Lecture 3: Faith

(GB Message)

The word faith is like an icon on a computer desktop. The icon by itself serves no purpose unless it directs the user to a document. Quite a number of believers stop with admiring the size and shape of the icon as it were, by being content with a superficial knowledge of ‘faith’. I urge every one of you to get better acquainted with the concept behind the icon rather than the glorious looking icon.

In order to have a sound knowledge of the concept of faith, let me divide it into two parts:-

1. Faith in the inerrancy of scripture (a belief in the truthfulness, inerrancy and the urgent message behind the word of God James 2: 17, 24)
2. Faith in the atoning work of Christ (the acceptance by the believer of God’s salvation offered by grace through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. It is to be availed with deep gratitude to Him, and also believing that other than Christ Jesus there is no salvation in any other Acts 4: 12)

We shall try to understand these two parts of faith in some depth. At this stage it will be useful to introduce the concept what I call the twin side principle, with respect to each of the two parts of faith viz.: (i) The theological aspect and (ii) the work aspect.

(i) Faith in the inerrancy of scripture: (theological aspect)
This means reiterating what I stated earlier, belief in the inerrancy and divinity of the Bible, the word of God. It also includes believing that the Bible is God’s message to the entire humanity. To understand the place of the theological aspect of faith in our lives, it can also be compared to the preparation of a tasty pudding. The eating of the pudding lies in the work aspect. A pudding that is prepared that is not eaten does not serve its intended purpose and is meaningless. The theology aspect and the work aspect are like two sides of the same coin (twin-side principle), the implication of which is that the one without the other nullifies the very purpose of it automatically.

(ii) Faith in the inerrancy of scripture: (work aspect)
The work aspect of faith mentioned here is not to be confused with the work referred in Rom 4: 2. There, it is used synonymously with word ‘law’ which is very repulsive in the spiritual life. In the present context this word is used synonymously with the word used in James 2: 17 and in 24. This is somewhat like the word “fruits” mentioned by John the Baptist in Mt 3: 8.

Faith without works means faith without the fruits. This is one of the serious drawbacks in many members who have only a form of godliness but not its power. Such types of people can never hope to be in the group of “few only are chosen.” They may know a lot in the Bible and appear to be experienced Christians. The person who is conversant with the historical faith should be known by fruits worthy of his belief. This twin-side principle is worth keeping in mind when we examine ourselves to see if there are fruits as a result of our understanding of faith. Members should be very careful about the fact that God looks at the heart and not their outward appearance or conduct. Beware of creating an impression without the fruit especially before the Holy Spirit; remember Ananias and Saphira in this connection.

In other words, if a person takes the contents of the Bible as God speaking to the people, for instance, in the manner He spoke to Moses and to the people, which is one of the aspects of historical faith, our fruit as a result of this faith should prove it. For example, after you read a passage like, “So Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the tabernacle of meeting, and they fell on their faces. And the glory of the Lord appeared to them”, Num 20: 6, you must truly believe that the same God interacts with true believers when they approach God even in these days when they read the Bible or pray to God; only, the glory was visible then, but invisible now since we have been commanded to worship God at the ‘spirit and truth’ level. The question is whether we have such a realization, honestly speaking.

(i) Faith in the atoning work of Christ: (theological aspect)
By this phrase it is meant the acceptance of God’s merciful salvation extended to the believers by grace through the atoning sacrifice of His Son, Lord Jesus Christ, intellectually, deliberately, willingly and gratefully; in other words, in spirit and truth.

• Only by such a faith, a believer is justified, (Rom 5: 1).
• It is by this faith that believers are saved, Eph 2: 8.
• Also, by this faith alone does a believer become a partaker of the blessings of the new covenant, 1 Cor 11: 25.
• It is a faith which works through love, Gal 5: 6.

It is not an idle, inactive grace, but that which shows itself by producing in us love toward God and simultaneously love for our neighbour as well.

Dr. John Mac Arthur defines the characteristics of faith as follows: “Saving faith is not simply a one-time event, but an on going condition”. Also it “is supernatural gracious gift of God that He produces in the heart and is the only means by which a person can appropriate true righteousness”. (p. 1692 in the Mac Arthur study Bible)

(ii) Faith in the atoning work of Christ: (work aspect)
The work aspect of saving faith should prove its genuineness by, by one’s fruit being in tune with his understanding of the theological side. In other words, the one who lives by genuine saving faith begins to realize the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit in him, which in turn induces in him a love and eagerness for the word of God, and self sacrificing love for others.

This may appear to be vague or too obscure to understand. But it is not so in reality if one would take a little extra pains to grasp the meaning; such efforts will be extremely rewarding

The fruit cannot be quantified in physical terms because it is a spiritual phenomenon. It can be only spiritually discerned. Who can define or decipher to unspiritual people the meaning of spiritual words, phrases or verses like “For me to live is Jesus”, “Being born of water and the Spirit”, “The flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh”, and the like!

The fruit of the spiritual man can be appraised only by the Holy Spirit and by an anointed believer to some extent. When we baptize a person, we look for a person with such a faith.