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  WHAT DO YOU BELIEVE IN?
  by Theodore Epp
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes that true faith must be placed in Jesus
Christ and His sacrifice for salvation and spiritual growth.

Topics: "Salvation", "Faith in Christ"
Scripture References: Acts 16:31, Galatians 2:21, Ephesians 2:8, Colossians 1:4

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DESCRIPTION
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Theodore Epp emphasizes the significance of having faith in the right
object, which is Jesus Christ, rather than merely having faith in faith
itself. He commends the Colossians for their faith in Christ,
highlighting that true belief must be rooted in the understanding of
Christ's sacrificial death for our sins. Epp stresses that faith in
Jesus is essential not only for salvation but also for spiritual growth,
as it acknowledges our need for His grace and forgiveness. He concludes
that saving faith is a total commitment to Jesus as our Lord and life.

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CONTENT
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Colossians 1: 1-8

Almost everyone talks about faith because almost everyone has faith in
something. But faith is only as good as its object. It is important to
recognize that we are not saved from condemnation by having faith in
faith. Paul commended the Colossians for their "faith in Christ Jesus"
(Col. 1:4).

So it is not sufficient to tell a person, "Just believe." The question
is, Believe what? The message of the Gospel is not to believe in
yourself, in church or in doctrine but in the Lord Jesus Christ. This
implies believing in all that Christ did for us when He died on the
cross in our place. It recognizes that we are sinful human beings who
deserve condemnation, or else it would never have been necessary for
Christ to die. It means we recognize that Christ is our only hope
because if we could have been saved by some other means, Christ would
not have had to die (see Gal. 2:21). Having faith in Jesus Christ
implies we have placed our confidence entirely in His finished work on
the cross, recognizing that He forgives our sins and gives us eternal
life. One can summarize saving faith as a commitment to Jesus Christ who
is our life and Lord. Faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord is also
necessary for growth in our Christian walk.

"And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be
saved, and thy house" (Acts 16:31).

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/theodore-epp/what-do-you-believe-in/
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