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.
GOD WILL NOT LEAVE YOU, BUT YOU CAN LEAVE GOD!
YOU ARE ALWAYS A FREE MORAL AGENT! 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
Salvation is a gift we receive the moment we accept Christ as our
Saviour. In the moment of our surrender to His claim, we
experience His Gospel to be the power of God unto salvation
( Romans 1:16). No matter how sinful we were in the past, in a
moment of time the red blood of Jesus makes the black heart
whiter than the snow.... Under the curse and condition of sin (
we came to know what it was to be saved from the guilt and
penalty of our sin, Luke 7:50; 1 Cor.1:18; 2 Tim.1:9).
2. A Present 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).
To be continued
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