THE FAITH OF GOD'S ELECT
There is an abundance of
religion in the world today; and there is much talk about faith. But I am
afraid that most people have little or no understanding about the nature of
faith. The faith of this religious world and the faith of God's elect, (that
faith which God gives to men and was manifest in the lives of God's saints
during Bible times), are two different things. TRUE FAITH IS MUCH MORE THAN
LEARNING DOCTRINE. Doctrine is important. It is essential. No man can be
well grounded without sound doctrine. It is not possible for a man to receive
Christ and reject his doctrine. But many men rejoice in the doctrine of Christ,
who do not have faith. TRUE FAITH IS MUCH MORE THAN
PERSONAL MORALITY. The Pharisee was rigidly moral in his outward conduct
(Luke
The opinion of modern religion is that faith produces
a life of health, wealth, happiness, and prosperity. But the faith of God's
elect, that faith which saves the soul, is a faith that BRINGS ABOUT A
LIVING
This faith is A GIFT OF GOD. It is not
mentally accepting a certain creed, or believing certain facts about the Lord
Jesus Christ. It is an inward disposition and active principle of the heart
created in us by the sovereign power and grace of God alone (Eph.2:8-9;
Col.2:12; John 1:12-13). FAITH RECEIVES CHRIST. It receives the whole
Christ, as he is revealed in the Scriptures: Prophet, Priest, and King. Faith
receives both the Person and Work of Christ. FAITH BELIEVES ON THE NAME OF CHRIST.
This is not trying Christ, or experimenting with Christianity. The sons of God
believe on Christ. Faith takes God at his Word and acts accordingly. THIS
FAITH IS GIVEN TO MEN ACCORDING TO THE SOVEREIGN WILL AND PLEASURE OF GOD.
The new birth does not come by "blood", your family pedigree. It does
not come by the will of the flesh", your own personal decision. And it
does not come by "the will of man", the desires and efforts of
others. The new birth and saving faith are given to men by the will of God.
"Salvation is of the Lord." Certainly, if language means anything,
when the prophets say that "Salvation is of the Lord", they mean for
us to understand that regeneration, faith, and repentance, as well as
redemption, justification, and glorification, the whole work of salvation and
every gift of grace is of the Lord.
Here are SEVEN CHARACTERISTICS OF TRUE FAITH.
Wherever you find true faith, you will find these seven things. Saving faith BELIEVES
GOD. Job said, "Though he slay me, yet will I
trust him". Saving faith LOVES GOD. "We love him, because he
first loved us." Saving faith WALKS WITH GOD. "Enoch walked
with God. Faith is not an isolated act of life. It is a principle of life. It
walks with God, trusting him, depending upon him, leaning on him, communing
with him, resting in him. Saving faith OBEYS GOD. "This is the love
of God, that we keep his commandments; and his
commandments are not grievous." Saving faith SERVES GOD. Isaiah
heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go
for us?" And the immediate response of his heart was, "Here am I,
send me". Saving faith SUBMITS TO THE WILL OF GOD AND GLORIFIES GOD IN
ALL THINGS. When Samuel told Eli of God's sure and just judgment against
his two sons, whom he dearly loved, the man of God responded in true submissive
faith - "It is the Lord, let him do what seemeth
him good". And saving faith DIES BELIEVING GOD. It is written,
"These all died in faith." True faith will persevere unto the end.
All who live by faith will die in faith. They will all continue firm and
steadfast to the end. They will not be moved away from the hope of the gospel.
Where there is true faith, there will be faithfulness toward God.
THIS IS THE FAITH OF GOD'S ELECT. Do we have this
faith? If indeed we have faith, we should be full of praise toward God. HE
GAVE