who will accept something as true apart from evidence. He simply and honestly wishes it to be true. Rumors about miraculous cures for some generally incurable disease encourage this attitude in many unfortunate people. This is not real faith. Belief is not a subjective thing such as existentialism would have us think. It cannot be divorced from the objective truth of the Word of God. Real faith cannot be based on an individual's feelings. It is rather believing and acting upon the evidence which is pre sented. The greatest example of faith is the way in which man and a wo man should commit themselves to one another in marriage. There is a mutual trust which must develop. There is a tremendous pledge which is supposed to exist until death causes them to part. Scrip ture uses this bond as an illustra tion of the faith we should have in being united to the Lord Jesus Christ (Ephesians 5:22-32). Someone may wonder if there are two kinds of belief: the com mon faith that all men exercise every day of their lives and a spir itually saving faith. Actually, how ever, there is only one faith. We can believe God exactly as we be lieve man. The only difference is that saving faith is absolutely cer tain. It is believing the only One in the universe who is absolutely faithful and never breaks any of His promises whatsoever. In the first epistle of John we find reference to seven types of witnesses to witness to the revel ation of God the Father in the Lord Jesus Christ. There is the historical witness (1:1). The Word of God was written, preserved and given Page 39
ment for us. Christ was wounded for our transgressions (Isaiah 53:5). Reach out by faith and say to the One who created you, "Oh God, as best I know how, in all the weak ness and sinfulness of my fallen nature, I accept that hand that was wounded for me. I stop trust ing in anything else, simply build ing my hope in Christ and in Him alone." If you will do that the Sav iour will come and manifest His love within your heart. You will know beyond a peradventure of a doubt that His own righteousness has now been put to your eternal account. May this be your earnest conviction today! What a tremendous contrast can be seen in the life of Paul when he became a new creature in Jesus Christ. His new desire was that he might be found not having his own righteousness, patterned after the law, but that which he received through faith (Philippians 3:9). The difference between law and grace is inestimable to consider. Cod alone is responsible for our salva tion. It is never anything we our selves can do. The writer of He brews reminds us, "But without faith it is impossible to please him ( 11 : 6 ). Unfortunately many people have been puzzled about faith which is simply belief. In actuality it is one of the most common realities of life. There are many religious cults and sects, seeking to teach that sin and sickness do not even exist, who erroneously declare that faith can overcome all of these by deny ing that they even exist. To follow such will surely bring disillusion ment in this life as well as in the life to come. Credulity is the attitude of a man
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