Faith before and after Repentance.
By D. T. Bourdeau
FAITH, which may be defined confidence in the testimony of God, must necessarily precede repentance; for we cannot repent until we believe what God has said on repentance. But faith in Christ for pardon follows repentance; for we cannot consistently appropriate to ourselves by faith the merits of Christ’s death, and claim pardon for our sins, until we show sorrow for and turn away from our sins. A child who has offended his parents, by violating their just requirements, would not expect to be forgiven without first repenting. In view of these plain truths, what need is there of contention on the order of faith and repentance? When we see this contention we are reminded of the two kings who met on a certain occasion. Before them was a statue with an arm and hand extending over the road. One exclaimed, “See that red hand.” The other said, “No, it is white.” The first, feeling offended, replied, “No, sir, it is red.” The other also feeling his dignity humbled, retorted, “You know better, sir; it is white.” The two kings had a clinch, and when their fight was over, they looked up, and behold they were both right; for the hand was both red and white. So it is with many in the controversy on the order of repentance and faith. Why contend when we are agreed? Why not look on both sides and endorse the whole truth? But some will say, There is but one faith as well as one Lord and one baptism. Eph. 4:5; but you make two faiths. We reply that in Eph. 4:5, faith means doctrine to be believed, the gospel. In this sense there is but one faith. Faith is taken in the same acceptation in the following texts: “And a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith.” Acts 6:7. “It was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you, that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” Jude 3. “Here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Rev. 14:12. Faith also means doctrine in the expressions, Methodist faith, Baptist faith, etc. Aside from this meaning, faith signifies confidence in the testimony of God, or credit given to God’s declarations or promises, as in the eleventh chapter of Hebrews, etc. It also signifies reliance on Christ for salvation from sin, as in the following, and many other scriptures: “Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.” Acts 20:21. “Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law.” Rom. 3:31. It also means confidence in the lawfulness of things indifferent, as in the following passage: “Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God.” Rom. 14:22. Surely it would not do for Paul to recommend our having faith in Christ or in the word of God to ourselves, without our making an effort to induce others to exercise faith in these directions.