OBEDIENCE AND FAITH by D. W. Albert

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 6, 1900

OBEDIENCE AND FAITH.

By D. W. Albert

D. W. ALBERT.

(Plymouth, Ind.)

The primary duty of man, as of all created intelligences, is to do right. Eccl. 12:13. God, who is all-wise, gave a law that is perfect, which is God’s rule of righteousness for man. Deut. 6:25. Had man always remained obedient to his Creator, there would have been no necessity for the plan of salvation, as man would not have forfeited his right to life. Eze. 20:11. So all that is said in the Bible of knowing God, or of loving God, centers in obedience. 1 John 5:3.

Man, having failed to walk in that perfect rule of righteousness, has forfeited his right to life. This has made it necessary for the plan of salvation through faith in Christ, he having taken upon himself to make reconciliation for sins and iniquities, yea, even becoming man’s substitute in death (Rom. 6:23), that man may become reconciled to God. This plan of salvation through faith in Christ, who has taken upon himself our chastisement, and through whose stripes we are healed (Isa. 53:5,) will last through this dark and sinful period until sin and iniquity will be done away. Hence Christ has become the author and finisher of our faith. Heb. 12:2.

There are many who have taken up the erroneous idea that faith consists in believing a thing so strongly that it will be accomplished simply because they believe it will, whether or not their faith is founded on the promise of God. No warrant for such a faith can be found in the word of God. All the examples of faith given in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews were persons who were told by the Lord to do some certain thing, or things, and their obedience is attested to in the same chapter. Taking God at his word, they performed the doing of his command, trusting in the Lord for the final result. Thus we find that the definition of faith as given in the inspired record is, “The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Remember that this is one definition, not two definitions, of faith. Faith must include all there is in both clauses. Devils can believe that God will carry out his plans, but can not have faith that he will do it, their belief not being the substance of the things hoped for. Thus we read, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” When the word of God or the providence of God brings us to the place where it will be necessary to have sycamore trees or mountains removed, then, and not until then, will it be proper to ask for such things.