The Nature of Bible Faith
BELIEF, mere belief, in God's word is not faith. The demons believe that God is. They doubtless believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and in the historic facts relative to his humiliation, incarnation, birth, death, and resurrection, but they have not faith. Simple assent to the great facts of redemption is not Christian belief or faith. Simple belief is merely nominal; it does not affect the life. Faith is a power, a principle, which operates on the entire life. FAITH, Bible faith, means first of all submission to God. He who exercises it accepts God's ways as his ways, God's wisdom as his wisdom, God's power as the only power which will avail him. He knows that in God is infinite love, infinite knowledge and wisdom, and infinite power, all harmoniously combined and in active operation for the good of all. He who has faith will not wait till he can "harmonize" the things of God. Faith says that there is harmony. Human "expediency" will not rule, for faith knows that it is only expedient to do God's will. It will not be asked whether to do God's will will pay or not; faith knows it can do nothing else but pay. Faith not only trusts God's promises, but submits to God's precepts. It counts God's law as precious as his gospel, for both reflect the character of him from whom they came. Such is the faith "unto righteousness," even the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ. It will show itself by works. THERE is one point connected with the Sabbath question which those who are opposed to it never attempt to meet. They admit that God made the Sabbath in the beginning, that in infinite wisdom he set apart one-seventh part of time. This the wisdom of man unaided would not have done, as France demonstrated. Now if the seventh part of time is appropriate and important, why is it not just as important to observe that proportion just where God placed it, as it is to keep the time itself? In fact, the Lord says absolutely nothing about "the seventh part of time;" that is only inferred; but God does point out a definite day, for a definite time, to be kept in a definite way. That day is the seventh day of the week.