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Sermon #9 — Habakkuk Series Title: What is
faith? Text: Habakkuk
2:3-4 Subject: Faith
in Christ Date: Tuesday
Evening — October 12, 2010 Tape
# Habakkuk
#9 Readings: Larry
Brown and David Burge Introduction: What is faith?
That is my subject. — What is faith? We often here people refer to
themselves and/or others as Òpeople of faith.Ó They speak of faith as a moral
virtue, or a commendable characteristic. Almost all of our politicians, even
the most immoral among them, claim to be people of faith. á
Some are Papists. Others are Protestants. á
Some are Methodists. Others are Muslims. á
Some are Baptists. Others are Brahmists. á
Some are Liberal. Some are Conservative. á
Some are Quakers. Others are Queers. But almost all of them call
themselves people of faith. When I hear, ÒHe is a person of
faith,Ó or ÒShe is a person of faith,Ó I take that to mean they believe in
something and practice some kind of religion, or more precisely, they believe
in themselves and are very careful not to allow religion to interfere too
much with their lives. Whatever the word ÒfaithÓ means in that context, it
has nothing to do with saving faith, the faith God gives to sinners, that
faith that is set forth in the Word of God. What is faith? ——
There is no subject in all the
world more important, and no subject about which there is more confusion. I daresay, men and women in our society are more
ignorant and confused about faith than about any other subject they presume
to understand. Proposition: The word
Òfaith,Ó as it is used in Scripture, refers to the God-given confidence
believing sinners have in the Lord Jesus Christ. Anything other than this
God-given confidence in Christ is not faith; but only a delusion of the soul. ÒInÓ and
ÒOnÓ Yet, even when we speak of
faith in Christ, few there are who understand what it is, or how it is
obtained. Several weeks ago, Bro. Todd
Nibert called to ask me a question.
He asked, ÒIs there a difference
between believing in Christ and believing on Christ?Ó I answered, ÒIÕm sure there is. Many believe in
Christ theoretically. (They know the doctrine of Christ and give assent to
it.) who do not commit themselves to Christ. They do not trust him.Ó Then
Bro. Nibert asked, ÒIs it possible
for a person to believe in Christ and not believe on Christ?Ó I said, ÒThat is exactly what I am saying. Saving faith is not just believing the doctrine
of Christ. Saving faith is acting upon what we believe. It is trusting
ourselves to Christ, committing ourselves to him.Ó We have a very clear example of
this in John 2. After turning the water into wine in Cana and
purging the temple in Jerusalem the Lord Jesus declared that after he was put
to death as our Substitute he would rise from the dead (John 2:19-22). Then,
in verses 23-24, we readÉ ÒNow when
he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his
name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit
himself unto them, because he knew all men.Ó (John 2:23-24) When the Holy Spirit tells us Òmany
believed in his nameÓ and then tells us Òbut
Jesus did not commit himself unto them,Ó
in the original language, the words are exactly the same. They believed in
him; but the Lord Jesus did not believe himself unto them. —— The word translated ÒbelieveÓ and the word translated ÒcommitÓ are exactly the same. You
cannot commit yourself to Christ without believing in him; but multitudes
believe in Christ who never commit themselves unto him. The same word is
accurately translated either ÒbelieveÓ or Òcommit.Ó The proper translation is
determined by the way the word is used. In the Word of God, it is
common for us to have the same word translated in different ways. The words
ÒeternalÓ and ÒeverlastingÓ are exactly the same in the original text; but
the word is used differently. That should not surprise anyone. Every language
has certain words that are spelled the same and pronounced the same, but are
used to mean various things. IÕll give you one example. In
preparing this message I thought it would be good to give an example. I
thought, the word ÒlightÓ (l-i-g-h-t), will be a good example. That word
might mean several things, Òilluminate,Ó Òmake visible,Ó Òweigh little.Ó Then
I looked it up in WebsterÕs Dictionary. I was astonished to read 88 different
meanings for the word Òl-i-g-h-t.Ó ThatÕs right, 88 different meanings! And
the only way to determine the meaning is the way it is used. Getting back to this matter of faith in Christ: — I repeat, many believe in Christ who
never believe on Christ. After my conversation with Bro. Todd, I looked up every passage in which the words Òbelieveth inÓ
and Òbelieveth onÓ are used in
reference to our Lord Jesus Christ. In every
passage the two English prepositions ÒinÓ and ÒonÓ are
identical in the Greek. The Greek preposition is Òεις.Ó It is a primary preposition indicating direction. Like the English words ÒeternalÓ and Òeverlasting,Ó
which, as I stated a few minutes ago, are also translated from the same Greek
word (αιωνιος). The translators determined which word to use in the translation by the
context in which it was used. Look
at a very familiar text — John 3:14-18. ÒAnd as
Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be
lifted up: 15 That whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son
into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be
saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not
condemned:
but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed
in the name of the only begotten Son of God.Ó (John 3:14-18) Here
the Holy Spirit gives us a clear distinction between two aspects of saving
faith. John 3:15 and 16 both indicate assent to revealed truth. But verse 18
refers to the believerÕs commitment to Christ by which we receive
(experience) free justification unto eternal life in Christ. —— We live by faith as we believe on, commit
ourselves to, the Lord Jesus Christ! — The devil himself believes in Jesus, as do
all the demons of hell; but on GodÕs elect believe on the Son of God. Habakkuk
2:3-4 With that as the background, I
want you to turn with me to Habakkuk 2:3-4. ÒFor the
vision [is] yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not
lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not
tarry. 4 Behold, his soul [which] is lifted up is not upright in him: but the
just shall live by his faith.Ó (Habakkuk 2:3-4) As we saw Sunday night, the
Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to use the words of verse 4, ÒThe
just shall live by faith,Ó three times in
the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38); but in Hebrews 10 the inspired writer urges us to
patience and perseverance in faith, telling us that the promise spoken of in
Habakkuk 2:3 is the promise of our LordÕs glorious second advent.
It seems obvious to me that God the Holy Ghost gives us his own commentary on
Habakkuk 2:3-4 in the Book of Hebrews. So letÕs look at the passage in
Hebrews, beginning with Hebrews 10:35. (Hebrews
10:35-39) ÒCast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great
recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have
done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little
while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.Ó Continue in the faith, confidently
looking to Christ, and you shall receive the promise of life eternal with him
in heaven. In just a little while the promise shall be fulfilled. Christ will
appear in his glory! This is the promise made by God through his prophet
Habakkuk. (Habakkuk
1:5) ÒBehold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously: for I
will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told
you.Ó (Habakkuk
2:3) ÒFor the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall
speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely
come, it will not tarry.Ó Go
back to Hebrews 10. Paul is continuing to explain HabakkukÕs words. (Hebrews
10:38-39) ÒNow the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my
soul shall have no pleasure in him. 39 But we are not of them who draw back
unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.Ó Paul has told us that Òthe
just shall live by faithÓ (Hebrews
10:38), and that those who have faith Òbelieve to the saving of the
soulÓ (Hebrews 10:39). Hebrews
11:1-6 Now, letÕs read Hebrews 11:1-6
together. Here the inspired Apostle explains to us what faith is, and gives
us examples of it. (Hebrews
11:1-6) ÒNow faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of
things not seen. (2) For by it the elders obtained a good report. (3) Through faith we understand that
the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were
not made of things which do appear. (4) By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent
sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God
testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. (5) By faith Enoch was translated that
he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him:
for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. (6)
But without faith
it is impossible
to please him: for
he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him.Ó The substance, the ground,
the foundation of our confident hope of eternal salvation is our faith in
Christ. And that faith is the evidence of our eternal justification and
everlasting salvation (v. 1). Faith understands what the
most learned scientists cannot fathom. Faith understands that Òthe worlds
were framed by the word of God,Ó for faith simply believes God
(vv. 2-3). Abel understood that the only
way a guilty sinner can approach God is by blood atonement. His brother,
Cain, did not. Cain thought that a man could please God and win his favor by
works. Abel believed God. Cain did not. Believing God, trusting the Lord
Jesus Christ, Abel had witness from God in his own heart and conscience that
he was righteous (v. 4). — God reckoned him righteous; and he reckoned
himself righteous because God did! Enoch understood that the
only way a man can please God and be accepted of him is by faith. So Enoch
walked with God by faith. And before he left this world, indeed before he
could be translated to heaven, he had this testimony from God in his soul,
that he pleased God. And, in verse 6, Paul tells us that the only way to be saved, the only
way to be accepted of God, the only way to walk with God, the only way to
please God is by faith, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. — ÒBut without faith it is impossible
to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he
is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.Ó Divisions: I want to answer four questions and I will be done.
What is
faith? There
are many forms of false faith by which the souls of men are deluded. Judas,
Demas, and Diotrephes all had faith. But theirs was a false faith. Many
people have a denominational faith. I do not say that their faith is without
sincerity, devotion, and zeal. But unless they have that faith which is
described in the Word of God, their faith is damning to their souls. James
tells us that even the devils have faith. But
what is that true, saving faith, that faith by which a man pleases God? That is the question I want to
answer in this message. There is but one true faith.
And you and I must examine ourselves and prove ourselves on this point,
whether we be in Òthe faithÓ (2 Corinthians 13:5). Faith, true, saving faith, consists of three things: knowledge,
assent, and trust. If we would be
pleasing to God, if we would come to him and be saved by him, we must know
the revelation of God in the gospel, we must give assent that GodÕs
revelation is truth, and we must trust him whom God reveals. The first aspect of faith is knowledge.
— Knowledge is not faith. Yet,
there is no faith without knowledge. Paul says, ÒHe that cometh to God
must believe that he is, and that he is the rewarder of them that diligently
seek him.Ó Faith in Christ
is a heart work. But it is not a leap in the dark. It is based upon
knowledge. In order for us to trust, there must be someone or
something known for us to trust (Isaiah 53:11; John 17:3). Two things, according to Hebrews 11:6, must be
known: (John
17:3) ÒAnd this is life eternal,
that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast
sent.Ó 1st
In order for anyone to have faith, he must
know the Lord God, as he is revealed in the Person and work of Christ (John 1:18; 14:6-9; Hebrews 1:1-3). (John
1:18) ÒNo man hath seen God at
any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath
declared him.Ó (John
14:6-9) ÒJesus saith unto him, I
am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by
me. (7) If ye
had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye
know him, and have seen him. (8) Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it
sufficeth us. (9) Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast
thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how
sayest thou then, Show us the Father?Ó (Hebrews
1:1-3) ÒGod, who at sundry times
and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
(2) Hath in these
last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom
also he made the worlds; (3) Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of
his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by
himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.Ó You must know that God is. You must know that
God is who He says He is. You must know that God is what He says He is.
And the only way man can know God is by the
revelation of God in Jesus Christ, the God-man, our Mediator (2 Corinthians 4:5-6). (2
Corinthians 4:5-6) ÒFor we
preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants
for JesusÕ sake. (6) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined
in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face
of Jesus Christ.Ó And 2nd
you must know that God is the rewarder of them that
diligently seek him (Isaiah 55:3, 6,
7; Jeremiah 29:13-14). — He
rewards those who seek him with mercy, grace, salvation, and eternal life! (Isaiah
55:3) ÒIncline your ear, and
come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting
covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.Ó (Isaiah
55:6-7) ÒSeek ye the LORD while
he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (7) Let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and
he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.Ó (Jeremiah
29:13-14) ÒAnd ye shall seek me,
and find me, when
ye shall search for me with all your heart. (14) And I will be found of you, saith
the LORD: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all
the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the
LORD; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be
carried away captive.Ó All who seek the Lord,
all who come to God by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, shall be rewarded with
eternal life and everlasting salvation. This too must be known. But how can we know that
God will reward every believer with eternal salvation? — By the Gospel
(1 Corinthians 15:3; Romans 3:24-26). (Romans
3:24-26) ÒBeing justified freely
by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (25) Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in
his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are
past, through the forbearance of God; (26) To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness:
that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.Ó (1
Corinthians 15:3) ÒFor I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ
died for our sins according to the scriptures.Ó á
The Lord Jesus earned
righteousness for His people (Romans 5:19). á
The Son of God purchased salvation for His elect
(Galatians 3:13; Hebrews 9:12). á
God has promised that salvation to all who trust His
Son (John 3:14-16, 36; Romans 10:9-13). This is the point I am making –— Gospel knowledge is essential to saving faith. And the matter of paramount importance in the
knowledge of the gospel is the redemptive work of Christ.
Unless
a person knows these things, he cannot have faith, he cannot please God, he
cannot be saved; but, merely knowing these things is not faith. Knowledge is
necessary. But knowledge alone is not faith[1]. Along with that knowledge, our hearts must give
assent that these things are true. — Many people know the truth. They have heard it for years. They have
been catechized and trained in gospel truth from their infancy. But saving
faith involves a willing, voluntary, deliberate, considered assent to the
truth of God. Faith embraces the
Revelation of God as the Revelation of God. (1 John
5:9-13) ÒIf we receive the
witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God
which he hath testified of his Son. (10) He that believeth on the Son of
God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a
liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. (11) And this is the record, that God
hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and
he that hath not
the Son of God hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the
name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that
ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.Ó At this moment, you are being
confronted with the truth of God. Your Bible is open on your lap. The truth
is staring you in the face. God is speaking directly to you. Now you will
make a decision. You will either embrace the testimony of God as the Truth,
or you will reject it and declare that God is a liar (1 John 5:10). (1 John
5:10) ÒHe that believeth on the
Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made
him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.Ó Have you now embraced this
gospel of GodÕs free grace as the truth? If you have, you are not far from
the kingdom of God. But still, there is something else necessary. Faith knows
the gospel and gives assent to the gospel of the truth. But there is more: —–
Saving faith trusts the Lord Jesus Christ.
A person acts upon what he believes; and
the act of faith is trusting Christ. Illustration: The Woman with an Issue of
Blood The Publican The Leper Trusting the Chair ÒHe that
believeth on the Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved, be his sins never so many;
but he that believeth not in the Lord Jesus must be damned, be his sins never
so fewÓ – (Thomas Brooks). Why is
faith in Christ necessary? That is
my second question. — Why is it necessary for sinners to trust the Lord
Jesus Christ alone in order to be saved? —— Four
ReasonsÉ 1.
No one has ever pleased God and been accepted of
Him except those who have simply believed. Hebrews 11 records the names of 17 men and women,
whose histories are well known, who pleased God. How did they do it? By faith
alone! Many others, mentioned in the Bible have perished under the wrath and
curse of God, though they did many good, commendable things.
2. Faith is necessary, because without faith there
is no vital union with Christ. Illustration: The
Grafted Branch The
Member and the Head 3. Faith is necessary, because God plainly declares
that works have nothing to do with salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). (Ephesians
2:8-9) ÒFor by grace are ye
saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9) Not of works, lest any man should
boast.Ó Illustration: Cain and Abel 4. Faith is necessary, because salvation is by
grace alone (Romans 4:16; Galatians
5:2-4; 2 Timothy 1:9). (Romans
4:16) ÒTherefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might
be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that
also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all.Ó (Galatians
5:2-4) ÒBehold, I Paul say unto
you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. (3) For I testify again to every man
that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law. (4) Christ is become of no effect unto
you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.Ó (2 Timothy
1:9-10) God Òhath saved us, and called [us] with an holy calling, not
according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was
given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made manifest
by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and
hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.Ó á
Faith
brings nothing!
How can I
obtain this faith? á
Not by Heredity (John 1:11-13). (John
1:11-13) ÒHe came unto his own,
and his own received him not. (12) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to
become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (13) Which were born, not of blood, nor
of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.Ó á
Not by Education. á
Not by Reason. á
Not by Ceremony! Faith in Christ is the free gift of GodÕs
sovereign grace. — If you obtain faith, you will get it by GodÕs
appointed means – Gospel Preaching
(Romans. 10:13-17). (Romans
10:13-17) ÒFor whosoever shall
call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (14) How then shall they call on him in
whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? (15) And how shall they preach, except
they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! (16) But they have not all obeyed the
gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.Ó If you obtain faith, you will get it by Divine
Revelation (Matthew 16:16; Galatians
1:15). If you obtain faith, you will get it by
regenerating grace and the irresistible call of God the Holy Spirit, by the
almighty operation of God (John
6:63; Ephesians 1:18-20; Colossians 2:12). (Ephesians
1:18-20) ÒThe eyes of your
understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his
calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
(19) And what is
the exceeding
greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of
his mighty power, (20) Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the
dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places.Ó Do I have true,
saving faith
in the Lord Jesus
Christ?
It is possible for men and
women to know whether or not they have faith in Christ (1 John 5:13). (1 John
5:13) ÒThese things have I
written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know
that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of
God.Ó If I have
faith in the Lord Jesus ChristÉ á
I renounce all personal righteousness! á
I trust Christ alone! á
I willingly surrender to the rule of Christ as my
Lord. (Luke
14:25-33) ÒAnd there went great
multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them, (26) If any man come to me, and hate not his
father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and
his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. (27) And whosoever doth not bear his
cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (28) For which of you, intending to
build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have
sufficient to
finish it? (29) Lest
haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, (30) Saying, This man began to build,
and was not able to finish. (31) Or what king, going to make war against another king,
sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand
to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand? (32) Or else, while the other is yet a
great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
(33) So likewise,
whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my
disciple.Ó Application: Mark 16:16; 1 John 5:10-13. (Mark
16:16) ÒHe that believeth and is
baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.Ó (1 John
5:10-13) ÒHe that believeth on
the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath
made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his
Son. (11) And
this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is
in his Son. (12) He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God
hath not life. (13) These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the
Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may
believe on the name of the Son of God.Ó 1.
Trust
Christ, and He will save you. – Indeed, if you trust him, he has saved
you. 2. Confess
Christ in baptism. – Follow the Lamb! 3. Children
of God, honor Christ. – How? By faith. á
Faith in Christ pleases God. á
Faith in Christ honors God. á
Faith in Christ is honored by God. What is
faith? Here is a sevenfold definition of faith I picked up
from a sermon by Ebenezer Erskine a long, long time ago. 1. Faith is the gift of God. It
is not the product of a free will. It is the operation of the Spirit of God
by the Word of God and is the parent of all other grace. 2. Faith has Christ Jesus as its principal object, for it is faith in Christ Jesus — our
Lord, Savior, Mediator, and Hope. Christ is the bread; faith is the mouth
which eats. Christ is the brazen serpent; faith is the eye that looks. 3. Faith is receiving Christ,
not just hearing about Him or acknowledging Him, but a committal to Him. Is
Christ meat? Then eat! Is Christ living water? Then drink! Is Christ the
refuge? Then flee to Him! Is Christ Lord? Then worship Him! 4. Faith is to rest upon Christ.
ÒRest in the LordÓ (Psalm 37:7). Faith is not an isolated act
based upon an intellectual knowledge of some facts, but is a trusting in and
resting upon Christ to perform all that I need. 5. Faith is to rest upon Christ alone! The word ÒaloneÓ is important. Most men, by nature, try to add
something to the sacrifice and intercession of Christ. God has established a
bridge of communication between heaven and earth by the obedience and blood
of Christ, and every other passage is blocked by the holiness and justice of
God. 6. Faith rests upon Christ as he is presented in the Gospel. We ask no other sign than the Word of God. Faith
is to believe the record that God hath given concerning His Son. — ÒHe
that hath the Son of God hath life.Ó 7. Faith rests upon Christ for salvation, sanctification, righteousness,
and full redemption! The goal of
faith is the salvation of our souls; and this our Lord undertook in the eternal
covenant and which He completed on Calvary when He cried, ÒIt is finished!ÕÕ ÒNothing, either
great or small, nothing, sinner, no; Jesus did it, did
it all. long, long ago. It is finished!Õ
yes, indeed, finished every jot; Sinner, this is all
you need; tell me, Is it not?Ó Oh, may God the
Holy Spirit grant you faith in Christ! May he be pleased to perform in you
that mighty operation of His grace, without which you will forever perish! O
Holy Spirit of God, perform that mighty operation in me continually, ever
cause me to trust my Savior, and thus believing Him to ever be found pleasing
and honoring my God. O gift of gifts! O grace of faith! My
God, how can it be That
Thou, who hast discerning love Shouldst
give that gift to me? Ah, grace, unto unlikeliest hearts It
is thy boast to come; The
glory of thy light to find In
darkest spots a home. Amen. Don Fortner Listen to sermons
at FreeGraceRadio.com |
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[1] ÒOf all the poison which at this day is diffused in
the minds of men, corrupting them from the mystery of the gospel, there is no
part that is more pernicious than this one perverse imagination, that to
Ôbelieve in ChristÕ is nothing at all but to Ôbelieve the doctrine of the
gospel!Õ which yet we grant is included therein.Ó – John Owen