OVERCOMING FAITH by F. W. Johnston

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, California · Jan 2, 1907

OVERCOMING FAITH.

By F. W. Johnston

"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." If there were not another Scripture given us, there is sufficient in this for the salvation of every individual. For it presents to us first of all that which is primarily essential, the fundamental principle of all true Christianity; secondly, that by which we sustain our Christian experience—overcoming; thirdly, that to which Christianity is opposed—the world; and last of all, the ultimate result if we continue to walk in Christianity's path—victory.

Concerning the first, faith, I fear there are but few that fully appreciate all there is involved in this word. Is it merely the decision which one reaches as to whether a thing is right or wrong? If faith were to stop here, there would not be a soul saved. The apostle James speaks of this kind of belief, "Thou believest there is one God. Thou doest well. The devils also believe and tremble." Belief is all right so far as it goes, but that is not enough. Faith is that which takes hold of the individual, transforms his life into the image and character of Christ.

It comes by the Word of God. Rom. 10: 17. A faith which comes from any other source is not genuine. Faith and the Word must necessarily coincide, since the Word is its source. We are told to pray, "Lord, increase our faith." It is obvious in order to have our faith increased we must have more of that which gives faith, a daily study of the Word. To pray this prayer without fulfilling these conditions is presumption, and we can not expect it to be answered.

We are told to "ask in faith," hence to ask according to the Word.

"Faith is [called] the substance ["assurance," R. V.] of things hoped for, the evidence ["conviction," R. V.] of things not seen." The word on which it is based has in it the power, the substance, of creative force. "He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." See Ps. 33: 6-9. In the work of creation, the word contained the very substance in itself. A faith derived from such a word and which appropriates that word to our lives, is truly an "assurance." This is true in our Christian experience as well, and when the Lord speaks peace to the troubled soul, that peace is in response to faith. "I will hear what God the Lord will speak; for He will speak peace unto His people." Ps. 85: 8.

True faith always works. "Faith without works is dead, being alone." It is like a muscle which has to be exercised in order to live, and as soon as it ceases to work, it dies. We are not only to assent to a truth, but must yield implicit obedience to it.

But there is still another point to consider. While it is true that faith without works is dead, it is also true that works may take a dead form, and profit nothing. "Tho I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and tho I give my body to be burned, and have not love, it profiteth me nothing." Therefore we read in Gal. 5: 6, "For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision, but faith which worketh by love." "Love is the fulfilling of the law."

We are living in a world of conflict. The heart of man is the battle-field. The controversy is not between man and God, not between man and Satan, but between Christ and Satan, and we are the spoil of one or the trophy of the other. Satan will contest every inch of territory. All Christ asks of us is to yield our wills to Him, and He will fight for us. This war has always been between Christ and Satan from the time of rebellion in heaven, when the arch-deceiver became jealous of Christ and then sought to sow the seeds of discord among the angels.

Tho the warfare is between Christ and Satan, man has his part in the conflict. He must take one side or the other. We must fight with Christ if we will be overcomers. In the strife with Satan the Word says, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb." Rev. 12: 11.

But what are we to overcome?—The world. We read in history of the achievements of great men, those who through their tact and military genius have gained a world-wide fame. Yet he that ruleth his own spirit is greater than he that taketh a city. Prov. 16: 32. There are many great men who are overcome by their selfish desires and ambitions. They are dominated by their evil inclinations, "sin is exercising dominion over them." All must learn to get the victory over self; and what is the victory?—"This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith."

The Christian warfare differs from that of earthly governments. There is no uncertainty

in it, as with the warfare of the nations of earth, for as soon as we have the faith we have the victory; and finally we shall be able to join in the heavenly choir in the kingdom of God, and sing "the song of Moses and of the Lamb." Then we shall have been redeemed from a sin-cursed earth to a heavenly kingdom, from mortality to immortality, our faith culminating in a reign with Christ throughout the countless ages of eternity. F. W. JOHNSTON.

St. Johns, N. F.