The transformative power of faith

Q: What does the Bible say about faith?

The Bible teaches that faith is a gift from God, crucial for salvation and acknowledging Christ. Faith is described in the Bible as a gift from God that allows individuals to believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 11:1 explains that faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen. In Mark 2:5, we see Jesus recognizing the faith of those who brought a paralyzed man to Him, highlighting that faith is integral to receiving forgiveness and healing. This faith isn't dependent on human strength; rather, it acknowledges Christ as the source of salvation, affirming the doctrines of grace central to Reformed theology.

Q: How do we know the doctrine of original sin is true?

Scripture teaches that sin entered the world through Adam, resulting in a fallen state for all humanity. The doctrine of original sin states that through Adam's disobedience, sin entered the world and affected all of creation. Romans 5:12 speaks clearly to this truth: 'Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.' This foundation is crucial in Reformed theology, as it underlines humanity's need for a Savior. The condition of sin is what necessitates grace and highlights the redemptive work of Christ, who came to remedy that which was broken.

Q: Why is the concept of grace important for Christians?

Grace is the unmerited favor of God, foundational to salvation and the Christian faith. Grace is central to the Christian faith as it represents God's unmerited favor toward humanity, offering salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes this truth: 'For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.' This understanding reinforces the Reformed belief that salvation is solely an act of God's grace, not contingent upon human effort or merit, echoing the promise of eternal life found in John 3:16. Such grace empowers believers to live in response to God’s love and mercy, demonstrating the transformative power of faith in their lives.

As the Lord may be pleased to help us this evening, that is yourselves in listening and myself in speaking, I would like to invite your prayerful attention to the chapter we read together in Mark's Gospel, Mark chapter two, and we'll take as our text the first clause in verse five. When Jesus saw their faith, The fifth verse, the second chapter of the Gospel of Mark.

When Jesus saw their faith. It's worth noticing straight away that the Lord Jesus refers to this as their faith. Faith is God's gift to us. All who believe in the glorious good news of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ have come there by the gift of faith, through the gift of His grace, whereby He saves souls. And it is the faith which belongs to those to whom God has given it, and He refers to it as Our faith.

He referred to the men on the ship on the Lake of Galilee when in that tremendous storm, when they cried out, Lord save us, we perish. And the Savior turned to them. He said, where is your faith? Was their faith in themselves and their ability to save themselves from being drowned? Or was it in the Saviour who was with them on that ship?

But they cried out to Him, and He commanded, and said, Peace, be still. And we read there was a great calm. And remembering that they'd only been with the Lord Jesus for a short while then, they still had much to learn. Another label would be learners. They were followers and learners of Christ. And he referred to it as their faith. And their faith was in him. And following the storm, which we read immediately or suddenly, there was a great calm. And they said one to another, what manner of man is this? Even the wind and the sea obey him. That was a good question. What manner of man is he? Well, this is the Lord Jesus Christ, the express image of God's person we read of in the opening words to the Hebrews.

But their faith was rewarded and they came more and more to believe in him. And here we have a time in the working of the Lord Jesus, having been preaching and teaching in various areas, he comes back to Capernaum, in the area of Galilee, where so much blessing was poured out in the days of the Lord Jesus. As we read through the Gospels we see time and time again how he was in that area when the blessings of salvation by grace and the teaching and preaching of the Lord Jesus was made a wonderful blessing. And he was in this area of Galilee and this became, as we might say, a headquarters for the teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ. And we read that again he entered into Capernaum after some days and it was noised that he was in the house.

I understand that in the original language that would be that there was a rapid spread of information. People were telling one another the Lord Jesus Christ is in a certain house, in a certain And he's there teaching the things of God. And this became the beginning of that first year of the Lord's teaching when there was great prosperity. It's known by Bible scholars as a year of popularity. The Lord Jesus was, by his teaching, saving many people. And the glorious good news of the gospel preached by the Savior himself was being blessed and received by living faith.

And here we have one record in Mark's gospel that had been on my mind just recently. There was such a big gathering in a small building that people were straining to hear. What a blessing it would be in the days in which we live if people were so motivated to hear the gospel that buildings were crammed full of people, the doors and windows were opened, and they had such a hunger and thirst for these things that there wasn't room for them. It would be a good problem to have. And who can tell? The Lord might return even in the days in which we live. And our prayer is, wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?

But here we have one account. of those that were gathered together insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door, and he preached the word unto them. The Lord Jesus didn't come with novelties and various ways of attracting people in other ways, no, he preached the word. He preached the glorious gospel of salvation by grace through faith, by which people are brought into the kingdom of grace by wondrous grace. And while he was doing this, they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was born of four. There were four men, concerned about their friend, sick of the palsy.

He was helpless, unable to do anything. His arms and legs weren't being coordinated, enabling him to walk about, and he had to be carried. And his four friends carried him to Jesus. And when they got there, he might have thought their hearts would sink. So many people, how were they going to get this man to see Jesus? They couldn't get through the doors. They couldn't even get near the windows.

But I expect this house had an outside staircase, which many had in those days. And they would have carried him up there. And then we read that they uncovered the roof. The roof was most likely thatched or in some way easily removable, which could be repaired without at any cost, just put back together and made it waterproof. And they could not come nigh unto him for the press. They uncovered the roof where he was, and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

So if you can imagine the Lord Jesus addressing the people that were in the building. And no doubt his voice penetrated through the doors and windows. And while he was preaching, there was some debris coming down from the roof through the ceiling. And then this bed was let down, no doubt by ropes or whatever they got, and landed in front of the Lord Jesus. when Jesus saw their faith. We must always remember that the Lord Jesus is omniscient. He has a full knowledge of all things. He knew what was in their hearts and souls. He knew their feelings. He knew their concern.

And he knew that they believed that if they could get their friend to Jesus, Jesus was his only hope of being cured. And what a cure the Lord Jesus brought into that man's life. He came helpless, unable to do anything, unable to do nothing for himself, even to get himself to Jesus. But his four friends carried him. We can carry our friends to Jesus, can't we? not so much physically by carrying them on their bed if they're that helpless, but we can carry them to God by prayer. And we must always remember we're coming to the same God and through the same Lord Jesus who welcomed these four men and their friend as they came before him. These four men were carrying their friend to Jesus.

We're not told who they were who brought their friends to Jesus, but their faith was rewarded because Jesus said to the sick of the palsy, when he saw their faith, He said, son? And what a blessing it is he referred to him as son. We read in the scriptures of the lady who pressed through the crowd to see him, seeking a healing for her. And he referred to her as daughter.

And she realized her cure immediately. This took a bit longer to work this wonderful miracle because it was twofold. And the Lord Jesus was able to teach those unbelieving scribes even through this wonderful miracle. This miracle of healing carried with it also the miracle of grace.

Jesus said unto him, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. And this the Lord Jesus performed. This man most likely didn't look any different. If his face had pain and misery on it through his expression, when he heard these words from the Savior himself, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee, He might well have smiled and rejoiced because he had tasted that the Lord was gracious.

And remember this house was full of crowds inside and outside. And remember also that the scribes were those of whom we read in the beginning of John's gospel, he came to his own and his own received him not. His own people, the scribes, the Pharisees who were the teachers and recorders of the law. No, he was despised and rejected, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. Our Lord Jesus was not made welcome. But there's a but in that verse, isn't there? He came to his own, his own received him not.

But as many as received him, to them gave he power. Not their own power, no, he gave them power to become the sons of men, sons of God, even to those who believe on his name. And this son became a son of God. There were certain scribes sitting there and reasoning in their hearts. And the Lord Jesus knew exactly what they were thinking. Just as he knew the thoughts and what motivated this team of four men to come bring their friend to Jesus, he knew their thoughts. And as we read in the scriptures, he understands our thoughts are far off. And these blessings come to us by the Lord Jesus himself.

It is he who begins a good work in us, and he will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. And that was written to those early believers in the Church of Philippi. They were young believers, but this, the Apostle Paul wrote to them to encourage them. He which hath begun a good work in you, he will perform it. until the day of Jesus Christ.

That which God has begun in you, you keep looking to Him and He will lead you into green pastures and beside the still waters. And when you begin to grow weary, He will restore your soul because He will lead you into green pastures where you are nourished in your soul. But these scribes, they reasoned in their hearts and the Lord Jesus knew what they were thinking. Why does this man thus speak blasphemies? Who can forgive sins but God only?

And immediately when Jesus perceived in his spirit that they so reasoned within themselves, he said unto them, why reason you these things in your hearts. Why are they reasoning? He said to them. It must have woken them up a bit to think that he knew what they were thinking.

Whether they said these things to him or whether they only thought them made no difference because the Lord Jesus is God. He can see us. We're quite transparent. in his sight, and he can see all our blemishes and all our doubts and fears, and he can overcome them. But this man, these men, these scribes, were accusing him of blasphemy. And as we read in the book of Leviticus, they would have honed in on that, that if anyone was pretending to be God and they weren't, that was regarded as blasphemy and the penalty was stoning.

But the Lord Jesus is here about to show them that good and solid truth that He is co-equal and co-eternal with His Father, the Lord Jesus Christ. We read in the Epistle to the Hebrews these tremendous truths and we do well to keep them in mind that he hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who being the brightness of his glory, and the expressed image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. the express image of his person and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sin.

By himself. He alone has lived a perfect life on this earth. He is the fulfillment of the Passover lamb without blemish. A lamb had to be selected from the flock If it had an injury, an illness, a bruise, whatever, it was rejected. He had to be a lamb without blemish. And the Lord Jesus himself is the only person that's ever walked this earth and lived life as God intended life to be led, in perfection, in harmony with our Father in heaven, and therefore The hymn has just come to my mind, in him the father never saw the least transgression of his law.

In him we then perfection view. And what about this one? The last line says, in him we then perfection view, the saints in him are perfect too. While we by faith, dear friends, look to Jesus and know him as our saviour, God sees us in the perfect righteousness of our Lord Jesus Christ. What a privilege. What a blessing. The Lord Jesus saw these things immediately when he perceived in his Spirit that they so reasoned within themselves.

He said unto them, Why reason ye these things in your heart? Whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, arise and take up thy bed and walk? He put a question before them. Which is easier? Well, I think when we really think it through, it would be easier to say to this man, thy sins be forgiven thee. And they could have carried him out again, and his sins would have been forgiven. And although he had to spend the rest of his life as a total invalid, his soul was saved.

But the Lord Jesus goes beyond that, and we have the record of it in Scripture. These scribes committed sin by their unbelief. Unbelief is a sin. Jesus, who knew their thoughts, he knows our thoughts. We read about this in Psalm 139. And we read these words.

The psalmist says, O Lord, thou hast searched me and known me. Thou knowest my down-sitting and mine up-rising. Thou understandest my thoughts are far off. Thou compassest my path, my lying down, and thou art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high. I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I flee from thy spirit? Or whither shall I flee from thy presence?

And the psalmist goes on in that psalm to explain to us thou God seest me and that should be a blessing and a comfort to those who seek him to think that he's already watching over and he watches over our path even before we ever began to seek him he was guarding and guiding us and what a blessing it is that he who has begun a good work will continue it whether it is easier to say, thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, take up thy bed and walk.

And it's a wonderful blessing that this same Lord Jesus is our Lord and Savior, whose perfect righteousness is unique to Him. The Lord Jesus began this miracle of healing going to the root of why this man had such a disabling condition. He had to be carried by his four friends to Jesus. And as we've already said, we can carry our friends to Jesus by prayer. And this we continue to do because I expect we all have those among our friends and families, as yet not in the kingdom of grace. And so often our prayer is that we might live to see these wonders of grace performed.

And sin, of course, is the root cause of all that is wrong in this world in which we live today. And praise God that He has, and He always has had, a covenant of grace. And that covenant of grace is such that it's contained, I think, in a well-known verse of Scripture, that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. These things are consistent with all the Holy Scripture. that sin and forgiveness of sin is that which God in mercy works first in his wondrous grace.

And then he goes on to satisfy the hungry soul. And these wonderful blessings God performs because these wonders of his grace and mercy and come to us in wonderful freeness, because He has paid the price. He has secured salvation by His glorious resurrection from the dead. Death is the result of sin, but the Lord Jesus has conquered death.

What we read is, the psalmist says, Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgiveth all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases, who redeemeth thy life from destruction, who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfieth thy mouth with good things, so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's. What a wonderful Gospel we have.

Before cure and healing is known, the infection must be dealt with. And what a wonderful principle this is. Sin entered into the world. Death by sin. The Lord Jesus came that he might bear the punishment for sin. And these wonderful truths are before us in this scripture. The Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sin. The root cause of all illness and death itself is sin. The wages of sin, we read, is death.

I experience in quite a simple way, really. About a year ago, I was grubbing out a blackthorn bush, and a thorn went quite deep into the back of my hand. And it's only the last few months it's actually healed up. It kept weeping and it wouldn't heal and did all sorts of things, tried to cover it up and no, it wouldn't heal over. And one time when it was a bit swollen up, I got a needle and started prodding about and out came a little dot, a little black bit of wood. I thought that looked very much like the end of that thorn that had gone into the back of my hand. And I managed to pull it out with a pair of tweezers, and now I've got a pink mark on the back of my hand, and skin's growing over it. Until the cause of the infection was taken out, it couldn't heal.

I had to come back to leaving myself out of it, coming back to the word of God, Until the Lord Jesus had given to this man the pardon of sin, which is the wondrous gift of grace, and sin, which is the disease of the soul, was dealt with, he could not have cured this ballsy disease, which was the effect. if he had not taken away the sin, which was the cause.

And besides all this, his curing of the disease is a figure of his power to pardon sin. Sin is the disease of the soul. And when God, by the wonders of grace, pardons sin, then the soul is healed of the sin that so easily besets us. Whether it is easier to say, thy sins are forgiven thee, or to say, arise and walk.

And these things, dear friends, are the fulfillment and a wonderful example of the blessings that flow from God's throne of mercy and grace down to this world and one by one God is causing His people to rejoice in Him. We read so many blessings that flow from God's favour.

And the psalmist in Psalm 65 says, Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Zion, and unto thee shall the vow be performed. O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. Iniquities prevail against me. As for our transgressions, they shall purge them away. And then the psalmist goes on to say, blessed is the man whom thou choosest and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts.

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple. That's where the mercy seat was, in God's holy temple. And what did God say of the mercy seat when it was placed there? There I will meet with thee and commune with thee from above the mercy seat.

What a blessing it is that when we come to God in prayer so often we feel our thoughts led to Him and motivated by Him and the wonders of salvation by grace can only flow from Him who is the source and giver of every blessing and favour that we can know here on earth.

Well might the Saviour say, whether is it easier to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins be forgiven thee, or to say, Arise and take up thy bed and walk. And then he says, But that ye may know. And all that congregation would have heard what he said, If there were any unbelievers there, they had a wonderful graphic actually happening whereby they would never forget if they were taking notice of it. This helpless man, who had no ability to make himself any better, was not only given forgiveness of sin because Jesus went to the root of the problem, but also He who is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that we can ask or think, blesses this man with a physical healing which shows his ability to save.

I say unto thee, arise and take up thy bed and go thy way into thy house. And immediately, this comes quite often in Mark's gospel, immediately he arose, took up the bed, the bed that they carried him on, that would have been in his way to go home, wouldn't it? And he folded it up and put it up on his back. And remember, no physiotherapy.

We well know that any of us who've had an operation, we need some exercises to get our limbs going again. well worth the effort. But to this man, immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went forth before them all, insomuch that they were all amazed, and glorified God, saying, We never saw it on this fashion.

It's worth noticing the awe. They all heard him say it. Those that could see saw it. But they all, insomuch that they were all amazed. No doubt those who were in the doorway made room for this man to go out. And they all stood back and they could see him go past, carrying his bed.

What a transforming power the dear Savior can have. in the lives of those who come to Him with a felt sense of their need to know Him as their Saviour, their Lord and eternal God of love. What wonders in the Saviour meet! And these blessings flow to us because He is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we can ask or think.

And so, dear friends, if we keep in mind this wonderful truth that when Jesus saw their faith, made God see our faith, it is He who has given us faith. And when we use it, surely it must strengthen our faith. Because we can look back and say with dear Jacob, he blessed me there. And as we look back over life's journey, we can see times when God blessed us, even when our faith felt feeble. And we were helped to put our trust in Him alone.

And for these blessings, we should give God eternal thanks. And so I'll leave you this evening with this inspired word of scripture, that when Jesus saw their faith, he said, under the sick of the palsy, son, thy sins be forgiven thee. What a gift, what a blessing, to God be all the honour, the praise, and the glory. Amen.

The transformative power of faith

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about faith?

How do we know the doctrine of original sin is true?

Why is the concept of grace important for Christians?

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The transformative power of faith

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about faith?

How do we know the doctrine of original sin is true?

Why is the concept of grace important for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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