1 & 2 Corinthians| Lecture 2 : BC304-1&2 Cor-20260814

All right, the recording has started. Okay, good morning everyone. All right, welcome to those of us who are online. Thank you so much for joining us. We are in lecture two. Yes? Lecture one, what did we learn? What is and what's the reference? Hebrews 11 verse one. Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Yeah? So, today we're going to look at what is that substance. Now, faith is the substance. Now, what is that substance? What is the substance of our faith, right? So, this whole lecture, lecture two, is about faith in Jesus. Everyone say Jesus. >> Jesus. >> Faith in Jesus. Yeah? So, we want to look at >> [clears throat] >> what is our faith or who is our faith in? This whole lecture, right? Okay. So, we have a lot of points, around seven points. Each point has a verse of scripture. Okay, so there's a lot of scripture for us to go through. Okay, every point will have one or two scriptures, okay? So, I want you to take notes, write it down and we're going to break down each scripture and understand what is our faith in or who is our faith in, really. Are we ready? Yeah? Okay, so let's turn our Bibles to Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12 and verse two. Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. >> Amen. Thank you. Thank you, Anne, for reading. So, Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2. Let's read it. So, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. So, the writer of Hebrews here is telling we need to look at Jesus. Why should we look at Jesus? Because he is the author. And he is the finisher of our faith. So, that word There are two words I want to look at, author and finisher. Author in the Greek simply means the chief leader. Chief leader, the chief pioneer, the one who goes before us. The one who knows the story. He's an author. How many of you have read a book? Yeah, behind the book there is a author. Right? So, this entire book is called the book of faith. And who is writing the story? Jesus. He's the author. So, you know, when Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1, when we saw yesterday, now faith is the substance. What is that substance? Jesus. He is the author. He is the author. He is the originator. He is the starting point of our faith. Bible faith is about putting is about looking to Jesus. He is the author. He is the starting point. He is the originator. He is the one that goes before us. Are you understanding? Right? Then, the second word is finisher. Finisher. Finisher in the Greek simply means someone who brings it to completion. So, Jesus doesn't just start the journey of our faith, but he's the one that brings it to completion. Another word for completion is complete. He makes our faith complete. You cannot put faith in God without Jesus. Without Jesus, it's only it's never complete. But with Jesus, we can finish. With Jesus, our faith is complete. Are we understanding? He is both the starting point and the finishing point of our faith. So, when you say I have faith in God, you have to have faith in Jesus. He is the starting point. He's the finishing point. He's the one that starts our faith. He's the one that completes our faith. Are we understanding? He's the one that finishes our story. You see, in John chapter 14, verse 6, Jesus says this amazing statement, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." See, every other world world religion will tell to find the right path. Find the right path in your life. Then you can maybe have a good life. Christianity, the Christian faith, the Bible faith is not about finding the right path, but the right person. Are we understanding? Bible faith is not about just walking the right path. We saw yesterday, right? We walk by faith. How do we walk by faith? By looking to Jesus. Because he said, "I am the way." John chapter 14, verse 6. "I am the way. And then in John chapter 14 verse 6 he says I am. That is one of the seven statements, seven I am statements in John's gospel. So this is not just a human being saying this. Where was I am Where is I am stated before? In Exodus. When Moses asked, "What should I tell my people who who are you? What should I tell the Israelites who this God is?" And God says, "I am." And Jesus is saying, "I am that God. Follow me. I am the way." In verse 6 in John chapter Sorry, in John chapter 14 verse 5, the previous verse, Thomas asked the question, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. Show us the way." Verse 6, "I am. I am that way." So Bible faith is not just you know, walking the right path. It's finding the right person. And his name is Jesus. So this is very important for those of us who you know, love the Bible, who want to live a righteous life. You know, don't read this Bible just to get some promises. Read this Bible to look at Jesus. He will take you. He will make you righteous. He will complete your journey. He will both start and complete your journey. You don't want to look back at your life and be like, "Oh man, I wish I did that. I wish I did this." But if you look at Jesus, your life will be complete. Are we understanding? So we put our faith in Christ. He is the substance. He is the author and the finisher. It's about following the right person. Amen? So every time, you know, someone wants to put their faith in God, lead them to Jesus. Always point them to Jesus. He's the only way. He's the only way to salvation. And then he says, "No one comes to the Father except through me." So, we cannot enter God's presence. We cannot experiencing We cannot experience anything about God without Christ. Without Jesus. You want peace in your life? You want shalom? You want to be saved? You want to be part of God's family? It is only through Jesus. Exclusive. I'm the only way. Exclusive claim. No other way. Every other way leads to destruction. Right? Are we understanding? So, follow Jesus. Bible faith is about is all about following Jesus, finding Christ in your life. Which is why when we pray, every time pray in Jesus' name. All his promises are yes and amen in Christ Jesus. Nothing is without Jesus in in the in Bible faith. It's all about Jesus. So, you know, as you journey through Bible college, all of you are first-year students, all these 3 years, find Jesus in everything you do. Every course you study, every class, find Jesus. He's the answer to everything. Are we understanding? Yeah? So, faith is in Jesus. That's the first point. Faith is in Christ Jesus alone. Second point. So, first point, all of us are okay? Yeah? Everyone is understanding? Okay. Can we go to the second point? Second point. Faith is based on relationship. Faith is based on relationship. So, let's go to Jane James chapter 2 and verse 23. James chapter 2 and verse 23. Oh, wait, wait, wait. Can we Can someone use the mic because the online Yeah. You want to read it? Okay, anyone anyone. Because I want the online students also to hear it. James chapter 2 verse 23. >> And the scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness and he was called the friend of God. >> Ah, okay. What is this verse saying? And the scripture was fulfilled which says Abraham believed God. Translation, Abraham had faith in God. Abraham believed. Last lecture we saw faith and belief, same Greek root word. So, when you say when the Bible says Abraham believed God, it says Abraham had faith in God. He put his trust in him. He put his belief in him. So, he had faith and because he had faith, look at what Look at his relationship with God. It was accounted to him for righteousness which means because Abraham put his faith in God, God called him righteous. Meaning God called him he is right in the sight of God. And now look at that. Look at that phrase. And he was called the friend of God. How many of you want to be a friend of God? It's through faith. When you have faith in you are a friend of God. He calls you your friend. Are we understanding? Faith in Jesus makes you a friend of God. The word friend there in the Greek, it's called philos. p h i l o s. Philos. Philos simply means someone who is friendly, someone who is familiar, someone who is a close companion who walks in step with you. That is who Abraham put his faith in. And God walked with him every step of the way. Even though he did not know where exactly he was going in Genesis chapter 12, but because he put his faith in Jesus in God, God walked with him. He was called a friend. And that is what God desires. God does not desire our faith to be a religious practice. God does not desire our faith to be some customs, some rules. Uh every day morning I'll read my Bible. Why are we reading it? To be a friend of God. Don't read it for the sake of reading. Read it because I want to know his heart. Read it because I want to know more about Jesus. Read it because I want to be a friend of God. Faith is based out of relationship. When God formed Adam in his own image, the first thing, imagine, he breathed into him, the first thing Adam saw was God. And he walked with him. That is God's ultimate desire to walk with each and every one of us, to walk to our destiny. Are we understanding? So faith is not some formula. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Not only that, faith is not just praise and worship. Praise is not just listening to a sermon. Faith is not just coming to Sunday. All of those are good things. They are part of our faith, but ultimately our faith should be based out of our relationship. We want to be a friend of God. Now, I want us all to turn our Bibles to Mark chapter 12. I told you we're going to read a lot of scripture. I don't know about the other lectures, but in this lecture we're going to read a lot of scriptures, okay? Mark chapter 12. You don't need to read it, but I want you to follow along with me. Mark chapter 12 verse 28 to 34. Okay, I just want you to go there. So, the scribe is asking Jesus, what is the greatest commandment? All of us know this, right? What's the greatest commandment? To love the Lord with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. Matthew says with all your mind. Right? And then the second one is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself. Then the scribe, look at verse 32. Then the scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher, you have spoken the truth, for there is one God, there is no other but he." Then look at verse 33, okay? Verse 33. Matthew chapter 12 verse 33. And to love him with all our heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself is more than all the whole burnt sacrifices and offering. See, the scribe thought to get to God, I have to do a lot of offering and sacrifices. He thought it was about him. He thought it was about how much work I can do. Are you understanding? Sometimes we think about our faith like that. Lord, I'm doing so much. It's not about you. Ultimately, what is the greatest commandment? Love the Lord with all your heart. He looks at our heart. Relationship. And then look at what Jesus replies to him. Verse 34. Now, Jesus saw that he answered wisely. So, the scribe is saying, Lord, are you telling me that loving you is more than all the burnt sacri- offerings and sacrifices? The Old Testament was all about that. You keep getting your sins forgiven by going to the temple and offering your sacrifice and offering. So, he's saying, and then in verse 34, Jesus says you have answered wisely. He said to him, you are not far away from the kingdom of God, which means translation, you are getting close to the answer. Are you understanding? Jesus wants our whole heart. It's about relationship. It's about friendship. So, faith is based on friendship and relationship. You are not far away from God. God wants to be our friend. He wants to talk to us. He wants to walk with us every step of the way. If you have your house, who would you give your key to? Would you give it to a stranger? No. You would give it to a close companion. Your brother or a very close friend who you trust. If you have say a roommate and you built a you built built a friendship and a relationship with him. In fact, you will give the room the the the keys to your own room. And then Jesus says, I will build my church and then he says, I will give you the keys of the kingdom. That is how much God wants to build his relationship with you. He will give his own keys to us. Keys of the kingdom of heaven. That is what it looks like to walk with Jesus as a friend. To walk with him closely. He desires our heart. He desires to speak to us every step of the way. So, what's point number one? Faith is in Jesus. Point number two. Faith is based on relationship, friendship. This should be our ultimate desire that I want to be a friend of God. Not just do great things for God. Which is good by the way. You should do great things for God. You should advance the gospel. You you should a lot of people. You should bring a lot of people into his kingdom. Do a lot of great things for God, but ultimately be called a friend of God. Amen. Are you okay so far? Are we understanding? Point number three. Faith is from the heart. Faith is of the heart. Faith is of the heart. Point number three. Let's read Romans chapter 10 verse 10, please. Romans chapter 10 and verse 10. >> Romans chapter 10 verse 10. Yeah. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. >> Yeah. So, with the heart, one believes. How do we put our faith in this Jesus? With our heart. And then second half, and with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. So, how does salvation happen? When we believe in our heart, and when we confess with our mouth. When we believe in our heart the gospel. When we believe in our heart, "The Lord, I'm a sinner. I need you." When we repent. When we turn away from our sinful ways, and believe in the gospel, that this Jesus died for me. This Jesus went to the cross for my sins. That is belief. Faith. But where does it start? In the heart. See, before you can confess with your mouth, you have to believe in your heart. Which is why we should not lead people by just saying, "Hey, believe in Jesus. Say, say, say, say." No. That's not the way we lead people to Jesus. First, they must believe for themselves the gospel in their heart. So, anytime someone wants to put their faith in Jesus, first it must start in their heart. Don't just simply tell them, "Oh, believe in Jesus. Say it." No. They should first believe in their heart. See, salvation is two parts. Once they believe, then you confirm it with your mouth. It's like writing your own signature. Seal. Okay, Lord, this is a done deal. I will confess it, because I I'm confessing what I believe on the inside. The confession of the mouth is simply a reflection of what is happening inside. Are we understanding? So, all of you are hopefully going to enter ministry or you're going to do a lot of work in God's kingdom. When you lead people, always lead them from their heart. That's what Romans chapter 10 verse 10 is saying. They need to You need to lead them from their heart, from the inside out. So, faith is always inside out. Start from the inside. They really need to believe genuinely, authentically, yes, that this Jesus died for them. Died for me. I'm a sinner. He came. He He went to the cross for a sinner like me. He defeated death sin. And now he's seated on the right hand throne of the Father. And he's calling all of us to him. They need to believe that in their heart. And then confession. See, God always looks at the heart. I always say this, God always looks at the heart. Right? He says to prophet Samuel, "Man looks on the outside, but God looks at the So, that's why when in Jesse's house, there were seven sons, all of them were trying to look good. Sometimes in ministry, you can do that. You can look good, but God there was a shepherd boy, David. God looked at his heart. And he said, "I will choose him to be a man after my own heart." So, God looks at the heart. Turn with me to Mark chapter 14. Mark chapter 14. You don't need to read it, just just follow along with me. Mark chapter 14 verse 3 to 9. Okay, so Jesus here is in the house of Simon the leper. Okay, that's the context, Simon the leper. What happens in Simon the leper's home in this passage, Mark chapter 14, verse 3 to 9? What happens is there's a woman who comes into the house with an expensive oil. Alabaster jar filled with oil. So, this is verse 3 to 9. You can read it later. I'm just summarizing. And she breaks it and anoints Jesus' head with oil. All of the people around were saying, "What a waste." This like more than a year or 3 years, I think, is what they 300 dinari. She could have sold this oil. She could have made a lot of money. But she poured it on his head. And look at what Jesus says. Jesus in verse 6, Jesus said, "Le- Let her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a good work." Everyone else in the room saw the outward. They saw the alabaster jar. They saw the oil. They saw the value of the oil. But Jesus saw her heart. That this woman has done a good work for me. And she has anointed me. Everyone else saw the alabaster jar. Yes, it's expensive. You could have sold it. Could have done a lot of things. But Jesus ultimately looks at her heart. Ah, this this woman really loves me. And so I will accept her offering. I will accept her sacrifice. She actually brought a sacrifice, but it came from her heart. And so, Jesus says, "She has done a good work for me." And look at verse nine. Look at verse nine. "Assuredly I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also be told as a memorial." You want to be remembered by God? Bring your heart before him. You want to have great faith? Let it come from the heart. Are we understanding? Yes, so beautiful. And that's why Matthew, Mark, Luke, all record the story because they would have heard when Jesus said, "Whenever this gospel is preached, I want you to remember what this woman did for me." And so, in Matthew, Mark, Luke, all the synoptic gospels, this story is written. She was remembered. You can almost imagine as Matthew, Mark, Mark is Peter's account, Luke, Dr. Luke, "Oh, yeah, actually we need to write about this." Because Jesus told. Jesus said, "I will remember what she did for me." Amen. So, faith is of the heart. Oh, you're already 9:30, only three points. Okay, fourth point. Fourth point. God calls us to live by faith. Fourth is, God calls us to live by faith. Let's read Romans chapter 1 verse 17. Maybe someone online can read it, please. Romans chapter 1 verse 17. Can someone online read it, please? Romans chapter 1 verse 17. >> Yes, sir. For it For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith. As it is written, the just shall live by faith. >> Second half of the verse, the just shall live by How do you have to live? By faith. The just, who is justified? We. How are we justified? Because of what Jesus did for us. We are justified. Because he is perfect, his perfect righteousness is upon us. We are called justified. And the just shall live by faith. So, everything you do, do it by faith. I'll tell you even in your eating, you can do it by faith. Shall I tell you how? Romans chapter 14 verse 23, very interesting verse. Romans chapter 14 verse 23. I'll read it for us. Romans chapter 14 verse 23. But he who doubts is condemned if he eats. But he does not eat from faith, for whatever is not from faith is sin. Even in your eating, whatever is not from faith is sin. Meaning, whatever you do without faith is sin. Which is why our parents have taught us rightly, pray before eating your food. So that you can eat in faith. Before you enter class, make a small prayer. Lord, I'm entering this lecture, speak to me. You're doing it in faith. Before you have a big assignment, before you have anything in life, make a prayer. Enter it by faith. Lord, I'm putting my trust in you. Wherever you're leading me, you do it by faith. Because when you don't do it by faith, very clear, it's sin. Are you understanding? So, faith is not meant to be switched on and off. Oh, one day I'll put my faith based on my mood, based on my feelings. No. No matter what your situation, circumstance is, you always live by faith. Always. You don't just cry out to God when you need him. When there is a sickness, when there is when you need deliverance, you don't cry out to God only when you go through a tough time. You cry out to God every time. That's what it means to live by faith. Amen. Are we understanding? Okay, let's go. Fifth point. Fifth point. How faith is conceived and nurtured. How you can grow your faith. How you can grow your faith. Romans chapter 10 and verse 17. Can someone read that, please? Romans chapter 10 and verse 17. Yeah, so then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. How does faith come? By hearing. Well, what should you hear? The word of God. So, how how So, whenever you hear the word of God, whenever you read God's word, whenever you hear God's word, faith is coming. Faith is coming in your heart. Whenever you read the scriptures for yourself, whenever you hear a sermon, whenever you listen to God's word, faith is coming. That's a absolute guarantee. Whenever you open this Bible, know faith is coming to you. So, question, how do you grow in your faith? By hearing the word of God. Right? Just as we eat every day, just as we drink, just as we breathe, we need God's word. That's how we can grow in our faith. That's how we can nurture our faith. Are we understanding? See, so faith faith can also come when the Holy Spirit speak to speaks to us. So, say for example, someone is praying for you and they release God's word over you, faith is coming. That is why when someone comes with a bad news, you go to God's word to build your faith up. When someone is going through a tough time, you speak God's word so faith can be established. Because when we are going through a tough time, faith is kind of small, not there. I don't know how to believe in God. What is one thing we can do? Go to God's word. So, whether it's healing, whether it's sickness, darkness, you're in a tough situation, finances. You're in confusion, chaos. >> [snorts] >> What can we do? Hold on to God's word. Faith is being established. That is why in church, we spend a lot of time in God's word. We have a time for praise and worship. But also spend a lot of time in God's word. How is the church established? By the preaching of God's word. A healthy church, a healthy ministry should always have God's word. Only then people can grow in their faith. So, for all of you who are becoming ministers, pastors, or you want to lead a ministry, please ensure there is space for God's word. Ensure that you spend a lot of time personally and in the ministry in God's word. First for yourself, build yourself up in your faith. And as you are ministering, you minister with God's word. In the Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, about 70% of the time that Jesus spent was teaching. He spent in God's word. He's only teaching parables, kingdom of heaven. Rest of the time, yeah, healing, deliverance, speaking against the enemy, all of that. But 70% I think it's 60 to 70% of his ministry, he spent preaching, teaching. He spent a lot of time in God's word. In Luke chapter 2, when he was growing up, what was he doing? He was studying the scriptures. He spent a lot of time studying the scriptures. He grew in stature before before God and before men. And even at the age of 12, Luke records Luke chapter 2, the the temple leaders were astonished by the wisdom that Jesus had. He was growing. So, we can grow in our faith. Are we understanding? Yes? So, faith can be nurtured. How? By hearing. Hearing the word of God. The Holy Spirit speaks to us. Faith is being birthed. When people speak to us, when people pray for us, that's why it's always good to ask for prayer. Because when they pray, they're speaking God's word. They're they're encouraging. They're speaking life. And so, faith is being birthed in that situation. Faith is being established in that situation. Amen. Are we understanding? Okay. Next point. Faith is in the word of God. Faith is in the word. Faith in the word is faith in God, basically. Is the next point. So, let's all turn our Bibles to Matthew chapter 8. Matthew chapter 8. We will see this account of the Roman Centurion. All of us know the story. But I just want us to focus on a few words there. Matthew chapter 8 verse 8 to 10. So, the context before we read this passage, the context is the Roman Centurion's servant is sick. He is not with the Roman Centurion. He's somewhere else. He is not physically with the Roman Centurion. So, the Roman Centurion hears that Jesus is in town and he goes to him. And then he says in verse 8, "Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only speak a word. Will you? Roman Centurion is saying, "Lord, just say just just release the word from your mouth. Just imagine that. Only speak a word and my servant will be healed." That's faith. He had so much faith belief that when Jesus releases the word, "my servant who is not with me right now will be healed." Verse 9, "For I'm a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and I say to another, 'Come,' and he comes." So, he understands how authority works. He himself is a Roman Centurion. Centurion simply means a leader of around 100. 100 soldiers. So, he can say, "Go, come." They they follow him. So, he knew that Jesus had authority like him. But authority to heal. Verse 10, look at this verse 10. When Jesus heard it, he marveled. Jesus marveled. Like I'm just wondering the expression on Jesus' face. He marveled. He marveled and he said to those who followed. So, he marveled at him. And then he's telling everyone else. He marveled and he said to everyone who followed, "I shortly say to you, I have not found such great faith." So, if you want to have great faith, you need to have faith in his word. Are we understanding? If you want to have great faith, you need to have faith in his word. In God's word. In his promises, in what he has said, in what he has declared. If you want to be a person of great faith, you need to really have faith in his word. I'll give an example. Or a hypothetical situation. If someone is sick, someone is sick, what is your response? What is your response? To pray to heal. What if he's still sick? Ah, good. What if he's still sick? Again. We will not give up until until we see. That is faith. Never give up. Don't allow physical circumstantial, situational circumstances determine your faith. Because we walk by faith, not by sight. So, yeah, in our natural eyes, we are seeing the situation. But I am driven by faith, and my faith is in God's word. Are we understanding? So, if you want to have great faith, believe in his word. Believe in God's word. Hold on to it. Hold on to it like your life matters. Hold on to it like no one can take it away from you. Hold on to it so much that it makes you a little radical. Hold on to it so much that people might think you're a little crazy. Because the situation is saying something, but you are putting your faith in God's word. Like Jesus marveled. And thing is, Jesus actually came to minister to the Jews. This guy is a Gentile, Roman Centurion. He's from Rome. But he understood something about this Jesus. Amen. So, as soon as Jesus released the word, "Go your way." He's healed. Amen. Okay, let's go to the last point, and then maybe if we have time, we can answer some questions. Last point, faith grows like a muscle. Faith can grow like a muscle. When you exercise, I see a lot of fit people here. I think you're exercising, but when you exercise, your muscles grow. Faith can grow like that. Second Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 3. Second Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 3. Can someone read that, please? >> I don't I think it is something because because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other. >> Ah. So, Paul is writing to the church in Thessalonica. And he is thanking God for them. Why is he thanking God? Because their faith grows exceedingly. We should thank God when people's faith are growing. We should thank God when we see people's faith growing. When people are exercising their faith, when people are declaring, when people are trusting. So Paul is writing to the church and he's saying, "Thank God. I thank my God because I can see that your faith is growing exceedingly, exponentially, increasing. Great increase. That's the word exceedingly. They're really following Jesus. So whenever we minister, whenever we we preach, whenever we minister to people, thank God when you see their faith grow. When you get a testimony, when you see how people are responding, how people are believing, thank God because their faith is growing. So faith can grow. And you know what is a great measure of a good ministry? When faith is growing. See, a lot of times we measure our life or our ministry by our finances, by our resources. I have a good speaker, LED wall. I have lights. I am global, YouTube, Instagram. No. The real measure is the measure of our faith. Is it growing? God delights in that. When your faith is growing, everything else will come. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and everything else will be taken care of. But first, you seek his kingdom, and in his kingdom is faith. It operates out of faith. Amen. So, thank God because your faith grows exceedingly. And the love of everyone of you abounds towards each other. So, as they are loving each other, as they are communing with with each other, as they are journeying through life with each other, their faith. So, in this context, in this verse, their faith, which means the church community, which means faith is not only individual, it's also a community. So, I want to pray for this batch. All of you are together. 3 years you're going to journey. At the end of 3 years, you should ask yourself, I hope our faith grows exceedingly as a community. All of you will pass out. All of you will, you know, do great things. But together. Can you do that as a batch? Can you be a batch of great faith? Yeah? Yeah. Be a batch of great faith. Be a batch that wants to grow in their faith. Who prays together. Who loves each other. And we will thank God together. That's our greatest desire. That's why this whole Bible college is in itself. To grow our faith. To be amazing, effective ministers. Wherever you go, whether it's school, college, work, start a church, be a pastor, evangelist, apostle, whatever it is, your faith needs to be growing exceedingly. Amen. Lecture number two over. Yeah? So, what did we look at lecture number one? What is faith? Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1. I told you, in the middle of of the night if I ask what is faith, you all have to memorize Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1. Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. What is that substance? Today we looked at Jesus. Lecture number two is all about Jesus. All about Christ. Amen? So, we have a yo, two more minutes. Next time I'll put more time for questions. We have two more minutes. If there are any questions, thoughts online or in person and then we will pray and close. Was this helpful? Yes? Was this Are we going in a okay pace? Do you want me to go slower or faster? Okay? Okay. Yeah, any any questions? No questions? >> Sir, I would like to ask you regarding uh um you know, loving God with all your heart and all your soul and all your might. So, how how does how do you love God um completely? What is the evidence that a person is loving God completely? Uh it's very easy for us to say like in in uh Mark Mark chapter saying that you know, you love your neighbor as yourself and you love um everybody. But it's a very uh you know, a tough thing to uh tough thing to do when it comes to a practical uh point of view. So, I just wanted to ask like how do you love your neighbor and my second question is uh you know, how do you love God God with all your heart? >> Yeah. Okay, great question. So, Sreelekha, thank you for that question. Sreelekha asked, "How do we love God? How do we fulfill the great commandment? When your whole life is consumed by him. When you go after him. When all your desires, when all your ambitions, when all your dreams, when all your words, when all your actions, when all your heart, when all your character is all about Christ. That's how you can love him. Matthew chapter 6 verse 33, we just mentioned that. Seek first. When Jesus becomes first, you love him. When he in everything that you do, you start to reflect Jesus, is how you can love him. When it will cost you. Just like the the woman with the alabaster jar. When it costs you. So, those are a few ways, but we will expand more as we go through the course, but I hope that has helped you, Srilatha. Uh we have one more person, David will take the last question, and then we'll close in prayer. David, please go ahead. >> All right. Thank you very much for your teaching on faith. Please, I want to ask First lesson that we learned Sunday. >> Sorry, David, I I I can't really hear you. >> Ask Pastor Niyi from the previous lessons that we had on faith, uh how it saves. How we are saved by uh through faith. Uh is it only through faith? Uh please, uh >> [snorts] >> I'm asking this thing from some of some of us who actually emphasizes on the need for faith and then baptism as a major criteria for salvation. Uh please, can you >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Yeah, I got your question. So, basically, uh you're saying how are we saved by faith? Because some people say baptism is a criteria. So, Jesus is very clear about this that you are saved by faith in him alone from your heart. Baptism, which we will learn There's another course on it, or I think we will learn in this. Baptism is an outward sign. Just like you confess. Baptism is just an outward sign of your faith in Jesus. So, it always starts from your heart and then baptism. Baptism is never before uh before what you believe in your heart. So, baptism is is only an outward sign, a symbol. A symbol like this ring, which shows that I'm married. It's like a sign. It's a symbol that you are following Christ. But, it first starts in the heart. That's Romans chapter 10, verse 9 and 10. Thank you. Thank you, David. Question. Shall we take it next class? Okay? Cuz I think people want their chai. So, we'll pray. Yeah, let's pray. Father, we thank you for this time. Thank you for this lecture. Thank you, Lord, for the course on faith. Lord, I pray for each one of us. I pray, Lord, that our faith will grow exceedingly, Lord. Lord, that you will be delighted when you look at our hearts and as we trust in you, in your promises. I just pray, Lord, that our whole our entire heart, our mind, our soul will be so consumed by you. We thank you, Lord Jesus, for being the author and the finisher of our faith. The starting point and the one who brings it to completion. We thank you, Jesus. In Jesus' mighty name we pray. Amen. All right, God bless you. You can take your break and I will see you next week. Thank you.