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The Fundamentals Ask a man who doubts God’s love for him if he has ever carefully considered that his salvation does not so much rest upon his confidence in his own belief as in God’s confidence in him. Tell him that faith grows by use and action. Ask him to pray, “Lord, I believe; help Thou my unbelief.” Turn to Hebrews, eleven one, and read it from the Revised Version, which is far stronger in this verse: “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Then go on with this great “Faith chapter.” Stop and dwell upon some of the references, if it will add to the interest. Remem ber to have an open Bible before your companion as you read. Reading to a man will not help a listener and reading with you will. Let the eye help the ear, and make it personal by letting him follow you as you read. Perhaps sometimes ask him to read an occasional verse that needs emphasis, and then you comment on it, asking him to read on. If a man does not understand how God can love him, do not discuss it, but turn to First Corinthians, the thirteenth chapter, and read it slowly and thoughtfully. Always begin that chapter with the last verse of the twelfth: “And yet show I unto you a more excellent way.” Change the word “charity” to “love.” When you get to the fourth verse, inter sperse a remark such as this: “Have you ever read anything more wonderful than this: ‘Love suffereth long and is kind, love envieth not, love vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil.’ ” Why, each verse of this wonderful chapter will grow more and more impressive as one reads on. Then read through the first verse of chapter fourteen, which gives us the admonition, “Follow after love and desire spiritual gifts.” Ask a man if such attainment as this isn’t worth while. Turn before he answers to John three, sixteen: “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.” “For God came not into
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