Bible Faith by Editor

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jun 25, 1894

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 20, No. 33.

Bible Faith

By Editor

The secret of overcoming evil habits and temptations is to be ever watchful, to train the heart to be ever uplifted in prayer to God, by living faith to draw help and life from the great Source of life. “Pray without ceasing” is an important injunction, and a good prayer is, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right [constant] spirit within me.” We must habituate ourselves never to forget God’s presence.

The word declares that “our God is a consuming fire.” Heb. 12:29. But all that a God ever gracious will consume is sin. If the sinner chooses God’s way, and thus renounces the sin, God will destroy the sin and save the sinner; the dross will be purged by grace; the pure metal will remain. But if the sinner identifies himself with the sin, if he will not separate from it, when the proper time comes, God’s burning glory will consume him in a moment. 2 Thess. 2:8. God’s pleasure is that the wicked turn from his evil way and live. Eze. 33:11.—From No. 111 Bible Students’ Library.

“Unchristianizing the Universities.”—The Baptists are becoming stirred about “the secular instruction that is unchristianizing their universities.” It was reported to have been said at the recent Baptist convention at Saratoga, N. Y., that “secular teachings are supplanting the Christian evangel in our American colleges and schools to so great a degree that now, if a young man leaves their doors unconverted, he seldom becomes a Christian afterwards.” And the Christian Advocate says that Methodists must deal with the same thing. It remarks: “A preposterous spectacle it is indeed when a denomination establishes a college or university to promote Christian education, and fills its chairs with professors who, by their private conversations, class-room implications, and intellectual bent and spirit, as well as their known connections, are continually counteracting the Christian influence of the institution.”

But this is just what exists all over the land. God’s word and faith in that word are what is needed. The “Higher Critics” are worse than the Agnostics. See the article on “Christian Education” in another column. When such education as is therein set forth is given in our colleges and universities, they will be schools of the prophets. Only one thing is necessary, make God’s word first.

Bible Faith.

How little the modern Christian world knows of faith! Protestants use the word largely in the sense given it by Roman Catholics, as meaning a creed or system. But this is not the Bible use of the word. Bible faith is a personal matter between the individual soul and God. The faith of Jesus Christ was that principle within him which led him to willingly submit to the will of the Father, and to draw from that Father the strength sufficient to do that will. The faith of Jesus in his people will be the living principle which leads each one of them to do the same thing as did he. That is “the faith once delivered to the saints,” or, as the Revised Version reads, “once for all delivered to the saints,” in the person of Jesus Christ, now present with us by his word and Holy Spirit.

Contend for This.

This is the faith worth contending for. A creed, system, or theory is cold, dead, and powerless. It may be held by millions, and everyone lost. But the faith of Jesus, that living principle which connects the individual soul with Christ through the word, is instinct with life, warmth, and power. In fact, it is such a yielding to the revealed will of God that it appropriates the power of that will. The word is to the child of faith a “living word,” powerful to do and to work effectually. Heb. 4:12; 1 Thess. 2:13. That word through faith cleanses from sin, changes the affections, makes the man a new creature, brings forth the fruits of righteousness and true holiness in the life, and gives to God all the glory through Jesus Christ. This is the faith that is needed to-day. It is the faith that eternal destiny demands of every soul. It is the only faith that saves. It is the only true Protestant faith. It is the only true Christian faith. Oh, for more of it!

Sad, Sad, Indeed.

A handbill of a “Wild West Sociable” held in a Congregational Church near the city of Denver, is before us. We will not try to reproduce the folly. It advertises a “Grand Round-up,” and among the attractions advertised are “Highfalutin Jane,” “Squaw Jim,” “Long-haired Ranch Egg Orchestra,” “Gunny Sack Fan,” etc. May it not truly be said, as Inspiration has declared for the “last days,” “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof.” See 2 Tim. 3:1-5. A dispatch to the San Francisco Chronicle of March 5, from Pittsburg, Pa., tells how women resorted to all sorts of shifts to keep the sheriff from the church. One young woman rode a high-mettled horse without a saddle; other women wheeled men in barrows; one young woman paid a man five cents to call on her; and so it runs. It is all wretched, disgraceful.

“The church is fallen, the beautiful church, And her shame is her boast and pride.”