JUNE RADIO MESSAGE WHAT
IS FAITH?
b y D r . L l o y d T . A n d e r s o n
E verything the Lord has to give us is contingent upon the exercise of this spiritual faith. From the first page of the Bible to the last sacred verse, man’s relationship to God is conditioned upon this very matter. The Word of God is a history of His dealings with men who believed in Him. Through the ministry of the Holy Spirit we are brought to the beginning of a life of trust in the Lord. Holiness is not realized by self effort or human struggle but by faith. While we are eternally saved by rely ing wholly upon the Lord Jesus Christ, so we are sanctified in identically the same manner. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Galatian believers, “Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh ?” (Galatians 3:3). The affirmation is, “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 at diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Humanly speaking faith is a very common atti tude of life which all of us, often un consciously, exercise each day. When related to the Kingdom of God, how ever, it is often confused by people. Faith is more than the mental grasp ing of a creed or acquiescence to cer tain fundamental facts. To accept the great facts of the Bible with the in tellect is not synonymous with spirit ual faith and eternal life. “Any faith in the Lord, however small, is better than any faith about Him, no matter how great it may be.” Dr. Henry Clark declared, “Faith must be the actual movement of man’s whole personality to identify itself with, and to lose it self in, the personality of Jesus Christ. It is permitting the thing which we claim to believe, to work itself out fully upon us. It is not so much that we take grip upon things we believe as it is things that we-believe taking grip upon us.” “Faith in God is dependent
upon a revelation from God.” Faith rests upon the Word of God. I t is not reliant upon our feelings or moods however pleasant or agreeable they may be. In II Corinthians 5:7, we read, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” This parenthetical statement occurs in the midst of a discussion of the Christian way of looking upon human death. None of us have ever seen what lies beyond the grave. We cannot afford to walk by sight. The great realities which we do not see are our comfort in the time of the physical departure of a loved one. Faith is fixing ones eyes upon God and resting in Him to meet one’s need (Romans 4:19-21). What is faith? It is believing that God’s promises are true, Gladly taking what he offers and know ing that it is for you. What is faith? ’Tis simply trusting, leaning on the Mighty One, Putting all your weight upon Him, yielding all to Him alone. What is rest? ’Tis faith reclining in the everlasting arms, Doubts removed and burdens banished, perfect peace amid the deepest alarms. There is only one way that will take us safely and eternally home, This is the way of God’s ordaining by faith, in the Lord Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). * Some people talk like a book. The only trouble is you can't shut them us as easily. * * * Real charity doesn't care if an item is tax deductible or not. * * * Man can easily change his religion, but it takes the Lord Jesus Christ to change his heart. 34 * *
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