LIVING BY FAITH by W. N. G.

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Feb 24, 1898

LIVING BY FAITH.

By W. N. G.

“THE just shall live by faith.” This is the utterance of Inspiration, in both the Old and New Testaments—by the prophet Habakkuk (chapter 2:4) and by the apostle Paul (Rom. 1:17; Gal. 3:11). A just or justified person is one whose sins are forgiven; “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Rom. 3:23. Then to be just, or justified, a man must have been forgiven of sin. But how may this be done? The answer is, “By the faith of Jesus Christ.” Gal. 2:16; Rom. 5:1.

Then it requires the same power to remain just that it does to be made just. And this power must come from God. Says Christ, “Without Me ye can do nothing.” John 15:5. And this is just as true of the justified man as it is of the sinner. It requires power for any being to do right, and “there is no power but of God.” Rom. 13:1; Matt. 28:18. An angel of heaven could no more live right without the continued power of God than can the vilest sinner.

This power to do right can only come by faith; it never was and never will be imparted to any being who does not implicitly believe and trust in the Word of God. When our first parents were placed in the Garden of Eden they were just, pure, sinless. God pronounced them “very good.” They were beings with whom he could familiarly associate. He could walk and talk with them. This continued as long as the man believed God. But just as soon as he chose to believe the enemy of God he lost his power to do good. It was the same with the angels of heaven who participated in the defection of Satan. They were cast out, and are powerless to do good. Thus it is demonstrated that those beings who had not sinned were dependent upon faith in the Word of God to continue loyal.

The apostle Paul says, “We walk by faith, and not by sight.” 2 Cor. 5:7. There is not and never will be any way to serve God but by faith. No one ever will know the future only as he learns of it from God. Whatever we shall know more than we now know will be by the knowledge and power of God. Whatever we shall see, even in the heavenly kingdom, more than we now see will be through the power of God; and no one will ever see the time when he can see and know and do the will of God independently. Of all the spiritual gifts there are three that must abide—“faith, hope, charity.” 1 Cor. 13:13. The creature, however high, who attempts to walk by sight—a sight not lighted by the light of God’s Word—will be sure to run counter to His will. If we expect to abide in the kingdom of God, we must learn to “have faith in God,” for we will need to exercise that faith forever if we are to live forever. It will always be true that “the just shall live by faith.” W. N. G.