's you, command me to come to you on the water. And so Jesus said, come. And when Peter had come down out of the boat and walked on the water to go to Jesus.

But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid. And beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him and said to him, Oh, you of little faith, why did you doubt? This is Matthew 14, 29 through 31. Did you catch that?

Peter was walking on the water. He wasn't concerned about whether it was possible. He just obeyed. Jesus called and he went. As long as he kept his focus on Jesus, he was okay.

But when Peter got distracted, when he took his eyes off of Christ, he started sinking and became afraid. I've been there, Maybe you have too. We take our eyes off of Christ and splash or we sink. We get off track. For Peter it was a boisterous wind.

Is there something in your life that is a boisterous wind? Some kind of distraction? A secret sin? A conflict at work? A conflict at home?

Maybe even Just the busyness of life overwhelming you. Do you feel like you're sinking? Peter shows us what to do. Cry out to God, Lord, save me. And just as Jesus caught Peter, He will reach out to you and catch you wherever you are Wherever you are and in your time of need look to Jesus Don't doubt only trust him But what about this temporary faith that the paragraph mentions?

We would consider a believer with a temporary faith to be someone who believes for a while and then abandons their belief or profession. This is like the seed sown on the rocky ground. This is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy and yet has no root in himself but endures for a while and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word immediately he falls away. Matthew 13, 2021. Temporary faith is not saving faith.

One is a work of the Spirit by grace. The other is not. Judas Iscariot, one of the 12 disciples, followed Christ for three years. He saw it all. He heard it all.

He probably even performed some miracles from Luke 10, 17. 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, Jesus Iscariot, John 17-12. He had a false faith, a temporary faith. It appeared that not one of the other disciples had a clue that Judas would betray Jesus.

But not one doubted he had saving faith, and yet he didn't. In Matthew 7, 21 through 23, Jesus is warning the people of false prophets and states, not everyone will say to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven. But the one who does the will of my father who is in heaven on that day many will say to me Lord Lord did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and do many mighty works in your name? And then will I declare to them, I never knew you depart from me. You workers of lawlessness.

These were people who prophesied in Jesus name. They cast out devils and did many mighty works. They looked like, just like other believers. And yet Jesus says, I never knew you, depart from me. Temporary faith does not come from nor lead to redemption.

Saving faith, however, even if attacked or weakened, is still victorious. It still 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.

Sometimes we despair and doubt. Our faith can be challenged or questioned, but in these struggles we should look to Jesus. We should turn to God's Word, pray, put on the whole armor of God, and with the shield of faith we are able to quench the fiery darts of the wicked one. Ephesians 6, 16. We also rest assured that despite the attacks, we can find encouragement in the Psalms.

Psalm 119, 114. Thou art my hiding place and my shield, I hope in thy word. And in 1 John 5, 4, for whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world, our faith. And also from Hebrews 6, 11, and 12, We desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end so that you may not be sluggish, but imitate, imitators of those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promise.

If we look back at Peter, he boasted that he would never deny Christ in Matthew 26, 33 through 35. Yet later that night, this is in fact what happened. Peter recognized his sin and wept bitterly. His thoughts turned to Jesus. He remembered what Jesus said, that he would deny him three times.

He probably remembered that Jesus would be praying for him. Peter repented, and Jesus lovingly restored him. Peter had saving faith, and it may have been weak at this time, but it was real and efficacious. In contrast, after betraying Jesus, Judas Iscariot recognized his sin and tried to return the money, perhaps to free himself from the responsibility of what he had just done. But the die was cast.

Instead of looking to Jesus, confessing and repenting, he went and hanged himself. His temporary faith did nothing for him. It was a false faith. There had been no heart change in Judas. But what about me?

Does my pride drive me to try to handle or fix things myself, maybe even secretly? Sometimes, yes. What about you? Do you try to manipulate the situation to free yourself from the responsibility of what you've done, or even blame someone else? Or do you humble yourself, 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? Do you look to Jesus? What a blessing to have Jesus praying for us. Just as he prayed for Peter, he is praying for you right now. Right at this moment, He's sitting at the Father's right hand interceding for us.

I find this extremely comforting and encouraging. I hope you find it encouraging as you go through trials and temptations that Jesus is praying that your faith would not falter, that you, like Peter, would persevere. Scripture tells us we should hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. Hebrews 10, 23. And scripture tells us where to go and who to turn to.

Look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12, 2. Look unto Jesus. Amen.