A STUDY IN FAITH

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jul 3, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 27.

What Faith Is.

To every individual soul in this world who desires to obtain righteousness and peace, maintain life, and achieve eternal victory over sin and death, faith is the one essential element; for “without faith it is impossible to please God.” Heb. 11:6. This is not an arbitrary ruling with God; it is essentially so in the very nature of the case. Here are two important scriptures:—

“And this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” 1 John 5:4.

“For we walk by faith, not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7.

What is faith?—The following is in part a definition: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the proving of things not seen.” Heb. 11:1, R.V. The margin reads: “Now faith is the giving ‘substance’ to things hoped for.”

This is the forward aspect of faith. It is taking the promises of God, which before faith is exercised are always future in their fulfilment, and counting them true now. For instance, here is a promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” To the convicted sinner that is future in its fulfilment. He only hopes it may be true sometime. But faith yields the sin to God, acknowledges it, and appropriates the promise, and thus gives substance to it now. The forgiveness and cleansing are no longer hoped for, but are present living facts in the experience of the soul.

Faith is taking God at His word. It is not mere belief or assent that a thing is true. The demons believe, and tremble. God declares it. Our belief in Him says it is true. What He declares is to us a fact. But any collection of facts will not save. We may be perfect encyclopedias regarding Bible facts, and still be slaves to sin, still be in despair, still be forever lost.

Faith is not feeling. Feelings of joy and rest come as the fruit of faith; but they are not faith. Faith is the most glorious in its exercise when feeling is absent or opposite.

Faith is complete submission to God; to let God do with us as He will; to do whatever God would have us do. Does God say wait?—Faith waits, tho the multitude moves on in irresistible impulse. Does God go forward?—Faith goes forward, even tho a Red Sea awaits.

Faith admits Christ as King, His Word as law, His life as example, His Spirit as power. Christ is all in all; self is nothing.

To faith fact becomes truth, living, glowing; a part of one's life and being. The fact is to belief a thing without; to faith the truth is a power within.

Faith is dependent on the Word of God. “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Rom. 10:17. We may believe men, but true Bible faith lays hold on the Word in Christ Jesus, giving substance to all its mighty realities. The apostle remembered the work of faith of the Thessalonians; but they, when they received his message, received it not as the word of men, but as it was in truth, the Word of God; and it worked effectually in them. See 1 Thess. 1:3; 2:13. So is faith to every one who exercises it.

The power is not in the faith, but faith appropriates the power. The power is not in the trolley that reaches up from the cars to the live wire overhead. The power is in the wire. The trolley forms a channel for that power to operate upon and within the car. So faith is the trolley that reaches up and forms the open channel for God’s life to come into every fiber of the being thru its open channel. Let it reach up, friends. Open the soul to God’s life. Let Him live in us. Have faith in God. Let it give substance to His Word.