Luter proclaims the importance of living by faith in chapel message

Christians must understand the importance of living by faith, Southern Baptist leader Fred Luter preached in a chapel message at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College, September 6. 

In his introduction of Luter, President Adam W. Greenway said, “If you don’t know Dr. Fred Luter then you don’t know one of Southern Baptist’s greatest treasures. He loves the Lord and he loves the Word.”  Luter has been the pastor at Franklin Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans, Louisiana, since 1986. He was elected in 2012 as the first African American president of the Southern Baptist Convention. 

Luter gave thanks for the privilege and opportunity to preach at Southwestern before beginning his sermon from Matthew 9:27-31, noting that faith is necessary in the life of every believer.

“One of the most important disciplines for a child of God is to live a life of faith,” he said, citing Scripture passages from the New Testament that pertain to the importance of living a life of faith. Luter stated that the spiritual discipline of faith is crucial in every believer. 

Luter described how many people will put their faith in other people or things instead of God, including winning the lottery, in a political party, or a football team. “If you are a Christian, you must put your faith in God. God is looking for believers who will live their life by faith. He is looking for believers who will put their faith into action,” said Luter. 

First, Luter noted, faith involves timing. Quoting Matthew 9:27, Luter stated that faith is an action word, observing the two blind men in the story put their faith into action. “How many of you know God’s Word but have not put your faith and trust in God’s Word?” asked Luter. “Stop wasting time. Today is your day. Stop just coming to worship. Stop having religion but no relationship. Now is the time to put your faith into action. Remember, faith without works is dead.” 

Second, faith involves trusting, Luter preached. He noted that in Matthew 9:28-29, Jesus asked the blind men if they believed He could heal them and they responded they believed.  Reading from the text, Luter said it was the blind men’s faith that Christ honored. “Jesus wants to hear, ‘Yes, Lord’ today,” Luter proclaimed. “Are you ready to stop playing church?” 

Luter declared that anybody can say they have faith, but not many people are willing to put their faith into action. “Faith involves trusting,” he preached. “Jesus wants to know, ‘Do you believe?’”

Third, Luter concluded, faith involves telling. Observing that the men who had received sight from the Lord went to tell everyone, Luter said, “When Jesus sets you free and delivers you, you can’t keep that to yourself. When Jesus restores your peace, hope, joy, then tell someone!” 

Luter asked the gathering, “Has the Lord redeemed you?” and encouraged believers to “speak out! Tell others He has redeemed you from your enemies.” 

“Tell the world what Jesus has done in your life,” Luter exclaimed.

Luter’s entire address can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Seminary and TBC. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.live.