Faith is the Key that Opens our Hearts to the Grace of God (Sermon: Acts 7:1-8)

The focus of the Sanhedrin was upon the temple building and upon the customs of Moses. What they failed to understand was that faith was the means of having a relationship with God. And so Stephen directed their attention to Abraham, a man who was not only the founder of the Jewish nation, but who was also a model of faith.

Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast" (Eph 2:8-9). I believe that anytime we forget that faith is the instrument through which God saves us, we are inevitably tempted to depend upon our own works. We must realize that every good work and every act of sacrifice is to be offered to God as a thanksgiving for what He has done for us. We cannot help God pay for our sins, for even our most righteous acts are but filthy rags compared to the holiness of God (Is. 64:6).

The worship of God has always been through faith. It always will be through faith. Would you like to please God, then believe in Him.