R.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man): 10 Faith

Online Resource Library

Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | Download

R.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man): 10 Faith



TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 10 Faith

Other Subjects in this Topic:

Ch 10 Faith





I. WHAT IS FAITH?



MEANING OF FAITH IN GENERAL



Heb_11:1 RV — "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen." (Other versions read, "Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, a conviction of things not seen.") (Compare to verses 7, 11, 17-19, 22, 30 — "By faith Noah, being warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith .... By faith even Sarah herself received power to conceive seed when she was past age, since she counted him faithful who had promised: . . . By faith Abraham, being tried, offered up Isaac: yea, he that had gladly received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; even he to whom it was said, In Isaac shall thy seed be called: accounting that God is able to raise up, even from the dead; from whence he did also in a parable receive him back .... By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel: and gave commandment concerning his bones.") Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, a conviction (or proving, putting to the test) of things not seen. The foundation upon which this assurance of things hoped for rests, this conviction of things not seen, is God's word.



MEANING OF "FAITH" WHEN USED IN CONNECTION WITH PRAYER.



Jas_1:5-7 RV — "But if any of you lacketh wisdom, let him ask of God, who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing doubting: for he that doubteth is like the surge of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." Mar_11:24 RV — "Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them."



Faith, in prayer, is the firm expectation or assurance, free from all doubts, of getting what was asked for.



The prayer of faith counts the thing asked for as if it were already a reality, because God has heard the request and granted the thing asked, and what God has granted is as really ours as if we had it already in our possession in actual experience.



Compare to 1Jn_5:14-15 — "And this is the confidence; that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desire of him," and to 1Co_3:21 — "Therefore let no man glory in men: for all things are yours."



MEANING OF "FAITH" WHEN USED IN CONNECTION WITH GOD.



1Jn_5:10 RV — "He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in him: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he hath not believed in the witness that God hath borne concerning His Son." Joh_5:24 RV — "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth him that sent me, hath eternal life, and cometh not into judgment, but hath passed out of death into life." Act_27:22-25 — "And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship. For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee. Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me." Rom_4:3 — "For thus saith the Scriptures? Abraham believed God and it was counted unto him for righteousness." (Compare to Gen_15:4-6 — "And, behold, the word of the Lord came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir. And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be. And he believed in the LOAD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.") Rom_4:19-21 RV — "And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb: yea, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."



To believe God is to rely upon or have unhesitating assurance of the truth of God's testimony, even though it is unsupported by any other evidence, and to rely upon or have unfaltering assurance of the fulfillment of his promises, even though everything seen seems against fulfillment.



It is "taking God at his word." Faith is not belief without evidence. It is belief on the very best of evidence, the word of Him who cannot lie ( Tit_1:2). Faith is so rational that it asks no other evidence than this all-sufficient evidence. To ask other evidence than the word of Him "who cannot lie" is not rationalism, but consummate irrationalism. 2Ch_20:20 — "And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper." Joh_14:1 RV — "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me."



To believe in God is to rely upon or put confidence in God Himself. When we believe God, we trust His word; when we believe in God we trust Himself. When we believe God, we fix our eyes on what He has said ( Rom_4:20); when we believe in God, we fix our eyes upon what He is, upon His person, upon Himself.



There are two Hebrew words for "trust" and "faith." The first, translated "believe" and "trust," means primarily, in the transitive, "to prop," "to stay," "to support"; in the intransitive, "to stay oneself." The second word, translated "trust," seems to mean "to cast oneself upon." When we believe God, we stay ourselves upon His word; we stay ourselves upon Himself.



MEANING OF "FAITH" WHEN USED IN CONNECTION WITH JESUS CHRIST.



Joh_14:1 — "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." Mat_9:21-22 — "For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour." Mat_9:29 — "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to thy faith be it unto you." Mat_15:25; Mat_15:28 — "Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord help me .... Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith; be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour." Mat_8:8-10 — "The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no not in Israel." Luk_7:48-50 — "And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace." Joh_14:12 — "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father."



Faith in .Jesus Christ is relying on or putting confidence in Jesus Christ. It is the assurance that he will do the things sought of him or take care of the matters entrusted to him ( 2Ti_1:12). It is simply relying upon him for these things. What Jesus Christ is relied upon for varies in different cases. (In the several cases cited above, it was for care, healing, sight, help, the healing of another, pardon, and power.) What he is relied on for, that he will do. Mat_9:29 — "Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you."



Relying on Christ for healing brings healing, relying on Christ for help brings help, relying on Christ for pardon brings pardon, relying on Christ for power brings power, relying on Christ for victory brings victory. What we have a right to rely on him for is determined by his character and his definite promise.



II. SAVING FAITH.



THE CHARACTER OF SAVING FAITH, OR HOW WE MUST BELIEVE IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.



Rom_10:9-10 — "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the (lead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."



First Proposition: Saving faith is believing with the heart.



In order to be saved we must believe with the heart. In the Bible the heart stands for thought, feelings, and will. A heart-faith, then, is a faith that rules the thought, the feelings, and the will. The manifestation of heart-faith is action in the direction of that which is believed.



Compare to Heb_11:7-8; Heb_11:17; Heb_11:19-20; Heb_11:22; Heb_11:24-26; Heb_11:28 — "By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went .... By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son ....



Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come .... By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones .... By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward .... Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them."



Compare also to Rom_4:18-21 RV — "Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old) and the deadness of Sarah's womb: yea, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform." Jas_2:14; Jas_2:21-22; Jas_2:25 RV — "What doth it profit, my brethren, if a man say he hath faith, but have not works?... Was not Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son upon the altar? Thou seest that faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect; . . . And in like manner was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works, in that she received the messengers, and sent them out another way?"



Second Proposition: Saving faith is a faith that works by doing that which the one who is believed in bids us do. Gal_5:6 — -"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love."



Third Proposition: Saving faith is faith that works by love. Joh_1:12 — "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."



Fourth Proposition: Saving faith is faith that receives Jesus Christ as He comes to us, and for all that He offers Himself to be.



He offers Himself as our sin-bearer and our deliverer from sin's power ( Joh_8:34; Joh_8:36). Saving faith accepts Him as such and rests all its hope for pardon on His atoning blood. Saving Faith relies utterly upon Him and expects Him to give deliverance. He offers Himself as our Teacher and Lord ( Joh_13:13). Saving Faith accepts Him as such and surrenders the mind unreservedly to His teaching and the life to His absolute control. 2Ti_1:12 — "For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed; for 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."



Fifth Proposition: Saving faith is faith that commits to Jesus Christ. Rom_10:13-14 "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed?" etc.



Sixth Proposition: Saving faith is a faith that calls upon the name of the Lord.



The context plainly shows that the Lord here is the Lord Jesus Christ (v. RV). To call on His name implies: (a) a deep recognition of our need of salvation; (b) an earnest desire to be saved; (c) an utter casting away of hope in any other way of salvation; and (d) a hope that He will save. The faith that recognizes our own lost condition, earnestly desires salvation, casts away all hope in any one or any thing but the Lord Jesus, and hopes (or has the assurance) that He will save, and puts Him to the test by crying to him, is the leith that saves. Rom_10:9 RV — "Because if thou shah confess with thy mouth Jesus as Lord, and shalt believe in thy heart that God raised him from the dead, thou shah be saved."



Seventh Proposition: Saving faith is faith that confesses Jesus as Lord. Heb_10:38-39 RV — "But my righteous one shall live by faith:



And if he shrink back, my soul hath no pleasure in him. But we are not of them that shrink back unto perdition; but of them that have faith unto the saving of the soul." (See the context, verses 32-37.)



Eighth Proposition: Saving faith is faith that does not shrink bach from professing and serving Jesus in danger and trial.



THE CONTENTS OF SAVING FAITH, OR WHAT WE MUST BELIEVE IN ORDER TO BE SAVED.



Joh_20:31 — "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.



Ninth Proposition: In order that we may have life we must believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God. (Compare to 1Jn_5:1.) Of course this must be a heart-faith, a faith that leads to action along the lines of that which is believed. Not merely a theological opinion that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, but a degree of assurance or conviction strong enough to lead us to trust in him, and to submit our thoughts, feelings, purposes, and lives to His control. Rom_1:16 — "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."



Tenth Proposition: In order to be saved, we must believe the gospel.



QUESTION: What is the gospel?



ANSWER: 1Co_15:1-11 "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the Scriptures." (See also Rom_1:17-25.)



The gospel is that "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures .... was buried .... and rose again." This we must believe in order to be saved.



This involves faith in Him as the Christ, the Son of God. ( Rom_1:4 "And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.") Faith that He died for our sins brings pardon, and faith that he rose again brings deliverance from sin's power. Of course, this also must be a heartfaith. Rom_10:9 — "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved."



Eleventh Proposition: In order to be saved, we must believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.



This involves faith in His divinity ( Rom_1:4), in His propitiatory death and God's acceptance of it ( Rom_4:25), in His intercession for us ( Heb_7:25), and in His power to deliver us from sin. Luk_7:48-50 — "And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven. And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also? And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace."



Twelfth Proposition: In order to be saved, we must believe that Jesus can and will forgive our sin.



This faith involves faith in the divinity of Jesus, for God alone can forgive sin.



III. HOW FAITH IS MANIFESTED. Mar_2:3-5 — "And they came unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee."



First Proposition: Faith in Jesus is manifested by our bringing to Him our needs and surmounting all the obstacles that lie between us and Him. Mat_15:22-28 — "And, behold, a woman of Canaan came out of the same coasts, and cried unto him, saying, have mercy on me, O Lord, thou Son of David; my daughter is grievously vexed with a devil. But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me. But he answered and said, It is not meet to take the children's bread, and cast it to dogs. And she said, Truth, Lord: yet the dogs eat of the crumbs which fall from their master's table.



Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour."



Second Proposition: Faith in Jesus is manifested by our holding on to Jesus for the desired blessing in the face of discouragement, even in the face of His apparent refusal to bestow it. Act_11:19; Act_11:21 RV — "They therefore that were scattered abroad upon the tribulation that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, speaking the word to none save only Jews .... And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number that believed turned unto the Lord."



Third Proposition: Faith in God's word is manifested by men turning to the lord. Heb_11:8; Heb_11:17 — "By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after received for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went .... By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son."



Fourth Proposition: Faith is manifested by prompt and exact obedience to the commandments of Him who is believed in, simply because He commands, even when we don't know the purpose of His command, nor the outcome of obedience. Heb_11:17-19 — "By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:



Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure." Rom_4:18-21 RV — "Who in hope believed against hope, to the end that he might become a father of many nations, according to that which had been spoken, So shall thy seed be. And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb: yea, looking unto the promise of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform."



Fifth Proposition: Faith is manifested by a disregard for the difficulties that lie in the way of the fulfillment of God's promises. (Compare to Num_13:31-33; Num_14:6-9.) Difficulties are nothing to one who believes in God and His word: God is mightier than all obstacles, and His word is sure in face of all apparent impossibility of fulfillment. Heb_11:27 — "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible."



Sixth Proposition: Faith is manifested by steadfastness in the path God points out in the face of obstacles, peril, and apparent loss. Heb_11:24-26 — -"By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.



Seventh Proposition: Faith is manifested by the sacrifice of present transient advantage, for the sake of future permanent advantage. Heb_11:20-21 — "By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff." (Compare to Gen_27:27-29 — "And he came near, and kissed him: and he smelled the smell of his raiment, and blessed him, and said, See, the smell of my son is as the smell of a field which the LORD hath blessed:



Therefore God give thee of the dew of heaven, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: let people serve thee, and nations bow down to thee: be lord over thy brother, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee .... And Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept. And Isaac his father answered and said unto him, Behold, thy dwelling shall be the fatness of the earth, and of the dew of heaven from above; and by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck."



Compare, also, to Gen_48:5-20 — "And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt, before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine: as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine. And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance: and as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Beth-lehem. And Israel beheld Joseph's sons, and said, "Who are these? And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them. Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them. And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, look God hath shewed me also thy seed. And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth. And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel's left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel's right hand, and brought them near unto him.



And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim's head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh's head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the first born. And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day, the Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth. And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father's hand, to remove it from Ephraim's head unto Manasseh's head. And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head. And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great; but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations. And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.") Eighth Proposition: Faith is manifested by large expectations based on God's large promises, even though as yet nothing may be seen.



IV. THE RESULTS OF FAITH. Eph_2:8 — "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God."



First Proposition: We are saved through faith.



Salvation is God's free gift; faith appropriates to itself this gift freely offered to all. Rom_1:16 — -"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." The gospel has power to save, but that power is displayed only in those who believe. (See, also, 1Ti_4:10 — "For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe.") Salvation is a manifold process, but every factor in it depends on faith. ( Act_10:43 — "To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.") We receive remission of sins through faith. God offers forgiveness to all men on the grounds of the shed blood of Christ. The one who believes appropriates to himself individually this universal offer of salvation. Rom_5:1 — "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Gal_3:13 — "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree."



We are justified by faith. On the ground of Christ's having been made a curse for us, God offers justification to us. This offer is appropriated by faith. Joh_20:31 — "But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name."



We receive eternal life through believing. Belief in Him who is the life ( Joh_14:6) makes that life ours. Life is in Him ( 1Jn_5:11); by our believing in Him, this life enters into us. Joh_1:12 RV — "But as many as received him, to them gave he the right to become children of God, even to them that believe on his name." Gal_3:26 — "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."



We receive the right to become sons of God by faith. In His only begotten Son, God makes to man the offer of adoption into His family. We appropriate this offer to ourselves by believing in His name. 2Pe_1:4 "Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (see context, verse 5.)



We become partakers of the divine nature through faith in the exceeding great and precious promises of God. Act_26:18 — "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me."



We are sanctified by faith. God offers to us in His word sanctifying grace.



By faith we appropriate this sanctifying grace to ourselves. Act_15:9 — "And put no difference between us and them purifying their hearts by faith."



Our hearts are cleansed by faith. There is heart-cleansing power in the word of God. (Compare to <19B909> Psa_119:9, l l — "Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.") Christ dwells in our hearts through faith(see Eph_3:17 RV — "That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith . . ."). God presents Christ to us by His Spirit through the word. Faith lays hold upon Christ thus presented and He comes to dwell in our heart and work all His glorious work within. 1Pe_1:5 — "Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."



We are kept through faith by the power of God unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. God provides keeping, His own almighty power to keep. Faith simply lays hold of the almighty, power divinely provided. 2Co_1:24 "Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand."



We stand by faith. By faith we enter into or appropriate to ourselves the grace of God wherein we stand. Rom_5:2 — "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." 1Jn_5:4-5 — "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" Eph_6:16 RV — "Withal taking up the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one."



By faith we get the victory over the world and over the evil one. God freely provides for us and offers to us overcoming grace in Jesus Christ. By faith we appropriate this overcoming grace to ourselves. Heb_4:1-3 — "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto you was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world."



We enter into rest by faith. From beginning to end, at every step, salvation is by faith. God freely offers to us in Jesus Christ a manifold salvation; forgiveness, justification, eternal life, the right to be His sons, participation in His own nature, sanctification, heart-cleansing, an indwelling Christ, keeping unto a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time, power to stand, victory over the world and the evil one, rest. We appropriate to ourselves every item in this salvation by faith. By grace are we saved through faith from first to last. Mat_9:22; Mat_9:29 — "But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.... Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you." Jas_5:14-15 — "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him."



Second Proposition: We receive physical healing through faith.



God has provided for us and offers to us physical healing and strength in Jesus Christ. Mat_8:16-17 — "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.'' We appropriate it to ourselves by faith. We miss it by our unbelief. Mar_6:5-6 — "And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hand on a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching." Joh_12:46 — "I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness."



Third Proposition: We pass out of spiritual darkness into light by faith in Christ.



By nature we are all in darkness and children of darkness. God sends Jesus into the world to be "the light of the world" ( Joh_8:12). The light there is in him, the light He Himself is, streams into our hearts when we believe in Him ( Joh_12:36). Faith opens the window and lets the light in. Joh_14:1 RV — "Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me."



Fourth Proposition: We are delivered from all anxiety of heart by faith, faith in God and Jesus Christ. (Compare to Isa_26:3.) Joh_6:35 — "And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never' thirst."



Fifth Proposition: We are fully and forever satisfied through faith in Jesus.



God has provided for us and offers to us full satisfaction for every desire of our spirits in Jesus; by faith we appropriate this satisfaction to ourselves. 1Pe_1:8 RV — "Whom not having seen ye love; on whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory."



Sixth Proposition: Through faith in Jesus Christ, we rejoice greatly with joy unspeakable and full of glory.



In no other way can we get such joy. Joh_7:38-39 — "He that believeth on me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spake he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: for the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)" Seventh Proposition: Through faith in Jesus Christ, we become fountains from which rivers of living water flow.



This is through the Holy Spirit who is given to those who believe in Jesus Christ. God has given to the crucified, risen, and glorified Jesus His Spirit for His body, the church ( Joh_7:39; Joh_14:12; Act_2:33). We appropriate this promise of God by faith. The Spirit comes upon us and makes us fountains of living water. Mat_21:22 — "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." Jas_1:5-7 — "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.



But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." Mar_11:24 RV — "Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye have received them, and ye shall have them."



Eighth Proposition: We receive the answer to our prayers when we have faith that we have received.



God is willing to answer prayer. But He demands, as a condition of answering, that we shall believe His naked promise and believe the prayer is heard and that the thing asked is ours. Mat_21:21 — "Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done." Joh_14:12 — "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father." Heb_11:32-34 "And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah; of David also, and of Samuel, and of the prophets: who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens."



Ninth Proposition: We receive power to work wonders through faith in God and Jesus Christ. "Power belongeth unto God" (Psa_62:11). But the power that belongs to God is at the disposal of His children. We lay hold of it by faith. God's power is the reservoir, our faith is the supply pipe; therefore, according to our faith is our experience of the possession of God's power ( Mat_9:29). Unbelief limits our power, or rather the flow of God's power into us. Mat_17:19-20 — "Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove: and nothing shall be impossible unto you."



John 1 1:40 — "Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"



If we believe, we shall see the glory of God. It is our wretched unbelief that is shutting many of us out of seeing it in our own lives. Heb_6:12 — "That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promise." Luk_1:45 RV — "And blessed is she that believed; for there shall be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord."



Tenth Proposition: Through faith we receive the fulfillment of God's promises.



The actual enjoyment of God's promises is conditioned upon our belief of them. No matter how explicit a promise may be, the thing promised becomes ours only upon condition of our believing the promise. Jas_1:5-7 — "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.



But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering: for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord."



The promises are for us; they are all yes and amen in Christ ( Corinthians 1:20), but they become actually and experimentally ours only as we reach out the hand of faith and appropriate them to ourselves. As far as we believe we receive ( Mar_11:24 RV). We get what we believe for ( Heb_4:1-2 — "Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.") The fulness of God's blessing is for those who claim it and in so far as they claim it. Jos_1:3 — "Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses." Mar_9:23 — "Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth."



Eleventh Proposition: All things are possible for him that believes.



By faith we lay hold of God and His almightiness. Faith can do anything God can do.



V. HOW TO GET FAITH. Rom_12:3 — "For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." 1Co_12:4; 1Co_12:8-9 — "Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ... For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit." 1Co_2:4-5 — "And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."



First Proposition: Faith is God's gift.



Like all of God's gifts, it is at the disposal of all who wish it, for God shows no partiality among people. It is given through a certain instrument that is within reach of all and upon certain conditions that any of us can fulfill. Rom_10:17 — "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Act_4:4 "Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand."



Second Proposition: The word of God is the instrument God has appointed for, and that he uses in, imparting faith.



This is true of saving faith. When Paul and Silas told the Philippian jailer to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and he would be saved, they immediately spoke the word of the Lord to him ( Act_16:31-32).



It is true of the faith that prevails in prayer. If we wish to believe that our prayer is heard, we should search the promises of God and just rest our faith on them. Feeding on the word makes a mighty man of prayer.



It is true of faith in all its aspects. Faith comes through the word and grows by feeding upon the word. If we wish others to have faith we should give them the word of God. If we wish faith ourselves, we should feed on the word of God ( 2Ti_3:15; Jas_1:21; Joh_20:31). No amount of praying for faith will bring it if we neglect faith's proper nourishment, the word of God, any more than praying for physical health and strength will bring it if we neglect wholesome food and live on mince pie and candy. Gal_5:22 — "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith."



Third Proposition: Faith is the work of the Holy Spirit.



Faith is part of the fruit of the Spirit. The word is the instrument by which it is produced, but it is the word carried home and made to be a living thing in the heart by the Holy Spirit's power. Heb_12:2 — "Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despised the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."



Fourth Proposition: Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. Rom_4:19-20 RV — "And without being weakened in faith he considered his own body now as good as dead (he being about a hundred years old), and the deadness of Sarah's womb: yea, looking unto the promises of God, he wavered not through unbelief, but waxed strong through faith, giving glory to God."



Fifth Proposition: If we want to have faith we must fix our eyes upon the promise of God. (If we want another person to have faith we must hold up the promise of God before him, and hold his attention to it.) Luk_11:9; Luk_11:11; Luk_11:13 — -"And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you .... If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?... If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children; how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" Mar_9:24 "And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief." (The context shows that Christ at once answered that prayer.) Luk_22:32 — "But I have prayed for thee; that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."



Sixth Proposition: We should pray f or faith.



As already seen, faith is God's gift. He bestows His gifts in answer to prayer. It is the Holy Spirit's work, and the Holy Spirit is given in answer to our prayer. Prayer is an expression of our helplessness and dependence on God. Mat_25:29 — "For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath." (Note preceding context, verses 14-28.)



Seventh Proposition: If we wish more faith, we should use the faith we have. Joh_5:44 RV — "How can ye believe, which receive glory one of another, and the glory that cometh from the only God ye seek not?"



Eighth Proposition: A great hindrance to faith is seeking glory from men and not the glory that comes from God only.



This and all hindrances must be put away if we would have faith. Heb_12:2 — "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."



Ninth Proposition: If we want to have faith, we must look to Jesus.



Peter's faith failed when he took his eyes off Jesus and began to look at the wind and waves. ( Mat_14:30-31 — "But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?") Joh_8:12 — "Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world; he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."



Tenth Proposition: If we are to have faith, we must follow Jesus.



The more closely we follow Him, the more our faith will grow. Those who follow most closely in the footsteps of Christ have the most faith. When Peter began to follow Christ "afar off" his faith failed rapidly. The more of Christlike denial of self and of true cross-bearing and humility there is in our lives, the more our faith will grow. Faith cannot flourish in an atmosphere of self-indulgence, self-will, and pride. Selfishness and faith cannot walk together. They are not agreed.



VI. THE RELATION OF FAITH TO REPENTANCE. Act_11:19; Act_11:21 — "Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen, traveled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.



And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord." Mat_3:2; Mat_3:6 — "And saying, Repent ye: