Audio Gospel Sermon, "Form or Faith?"

Form or Faith? | The Difference Between Religion and True Faith | Matthew 23 | Pastor Henry Mahan (24 minutes)

Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbvnB7OyipE 

In this message from Matthew 23, we examine the difference between outward religion and genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ strongly rebuked the religious leaders of His day for placing emphasis on outward form, ceremony, religious duties, public recognition, and human tradition while neglecting the weightier matters of God’s Word: judgment, mercy, and faith. 

This message asks a serious question: Is your religion merely outward form, or does it arise from true faith in Christ? The sermon examines the seven charges Christ brought against the religious leaders in Matthew 23, including hypocrisy, seeking the praise of men, religious showmanship, making converts without true salvation, emphasizing religious duties while neglecting matters of the heart, outward cleanliness without inward transformation, and honoring past preachers while rejecting the truth being preached in the present. 

The message then turns from the negative to the positive: seven marks of true faith. True faith begins with: • A right knowledge of God as revealed in Scripture • A right understanding of ourselves as sinners • Understanding what God has accomplished for us in Christ • Believing the Gospel • Love for Christ and submission to His Lordship • A life shaped by the goodness and grace of God • Total commitment, communion, and ultimate conformity to Christ The central issue is not simply form, ceremony, religion, or outward profession. The great question is whether we truly know God, believe the Gospel, and rest in the finished work of Jesus Christ. “Let God be true, and every man a liar.” 📖 Primary Scripture: Matthew 23:12 “Whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.” 

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