SAVED BY GRACE - APPENDIX #2
Compiled by Keith Hunt
A NOTE ON PAUL AND THE LAW (Romans 7) From the one volume ABINGDOM BIBLE COMMENTARY, page 1151 we read: "Paul has been accused of glaring inconsistency in his language about the Law and in his practical relation to it. On the one hand he asserts its divine origin and character, its high ethical quality, as in v.12...... On the other hand he appears to reckon the Law among the spiritual foes of man; it is something to which Christians have to die as they die unto Sin.....THE INCONSISTENCY IS, HOWEVER, MORE APPARENT THAN REAL. It disappears when we recognize the distinction which was clearly present to the apostle's mind. That is the distinction between the Law as a system whereby the Jews had learned to expect that they could establish a CLAIM upon God's favor, could EARN his forgiveness and secure a righteousness of their OWN, and the Law as the expression of the moral ideals of God set before his people....... It was the Law....... as a system in which men trusted to establish a righteousness of their own, that Paul dreaded, criticized and proclaimed to have come to an end in Christ. Yet he saw it as something which had been perverted from its original purpose, though something which had not lost its original character....... he continued to regard the moral ideals of the Law as valid....... The Jew thought that if he kept the law he would be saved. Paul taught that man must be saved in order to keep the Law " (emphasis ours). ONCE SAVED ALWAYS SAVED? Amongst some evangelical circles is promulgated the teaching that once an individual has been converted or saved, it is not possible for him/her to fall away from grace. This doctrine is called "once saved always saved." After many years of reading the Bible commentators, I must confess I find it difficult to understand how this teaching entered Christendom, as none of the old commentators I have perused ever hinted that the Bible taught such a view. Likewise, among more recent commentaries, I have found total silence on this hypothesis. Perhaps, someone could find a commentator somewhere at some time who has written upholding this theory. Be that as it may - it would not alter the plain fact that the Bible itself, especially the NT, teaches no such thing as that it is not possible to fall away once a person has been truly converted. I ask the reader to look at and meditate upon the following scriptures, which clearly disprove the "once saved always saved" teaching. These verses show that anyone, after being saved, can, through different circumstances, pressures, and human weaknesses - if not relying on and yielding to the Spirit of God - fall from grace, slip back into the old man and again be entangled in sin and death, for a short, or long, or permanent length of time. MAT. 10:16-22; 13:18-23; 24:11-13; 25:1-13, 14-30; LUKE. 15:11-32; 21:29-36; ROM.2:6,7; 8:12,13; 11:17-23; 14:13-21; 1 COR.3: 16,17; 5;8; 9:42-27;10:6-12; 2 COR. 6:1; 11:1-3; 12:20,21; 13:5; GAL. 1:2-6; 5:1; 4:8,9; 6:1; PHIL. 2:12-16;4:1; COL. 1:21-23; 2:1-8; 1 TIM. 1:18-20; HEB. 2:1-3; 6:4-6; 10:35-39; 12:1-3,15; JAMES.5:19,20; 1 JN. 2:24. There are indeed more verses I could yet give - but surely the truth has sufficiently been shown. THE DOCTRINE OF ASSURANCE It may be asked, WHY, with all the Scriptural evidence to the contrary, is this peculiar doctrine of "once saved always saved" taught? Possibly it was contrived to try and give ASSURANCE to those individuals, who were still UNsure whether their sins had been forgiven, what repentance meant, what salvation was really all about, and unsure about their present daily sins and acceptance with God the Father. Because the NT teaches that it is NOT impossible to fall away from the grace and saving work of Christ, this does not mean a Christian can have no assurance or confidence. To the CONTRARY, a true child of God can have great confidence, for it is written, "And this is the record, that God HAS GIVEN TO US ETERNAL LIFE, and this life is in His Son. He that has the Son HAS LIFE...... " (1 John 5:11,12). Those who have truly come to understand what REAL repentance is, what Salvation is, what conditions the Lord lays down to be saved by His grace ( if you are still in doubt, please read again my articles "Real Repentance" and "Saved by Grace" ), those who have accepted Jesus as their PERSONAL saviour, have surrendered to the guiding work of the Holy Spirit in their daily lives - those individuals can come before the throne of grace BOLDLY ( Heb.4:16) and have ASSURANCE that they are a son or daughter of the Father. The apostle John was further inspired to instruct us HOW we can KNOW that we KNOW, "These THINGS HAVE I WRITTEN unto you (that believe on the name of the Son of God) THAT YOU MAY KNOW that you have eternal life...." (1 John 5:13 ). The things that John wrote in his epistles are, if we are doing them, our assurance, confidence that eternal life dwells within us through Christ (chap.3:24; 4:4; 5:11-12). The writings of John especially give us the ACID test - we can test our assurance by the things that John wrote. IF we are walking in the LIGHT (ch.1:6-7); IF we are of a constant REPENTANT mind (verses 8-10); IF we are, with the faith OF Jesus - He IN us (Gal.2:20), endeavouring to KEEP His Commandments, His word, willing to walk and live as He did (ch.2:3-6); IF we have NO HATE for anyone (v.9-11); IF we do not love the LUSTS of the world (v.15-17); IF we are not denying Jesus (v.21-23; Titus 1:16); IF we are not PRACTICING (as a way of life) SIN, but practicing RIGHTEOUSNESS (ch.3:6-10); IF we LOVE the brethren and serve them (verses 14-19); IF we LOVE God, which is manifested by keeping His COMMANDMENTS (ch.3:24; 4:8, 16; 5:3); THEN YOU MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING IN YOU (ch.3:24; 5:13). Friend, are you willing to EXAMINE yourself to see if you are in the faith, as Paul instructed us to do ( 2 Cor. 13:5) ? Are you willing to PROVE yourself against the acid test of the epistles of John, that you may KNOW that you KNOW that eternal life dwells in you? And therein KNOW that you are of the truth, and ASSURE your heart before God (ch.3:19)? That assurance can be yours. It is all summed up in four passages, chapters 1:8-10; 3:24; 4:16; and 5:3. Is there a sin, a commandment of God that you are breaking, something you are practicing that is contrary to the will of the Father - something that is separating you from God, that keeps you from full assurance? Maybe you have some IDOL, such as wealth, a job, a loved one, a friend, an ambition, or something else that is keeping you from fully surrendering to Jesus? Maybe you have not yet given your TONGUE over to the control of God's Spirit and you are still practicing slander, gossip, swearing, cursing, or profanity? Possibly you have trouble loving and communicating with your parents. Do you despise or hate someone - not able to forgive others the wrongs they have done to you? Maybe you have yet to stop practicing sexual immorality of one sort or another. Are you still not willing to surrender all to the heavenly Father and start keeping His Sabbath days holy? Possibly COVETING, lusting and greed for material goods or fame, is still a part of your daily life. How about self-conceit and vanity, or a quick temper, what about mental and physical laziness, do these still dominate your life? Whatever may be keeping you from having assurance in your heart that you are in Christ and Christ in you, then you need to cry out to the Lord in deep heart-felt repentance, ask Him to help you with His Spirit of power to cast away what needs to be cast away. Ask for HELP to SURRENDER ALL to Him! Do not deceive yourself, do not allow others to deceive you into just turning a blind eye to what John in his epistles has written for us, to KNOW how we can KNOW that we are of God. Do not be UNSURE - do not be deceived by the false teachings that it makes no difference what you do after you have been saved, or that the Law of the Eternal is "done away." or "once saved always saved." YOUR ETERNAL LIFE IS AT STAKE!! Listen to what John was inspired to tell us: "Let that therefore abide in you, which you have heard from the beginning. IF that which you have heard from the beginning shall REMAIN in you, you also shall CONTINUE in the Son, and in the Father......And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an UNDERSTANDING, that we may KNOW Him that is true.......And this is the promise that He has promised us, even ETERNAL LIFE" (1 John 2:24, 25; 5:20). Again: "But be on your GUARD, my dear children, against every false god" (1 John 5:21 Phillips Translation). As shocking as it may sound to many, ASSURANCE is not found in feelings! To just "feel" with your emotions that you have Salvation, that you have been "saved," that you are a child of God, DOES NOT BY ITSELF MAKE IT SO!! NOW PLEASE READ WHAT HERBERT LOCHYER HAS TO SAY ON THE DOCTRINE OF ASSURANCE: "As assurance is the spiritual birthright of every believer, it is their privilege and duty to experience and enjoy such an inner possession......it is amazing to discover that the Bible maintains a propound silence on feelings. The Concordance shows that the word is used only twice in the Word. and in either case it is employed in connection with our salvation......The word 'feel' is found in six places, but in no instance is it related to a true Christian experience. Our salvation rests, not upon fluctuating and fitful feelings, but upon the UNASSAILABLE FACTS the Scriptures present......There can be no assurance within unless there is the acceptance of the direct testimony of the WORD of God......Assurance is no vocal or audible voice or revelation of an angel, but of a condition of being secure, the willingness to take God at His word.......when with confidence we can say with the apostle Paul: ' I know whom I have BELIEVED, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day ' (2 Tim.1:12), all doubt is excluded. ASSURANCE IS A BIRTHRIGHT WE MUST PRESERVE and never forfeit. We must 'hold fast the confidence and rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end' (Heb.3:6, 14). Such confidence must never be 'cast away' (Heb.10:35). When Peter took his eyes of Christ and looked at the waves, he began to sink. TRUE ASSURANCE IS BUILT UPON A SCRIPTURAL FOUNDATION......... assurance is the completeness of Christ's atoning work...... Full assurance also rests upon the intercessory work of Christ, who is ' able to succor ' and also able to 'save to the uttermost ' (Heb.2:18; 7:25). God's own nature, imparted to the believer is our assurance. Christ becomes 'our life ' (Col.3:4). By faith, through grace, we become partakers of a divine nature (2 Pet. 1:4; 1 Pet. 1:23). Further, assurance springs from righteousness, not our own, but THE LORD'S (Isa. 32:17). Many are confident that all is well because of their OWN morality. But their assurance is FALSE, seeing all their righteousness is as filthy rags in God's sight. Only DIVINE righteousness can avail on our behalf, and when clothed with it, a blessed assurance becomes ours....... Assurance of an eternal salvation is based on UNDERSTANDING (John 20:31; Col.2:2; 1 John 5:13,20). Assurance is an INTELLECTUAL PROCESS whereby the mind is enabled by the Spirit to accept revealed truth, resulting in an emotional state, or a deep soul satisfaction........ Unconfessed, UNFORSAKEN sin can rob a man of full assurance...... We must exercise ourselves unto all godliness (1 Tim.4:7). HOLINESS is the SAP helping to produce the fruit of assurance......The devil rocks men in the cradle of a false peace (Isa. 57:21)...... True peace is the sister of assurance, and springs from our union with Christ and CONSTANT SUBMISSION to Him....... No man has the jewel of assurance who does not abhor the works of the flesh. Assurance is associated with true humility, while presumption is the other face of pride. Presumption estranges God from the soul ...... Assurance can be cultivated by believing all God says (1 John 2:23; 5:2; 5:14), by Bible study, by prayer, and by desiring all the things of the Spirit. Lack of love for the Word and ignorance of the indwelling presence of the Spirit hinders assurance........ No one can know if they are saved, unless they are prepared to be FULLY SAVED. Others lack assurance simply because they are unwilling to carry out the KNOWN WILL of God. OBEDIENCE TO ALL HE REVEALS results in an assurance nothing can disturb......... " ( All the Doctrines of the Bible, pages 204 - 207). ( emphasis ours and his ). Now that my friends are some true words indeed from the above book by Lockyer. Many need to read them again and slowly with meditation, for it is what the whole context of the Bible teaches. THE 3 STAGES OF THE PROCESS OF SALVATION THE NEW SCOFIELD REFERENCE BIBLE says, "Salvation is in three tenses: (1) The Christian has been saved from the guilt and penalty of sin. (2) The Christian is being saved from the habit and dominion of sin. And (3) the Christian will be saved at the Lord's return The GREEK of the NT makes this 3 stage process of Salvation very clear - some more modern translations of the Bible have corrected the KJV version and given the correct tense. "Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He SAVED US ( Gr. Aorist Ind. - ' has saved us ' ), by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Spirit. Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour" (Titus 3:5). "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish ( Gr. Present tense - ' are perishing ' ) foolishness; but unto us which ARE SAVED ( Gr. Present tense - ' are being saved ' ) it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18). "But he that shall endure unto the end, the same SHALL BE SAVED" ( Gr. Future tense - 'shall be ' ) (Matthew 24:13). WE AGAIN QUOTE FROM DR. HERBERT LOCKYER. God's perfect salvation covers the PAST, includes the PRESENT and embraces the FUTURE, as Paul so clearly reveals in his Roman epistle. "1. A Past Salvation Too many who have been saved are ignorant of the fact that their salvation covers the journey between their conversion and death or the return of Christ. Because He continues His ministry in glory, Christ's salvation is unfailing (Heb.7:24,25). Paul had this aspect of salvation in mind when he wrote - ' For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we SHALL BE saved by His life (Rom.5:10). Here we have a DOUBLE salvation - one by the DEATH of Christ, and the other by His LIFE. ' Reconciled to God by the death of His Son ' - this is PAST salvation. But Paul said 'much more': Is there something more than being saved? The apostle says there is - ' being reconciled, we SHALL be saved by His life.' The reference to ' his life ' does not apply to the earthly life of Christ ....... Paul then, had in mind the present life of Christ. His risen, glorified throne life. He ever liveth to keep us saved, to provide us with a day by day salvation from the POWER of sin, as well as its PENALTY: from sin's government as well as its guilt. This is the grade of salvation we are to exhibit (Ps.96:2), and represents salvation from the HABIT and DOMINATION of sin (Rom.6:14; Phil.2:12,13; 2 Cor.3:18). The question of paramount importance is, ARE WE BEING SAVED? Have we daily victory over the flesh? Do we reign in life by Christ Jesus? Are we more than conquerors? Is ours the OVERCOMING life? Or can it be that, although we can look back and think of the day we were saved from our guilty past, we are miserably defeated in the PRESENT?....... 3. A Prospective Salvation Paul must have had the FUTURE in mind when he gave us the third aspect or tense of salvation. ' Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed ' (Rom.13:11). This is also the grace of salvation of which Peter speaks, as being ' ready to be revealed in the last time ' (1 Pet. 1:5). ........Did we not receive salvation when we believed? Yes! Do we not receive salvation as we keep on believing? Yes! Then what brand of salvation did Paul refer to when he said it is 'nearer' than it was in the initial hour of faith? It is a salvation from the PRESENCE of sin, just as the past salvation delivered us from the PENALTY of sin, and a present salvation delivers us from the POWER of sin. We need salvation from the presence of sin within, and from the presence of sin around us in the world. When will this salvation take place? Why, when Jesus comes.......Returning, He will save us from sin within, giving us an unsinning nature like unto His own....... (1 John 3:1,2)....... we shall be saved to sin no more. With the redemption of the body ( Rom.8:23; 1 Cor. 15:51-54 ), the seat, source and seductiveness of sin will be removed....... The Church will be saved to sin no more " ( The Doctrine of Salvation, pages 161-163. emphasis ours and his). THE DOCTRINE OF GRACE I will take the space to again quote some passages from Mr.Lockyer's book on this most important subject. "The importance of a right understanding of this further basic Christian doctrine can be judged by the fact that 'grace' and its cognates, 'gracious' and 'graciously' occur almost 200 times in Scripture...... Salvation from commencement to consummation, service from start to finish, sanctification from beginning to end are all associated with the grace of God. From the first reference to grace in Gen.6:8, 'Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord,' until the last reference in Rev.22:21, 'The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you,' this glorious .......theme dominates the Word......None of the other fundamentals of the Gospel can be rightly understood, if the Biblical unfolding of divine grace is not fully grasped. PERVERTED views of grace mean perversion in all areas of divine truth. Grace has been described as...... 'Unmerited, undeserved favor'; 'A comprehensive word of boundless reach as it carries an infinite depth of significance signifying unlimited favor to the undeserving...' .......In Greek terminology CHARIS implies a favor freely done...... When used by the Greeks themselves, CHARIS expressed favor shown to a friend. When the word is applied to Christ dying for sinners ( Rom.5:8-10), it takes a leap forward for He expressed His favor toward His enemies. Divine grace is therefore more commendable than human grace (1 John 3:1) .......Grace is unmerited favor manifested toward sinners and indicates that the demands of divine justice have been met, seeing that the PENALTY was placed upon Christ. Grace introduces us into a new realm. Through it we are taken out of the sphere of DEATH into LIFE ( Rom.5:2; Gal. 1:6 ). By grace we are fully and freely justified. The Law said, 'Pay me what you owe, even to the uttermost farthing.' Grace says, 'You have nothing to pay your debt with. I freely forgive all.' The Law...... evicts, as a landlord evicts a tenant who cannot or will not pay rent - GRACE steps in, cancels the bond and relieves the debtor. The LAW reveals a sinful condition and CONDEMNS the sinner to DEATH - GRACE provides a righteousness the sinner could never attain (John 1:17; Rom.6:14)....... Grace comes to us from God. He is its Rise and Spring ( Ps.84:11; 1 Pet. 5:10; James 4:6). Grace flows from the glorious and transcendent nature of God. It is one of His infinite ATTRIBUTES....... Grace is an ACT, not only a favor, a gift revealing the divine character. Grace reveals what God IS as well as what He DOES ......... Those who come to know what it is to be saved by grace are not long in discovering that they cannot remain static . Grace is found to be related to Christian growth (2 Cor.1:12; Eph.4:29). We can not grow INTO grace but once grace becomes a possession by faith, we grow IN it. Once we are made the sharers of divine grace, then it becomes a progressive force in life ( 2 Pet.3:18 ). There is grace upon grace (John 1:16). We pass from one degree of grace to another degree (Ps.84:7; Phil.1:9; Rom. 1:17). Grace is not a seed in the heart that cannot grow, but a blade, an ear, then the full corn in the ear. Once we are made the recipients of grace we are not like Hezekiah's sun dial that went backward, or Joshuah's sun that stood still, but are ever increasing in holiness. There is a continuous unfelt progression as we journey on from the first measure of grace to the riches of grace. As the roots spread, the tree grows ( Col.2:7). Growth in grace is the best evidence of its possession. If we are not growing in grace, then there is something lacking in one's faith (1 Thes.3:10). Loss of spiritual appetite is a sure sign of spiritual decline....... How can we grow in grace? By using all the available means for such a growth. We must exercise ourselves unto godliness (1 Tim.4:7)....... Growing in grace we grow less in our own eyes. Growing Christians are HUMBLE Christians (1 Pet.5:5,6). Through grace we grow out of all selfconceit ( Ps.22:6 ). Grace subdues self (1 Cor. 15:10)....... As we grow in grace, the growth of corruption is hindered. The flowers of grace prevent the weeds of sin from spreading. When grace rules within the whole being is brought into subjection to Christ, and the Spirit transforms us into His holiness....... Growth in grace means a more spiritual frame of heart, and a desire to become more spiritual in activities as well as in affections. While it is possible for a believer to fall FROM grace ( Gal.5:1 ), he can never fall OUT of grace....... " (All the Doctrines of the Bible - pages 163 - 168, emphasis our and his). A SHORT STUDY ON FAITH ( excerpts taken from the book God's Plan for Man by Finis Dake). 1. The Definition of Faith The word FAITH is found only twice in the OT, but 245 times in the NT. The word BELIEVE with its various endings occurs 45 times in the OT and 268 times in the NT. The word TRUST is the other OT word for FAITH and BELIEVE. It is used with its various endings 154 times in the OT and 35 times in the NT. These words simply mean to CONFIDE IN, so as to be secure without fear; to flee for refuge to or to take shelter in; to put faith in; to stay or rest on; to rely on; to believe or to take one at his word; to rely upon the promise of another; and to put absolute trust in a person without any questioning or doubts as to his faithfulness. The Bible definition of faith is, ' The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen ' ( Heb.11:1 )...... 'Now faith is a well-grounded assurance of that for which we hope, and a conviction of the reality of things which we do not see ' ( Weymouth ) Faith is a union of assurance and conviction ....... 2. What Faith is Not The average person who seeks to exercise faith depends upon what he can see, hear, or feel. Testimonies concerning faith are usually expressed in connection with feelings and emotions, or the various senses...... All who take this road as the basis of faith will sooner or later be deceived. Faith should be based upon the Word of God regardless of any sense-knowledge, or feeling-evidences....... Faith has not the slightest relationship with feelings and sense-evidences...... The Word of God should have first place...... instead of senses......True faith is not trusting in the goodness and in the faith of another man. It must be personal faith in God and His Word....... The right program is not talking about faith, or the need of it, but the actual exercise of it. Simple faith in the Word regardless of feelings and circumstances is never possible to the man who lives only in the realm of his senses, for he believes only what he can see, feel, hear, or understand to be possible.This was the kind of faith Thomas had when he declared that he would not believe until he had seen...... The individual must come to LIFE and ACTION before he will realize the benefits of active, living faith that refuses to know defeat and failure...... 3. Kinds of Faith There are several kinds of faith mentioned in the Scriptures, of which the following list will be helpful in arriving at the kind of faith one should have: *Common Faith ( Titus 1:4). It is called 'mutual faith' ( Rom.1:12 ). This is the faith that is common to all men who claim to be Christians...... *Weak Faith (Rom.4:19; 14:1-23; 15:1-4; 1 Cor.8:1-13)...... There are literally thousands of people who spend much of their time arguing and condemning each other over small details of life that are not essential enough to mention in particular in Scripture... In the above-cited Scriptures it is clear that the Kingdom of God does not consist of meat, drink, and personal details of life that are not specifically forbidden in Scripture, but that it is ' righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit ' ( Rom.14:17)....... The Law of Scripture concerning anything that is not definitely for-bidden by God......is '...... Whatsoever is not of faith is sin' ( Rom.14:23 )........ ' but it is evil for that man who eats with offence. It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby your brother stumbles, or is offended, or is made weak...... We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let everyone of us please our neighbor for his good to edification ' ( Rom.14:19-22; 15:1-2). *Strong Faith ( Rom.4:20 ).......Abraham had this kind of faith: ' Who against hope believed in hope, that he should be the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall your seed be. And being not WEAK IN FAITH, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about a hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb (who was about ninety years old): He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was STRONG IN FAITH, giving glory to God; and BEING FULLY PERSUADED that, what he had promised, he was able to perform. And it was counted to him for righteousness ' ( Rom.4:18-22). * Little Faith ( Matt.6:30; 8:26; 14:31: Lk.12:28 )....... is the wavering kind ( Heb.10:23; James 1:5-8). *Great Faith ( Matt.8:10; 15:28). This is the true, unwavering faith... (Heb. 11:6). *Unfeigned Faith (1 Tim.1:5; 2 Tim.1:5 )...... It is simply genuine, and real and sincere in its every aspect...... is the kind that all honest, pure, and sincere men have. It is the unselfish, holy, and godly kind that naturally increases in the life of every true child of God, as he grows in grace and knowledge (2 Pet.1:4-9; 3:18 ). *Temporary Faith ( Luke 8:13 ). This is the kind of faith that believes for a while and springs up like a mushroom, but because of shallowness, lack of root it fails in time of temptation and test...... They receive the Word of God with great joy, and it seems that they are going to outstrip everybody else in faith, but after a few days or weeks they are not heard of again ...... They never fully come clean with God or make the full surrender of their lives except for the moment. They do not prepare the soil so that the seed can take root and produce fruit. Some teach that this can not happen, but it does inspite of the so-called impossibility of falling away from the faith and being renewed in repentance again. Some teach that one cannot fall from the faith, but Jesus certainly said that some would ' receive the word with joy, and these have no root, WHICH FOR A WHILE BELIEVE, and in time of temptation FALL AWAY ' ( Mat. 13:20-21; Luke 8:13 ). Paul speaks of these as those who ' concerning faith have made shipwreck ' (1 Tim. 1:19), as ' having cast off their first love ' by going ' aside after Satan ' ( 1 Tim.5:12-15 ), and as having ' erred concerning the faith ' (1 Tim. 6:21 ). Many Scriptures say that men can depart from and fall from the faith (Acts 14:22; 1 Tim.2:15; 4:1; 5:8-15; 6:10,21; 2 Tim. 2:18; Heb.3:6;12-14; 6:11-12; 10:22-28). Men are repeatedly told to continue in the faith (Acts 14:22; Col.1:23; 2:6-7). Anybody with common intelligence knows that he can disbelieve anything that he chooses to lose faith in, especially in things that are not seen. *Historical Faith (1 John 5:10-13). This is faith in the history or the record of God concerning the past and concerning His own work for men. One can believe the record of God to the letter and still not be saved. It is simply believing in the record of anything of the past. No consecration to God is necessary to believe history. *Mental Faith (James 2:14-26). Mental faith is similar to historical faith in that it believes history but goes further and believes every part of the Bible, past, present, and future, as well as all the truths of the blessings of God, but it does not ACT upon the Word of God. Faith without works is dead, being alone. It is passive faith or mere mental assent to truth. Thousands of sinners have mental faith in God, the Bible, but they keep neglecting the definite ACTION of obeying truth. *Active Faith ( James 2:14-26; Heb.10:19-38 ). This is the kind that ACTS upon the Word of God as it is made clear. James put it this way: ' shew me your faith without your works, and I will shew you my faith by my works '...... As long as faith is mental and passive no action will be taken to obey the truth. Men must get beyond the stage of hearing and into the act of DOING what God says before they get results. ACTIVE, LIVING faith moves to OBEY every truth of God to the letter...... You are commanded to be a DOER of the Word You are not to be merely a hearer. You are not deceiving yourself when you act upon the Word. It will be confirmed for it is the truth. It must be a living, active faith, not a mere mental passive something that all sinners can have....... *Wavering Faith ( James 1:5-8 ). This is a faith doubting God and refusing to believe. Truly to believe and to have faith is to act on the Word....... Doubting is to refuse to act on the Word. Unbelief is either refusing to act according to the knowledge that you have, or it is a manifestation of ignorance of the word of God. If you do not know, you cannot act because you do not understand. If you do not understand you are afraid to act because you do not know how to act. The cure for all unbelief is a thorough knowledge of the Word and consecration to obey it...... regardless of how impossible it may seem at the moment. *Unwavering Faith ( Heb.10:23; 11:6)...... We are told to ' Hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering ( for he is faithful that promised) ' ( Heb.10:23). Again, ' But without faith it is impossible to please him; for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him ' ( Heb.11:6)...... It laughs at impossibilities and goes on in utmost confidence that what God has promised He is able to perform....... *Human Faith ( Mark 11:22-24 ). This is simply the exercise of human faculties in having confidence and conviction that he can believe God, and that God is true to all that He has promised. All men are capable of faith in themselves and faith in anyone else that makes any statement of promise to them....... *Divine Faith ( Heb.11:3; Gal.2:20; 1 Cor.13:14 ). Faith is not only a natural attribute of man. It is an attribute of God....... The last passage mentioned above speaks of 'faith ' abiding along with hope and love, which means that these three qualities are eternal as attributes of God....... Thus it is clear that God has faith...... and men must have faith in order to please God (Heb . 11:6 ).............. 4. The Importance of Faith The Bible definitely declares that faith is all-important: ' But without faith it is impossible to please him...' ( Heb.11:6) ...... ' Now the just shall LIVE BY FAITH: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him ' ( Heb.10:35-39).... Jesus commanded men to ' Have faith in God,' and such is possible, or it would not be mandatory....... " ( The above was taken from the book - "God's Plan for Man" by Finis Dake pages 503 - 510, emphasis ours and Dake's). FROM FAITH TO FAITH Every person who is brought to real repentance must exercise HUMAN faith in believing God - that sins will be forgiven, that justification can be obtained through grace by the sacrifice and death, the shed blood of Jesus Christ. We must have assurance, confidence, FAITH in this promise of God the Father. Upon our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our personal saviour - our baptism in water - the Father has promised to give us HIS HOLY SPIRIT - HIS NATURE (Acts 2:38; 1 Pet.1:4 ). In so doing BOTH the Father and Christ come to live WITHIN the believer ( John 14:23 ). One of the fruits of God's Spirit is FAITH ( Gal.5:22 ), which means a Christian does not live by HUMAN faith but by the very DIVINE FAITH - the same faith that was in Jesus when He was flesh and blood, is now IN those that are in Christ , for it is written, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live: yet not I, but Christ LIVES IN ME: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith OF the Son of God ....... " ( Gal.2:20). God's Spirit is also His LOVE flowing into us ( Romans 5:5 ). God's love is manifested through His COMMANDMENTS ( 1 John 5:3 ). We need help to keep and stay in that right attitude of wanting to obey the Fathers' commandments - of and by ourselves we cannot do it, our own righteousness is as filthy rags to God - our help comes through Christ IN us. His FAITH in us, not our human faith but faith from Him imparted to us via the Holy Spirit ( Romans 7:14 - 25). We do the Father's WILL, we OBEY Him, fulfil His commandments, keep His LOVE not on our own steam, with our faith, but with the faith that HE GIVES US. We do not keep the Law in order to be saved - we are saved by grace through faith in order to keep the Law, by means of that FAITH which is given to us - DIVINE faith - the faith OF Jesus Christ. Truly it is CHRIST IN US THE HOPE OF GLORY ! And so we can also truly say with Paul, "Do we then make void the Law through faith? God forbid: No! We establish the Law" ( Romans 3:31). …………………………… |
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