FAITH is a subject that should interest the mind of every child of God. In these last days, when error floods the world—and when Satan is working "with all power and signs and lying wonders," the last great sign which is to precede the coming of the Son of Man—how necessary that we should arm ourselves with the sword of the Spirit, and the shield of faith.
The first question that arises is, What is faith?—Paul answers this question in Heb. xi, 1. "Faith is the substance [margin, ground or confidence] of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." "For we are saved by hope. [Or through faith.] But hope that is seen, is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" Rom. viii, 24. Faith, in one sense, is like a shadow, which leads us to the substance, and when we reach the substance the shadow fails. Some so with faith; it points us forward to that which we hope for, and when we realize our hope, our "faith is lost in sight." But in order to realize our hope, we must "ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed." "Let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord." James i, 6, 7. "What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? can faith save him?" Chap. ii, 14. "Faith without works is dead." A man may say that he has faith, but if he does not live, and act out what he professes to believe, his faith becomes dead. For instance, a person pretends to believe that the coming of Christ is very near, and instead of settling up his affairs with this world, he continues to build, and lay his plans as though the world would stand in its present condition for many years. Such a person denies his faith by his works, and his faith is dead. Having fully shown what faith is, and how it should be exercised, we next inquire:—
On whom are we to believe? There are many things to which the inhabitants of this earth bow and worship, and to which they look for salvation. But the Word teaches that we are to "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ," and be saved. Well, says one, if that is all I have got to do to be saved, why do you talk so much about keeping the commandments?
Because Christ, himself, taught them. He says, "If thou wilt enter into life keep the commandments." Matt. xix, 17. Says another, I believe that Christ abolished the law, therefore all that I have got to do is to believe on him.
Let us examine this position for a moment. What is believing on Christ? It is believing all that he has said. Has he told us whether or not he would abolish the commandments? Let Christ answer:—"Think not that I am come to destroy the law. . . . For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled." "Whosoever shall keep the whole law and yet offend in one point he is guilty of all." Matt. v, 17, 18; James ii, 10. Hence we see that such a position not only makes their faith in Christ "dead," but it contradicts his own language! Now one thing is certain: if a person claims to be justified by faith, he must admit that the commandments are all binding; and if he denies them, he denies Christ, and Christ says, "whosoever shall deny me, him will I also deny."
Brethren and sisters, the time has come when we not only ought, but it is our duty, to have faith, and trust in the Lord, and believe his promises are yea and amen. That the coming of Christ is just at hand we have no chance to doubt. The prophet Habakkuk declares, "the just shall live by his faith." Hab. ii, 4. We must "walk by faith and not by sight," and have our eyes fixed on Him in whom our strength lies; we must talk faith, act faith, and "live by faith." It is too often the case with many, that doubts and unbelief is their line of conversation. We should bear in mind that "without faith it is impossible to please God." We must have our faith grounded in Christ, and then we can draw strength and nourishment from him continually.
Jude tells us that we "should contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the saints." What was that? They by faith could raise the dead, heal the sick, cause the lame to walk, the blind to see, cast out devils, &c. Well, will the saints do these things, in these last days? They will, for Christ has plainly stated so. "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover." Luke xvi, 17. Again, the apostle James says, "Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James v, 14, 15.
Many are very ready to laugh and scoff at such a doctrine. But do they know that it is a doctrine that our Lord taught; and when they scoff at us, they also scoff at him! Can we not afford to suffer for him who has suffered so much for us? This promise is on the same level with the rest of his promises—reject this, and you reject all—if this fails, they all fail! But praise the Lord, he has declared, that heaven and earth shall pass away, but his words shall not pass away; neither shall they return unto him void.
We have already shown that they who believed on Christ were none other than the commandment-keepers, "who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus." Among them we are to look for "these signs" which "follow them that believe."—Take a glance among them, and behold how many have already been snatched from the jaws of death, and in a very short time restored to perfect health, by no other means than the prayer of faith! I speak not only from what I have seen and heard, but from my own, happy experience. My heart is often led to praise the Lord for the wonderful manifestation of his power in healing my body, and more especially about a year since, when I was struggling with Death for my last breath.
I was conversing with a brother a short time since in relation to the prayer of faith, and he thought that the promise in James v, 14, could be applied only to certain cases. For instance, if a brother is sick, and follows the direction of James, the Lord would not raise him up unless he designed to accomplish some great work through him. God has given us roots and herbs to cure disease, and it was our duty to use them. It will be enough, perhaps, to say that this brother is a Physician. But I do not agree with him. The same position would prove that God would not pardon a sinner when he comes humbly before him, and confesses his sins, unless he can make him an instrument of doing a great deal of good. The Lord has given us the promise without any such proviso, and positively declares, it shall be done! I admit that God has given us "roots and herbs," and let such as have no faith use them! I am fully persuaded that God is well pleased to hear prayer for the sick.—Christ says, "Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give you." John xvi, 23. "And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight." 1 John iii, 22.
Brethren, are not such plain and positive declarations as above quoted enough for us to stand upon? A foundation that Christ says shall not be moved, though heaven and earth shall pass away. Let us rejoice that God has left on record such precious promises for us; and in view of what he has done for us, let us arouse ourselves from stupidity, and be more active in the cause of Christ. We all have a duty to do, and that must be done quickly. Let us arm ourselves with the whole armor of God, "having our loins girt about with truth," with the "shield of faith," the helmet of salvation, and sword of the Spirit, "that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil;" so that our "whole spirit, and soul, and body, be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Finally, brethren, let our hearts be so united by the Spirit and love of Christ, that we shall feel we are of that happy company, who will range the blissful fields of Paradise restored, through endless ages of unremitting joy. L. V. MASTEN.