Faith and Precept

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, Cal. · Feb 7, 1911

Faith and Precept

Faith also respects God's precepts. That is not faith which holds to the promise and despises the precept. And yet there are many who hope to be forgiven of transgression, and in the last great day to be made immortal, who are continually despising, or regarding as of no account, the commandments of God. They hope in His promises, and deceive themselves into believing that their hope is sure; but they sit in judgment on the divine precepts, and consider them as not worthy of observance, especially if inconvenient, inexpedient, unpopular, or demanding sacrifice.

The obedience rendered is the indicator of faith. The murderer, the thief, the idolater, the profane swearer, the proud, the covetous, the wicked of every class and degree, want prolongation of existence, and peace, and prosperity; and many are led to hope that if they believe God's promises, all these things are theirs. But no man has true faith in God's promises who does not have true faith in God's precepts. No man has sure hope in God's promises who does not have true submission to God's precepts. God is in the one as truly as the other. Nay, more, the precept is a promise. He who by faith submits with all his heart to a command of God, will find and know the implied promise that what is commanded, with all its beneficent results, is wrought in his character. He who accepts with all his heart the promise of God, accepts with it the righteousness of God which makes the promises possible.