"FAITH" is Spirit-Given; thus it is UNWAVERING BELIEF AND UTTER TRUST in the Crucified and Risen Lord, Jesus Christ!"
Primarily their faith is based in themselves, or in their church, or in their being and doing "good" in order to be and do all that they can (i.e. "self-works, religious-duties, etc.") to assure or help assure their own salvation by something that "They Themselves" can be or do.
There are but two kinds of "Faith": "The Saving kind" (that comes from HEARING/UNDERSTANDING The Gospel, and is therefore based on having a revelation of the Living Christ), and the "Non-Saving kind" (the kind that we ourselves try and muster up and) that comes from our having a false interpretation of The Gospel leading one to "Be Somebody" (thus replacing Christ alone) in the eyes of God as well as do some or all of the work they feel is necessary to put themselves right in God's eyes (thus replacing His finished work alone).
However, little do many of todays church-goers know that a "Saving Faith" is a matter of an unwavering 100% "Trust and Reliance" upon the PERSON of Jesus Christ and "His" Finished Accomplishments alone, brought about through a divine revelation, with nothing held in reserve for anyone or anything else.
"Faith" can only come by a "Divine Revelation" of the Risen and Glorified Christ! It "comes" the moment that one Hears and Believes the one true Gospel. It is "IN" the word of God and ONLY in the word of God where "God" takes His own word and brings it TO LIFE and TO POWER, thus making it (and Him)... Very much REAL and ALIVE and PRESENT!
To this "Faith" I speak of, belongs an "Assurance, a Substance, an Essance" that can actually be known, felt, and touched. Only The Spirit of God can Know God, and to whom He may reveal Him to! Faith has real "Body and Substance" to it as does all things given by the Lord to know Him, touch Him, taste Him and realize just how "GOOD AND WONDERFUL"; beyond all imagination, He really is.
Faith is and gives the one who receives it (upon their Hearing [i.e. "Understanding"] the Gospel of God's Grace) the overwhelming evidence of God. It is so overwhelming, in fact, that from it comes the direct witnessing to and testimony of God... that He EXISTS... that He exists in the NOW... that He exists in and through the Person of THE LIVING CHRIST... that the work of "Saving Us" is FINISHED... "IF" we would but "Believe"!
Yet as we observe the many people who claim to express their faith in "Jesus Christ" and His "Finished" work, instead we observe their reliance and trust being used in their self interests (i.e. "in order to gain heaven") and in their own works and merits (i.e. again - "in order to be assured of heaven").
But did they ever ask if Christ needed their help to save them when He died on a cross???
Do they realize that in applying their own righteousness to help absolve them of their sins, that what they are really doing is "Rejecting Christ" and what God has done to save them -IF only they would believe????
Believing on Him, means just that. "IF" He is who He says He is, and "IF" He paid for our sins, then He paid in full for our sins! It is finished! He didn't leave the work of saving us to ourselves, He finished the job.
Now when someone "hopes" to be saved; for example, by praying the rosary, or by becoming a member of good standing in some church, or by observing the sacraments, or by trying to be good, or by giving to the poor, or by a thousand and one other misconceptions, it all only goes to prove that they have their "Faith" (i.e. "Belief") in the merits of doing these other things to save or help save them (i.e. in themselves doing them), leaving little or none left to trust and rely totally upon Jesus Christ.
So... what is faith? How does it operate? What does it do? Who has it! Who doesn't? And what are some of the differences?
First off let me say that even "Unbelievers" have a form of faith - a form called: "Unbelief"! This is the same kind of faith that Doubting Thomas had BEFORE Christ appeared to him and the other apostles, in the flesh AFTER His resurrection from the dead.
Here's what it says...
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
"Have not seen Me?" What does He mean? Have not seen what? Scores have seen Him when He walked the earth, yet few of these were saved!
It is important to realize here that what caused Thomas to have faith occured after (and not before) the resurrection appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ The Son of the living God "Appeared" to him alive and well, as He had appeared in a vision given to Simon Peter earlier by The Father, one where Jesus replied...
"Flesh and blood has not revealed this to you but my Father in heaven!" (Read Matthew 16:15-19)
The majority of the people today believe that "Faith" must be taken "Blindly", and that those who hold to it or believe in it blindly as such are saved!
This goes both ways! Just as we know who we are by our spirit, only God knows who He is by His Spirit, and gives this "Revelation of Himself" (NOT "Information" about Himself!) to those who ask Him... and contained in this "Revelation" are all the words that are necessary!
But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
What the majority of church-going people are taught to believe today is NOT Faith! Not at all! You can't teach "Faith"! There is nothing "Blind" about faith. Just the opposite is true. Once a person has Jesus revealed to them as risen from the dead never to die again, then they have received the kind of Faith that is as real and alive as is the author of such a faith!
This is the single greatest error made by the world today: "Believing that one is saved because they take Jesus and what He's done by BLIND Faith, and "TRY" and live a life that is hopefully pleasing to God!"
What TRUE faith does goes hand in hand with receiving the Grace of God! In fact the only way one can actually receive the Saving Grace of God is to have a vision of or receive a revelation of Jesus as the Living Lord and Christ standing directly before them (Spirit to spirit).
We call this "vision" or "revelation" of Him: given us by the Spirit, as the only means to KNOW Him that there is. Someday He will return in the flesh and all eyes will see Him in great power and glory. Some will run and hide, fleeing Him, while others will be resurrected and raptured at that time in a gathering to meet the Lord in the air.
It is a "Spiritual Vision" of who He actually is and was: a vision that we can not work up or muster by ourselves. As sinners, we are unable to climb high enough to pull Christ down so that we can get a good look at Him! The revelation of Him as dying for our sins, resurrecting from death and ascending back to the throne, only comes from none other than "God Himself" and the Gospel He left for us to receive!
"Intellectual knowledge" (the kind that comes from study and/or from other men learning) is worthless here - worthless as far as saving us goes. It has its uses: ('Bible Study', for example), but unless we "HEAR" (i.e. "Are made to Understand") what it is that we're studying then it is all "Vanity"!
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
The kind of "Hearing" that the Spirit speaks of above, is of the caliber of a "revealed" faith. It is NOT "Hidden", or revealed only to "Special People" as some would think!
No one can come to the Lord - no one will ever want to come to Him and do His will "EXCEPT AND UNTIL" they are made to see Christ (and through Him, the Father) the way they really are: IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH! Upon Jesus' return to the Father, He sent forth the Holy Spirit to reveal the The Truth about Himself, that He is indeed risen from the dead and is seated at God's right hand!
And when he (The Spirit of Truth) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
The world really doesn't believe on Him! Only those who have heard Him, seen Him, understood Him, believe on Him - OR - they have run the other way. Many have chosen to run into the dead religions of this world and this life as a replacement for obeying Christ.
A poor illustration of receiving the Spirit of Truth might be compared to a completely illiterate and blind 2 year old looking at a blackboard filled with the most complex and unsolved equations in the universe, and Suddenly Seeing and Understanding it all.
This "Faith" I speak of, is not the kind that one is able to muster up, thinking: "I think I can, I think I can - I know I can, I know I can".
And to those who ask Him (He knows who they are) they will hear Him say to them...
And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
and again to those who receive He says...
But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Man is first a "spiritual being", originally created by God in God's own image! But ever since the fall of Adam man has fallen and is spiritually decrepid, spiritually void of life, spiritually seperated from God! Since the fall of Adam all men have sinned, proving that we are each responsible for what happens to us in this life, but especially in the next! If it weren't for the Grace of God being extended to all mankind then mankind would have nowhere else to go except where he deserves: 'death and hell'! For such is the penalty of sin!
Man was born a sinner! Whether he committed one sin or many makes no difference! It doesn't matter how good or bad he is, because flesh is flesh and all flesh stand guilty before God, but Spirit is Spirit - and unless a man is born again of the Spirit of God (by having Christ revealed to him) he will remain flesh - remain a sinner - remain fallen - remain dead in his sins - and remain forever seperated from God.
God is a "Spirit"! The only way to know Him savingly is to receive the FREE and unearned Gift of His Grace that He offers us through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ... and the only way to receive that Gift is through, "Faith" - the kind that is given to a man when he receives the spiritual recognition of who Christ is and what He has done once and for all.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
So, the next time you hear (and that time is NOW) the Grace of God being extended to you, then receive it, asking God to reveal His Son to you and (after you have received) in you.
The Lord is ready when you are. He knows if you are asking Him out of a real need to have Him or not. After all He is the one who puts the "real needs" on our hearts. And the primary need we all have is to be SAVED - SAVED by Knowing Christ, Knowing who He is, and acting accordingly, accordingly to the Spirit of Truth.
For example, after the rich man told Jesus that he kept the commandments and did many good things, and asked Jesus what else must be done. Jesus answered him and said...
Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. Mark10:21
So even though the man was as close to a "saint" as one could get, he still did not possess the kind of righteousness ("Christ") that would take him to heaven and glory. His money was his "life" to him, and he couldn't bear to part with it.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
There is no more important issue facing you than this. What would you give to be a part of the above scripture and KNOW this absolutely without one doubt??? Well you can ... IF you are ready to ask... IF you are willing to let go of your most prized possessions and ambitions in order to gain eternal life, then you are ready to receive Christ.
The Truth is quite simple! If Christ says that it (i.e. the work of saving us) is finished, then who are we not to believe Him thus end all of our other trusts and reliances we are using in place of Him and His finished work in order to gain or help Him gain heaven on our own merits and works?
Either He won it - and won it all for us - or He didn't, and fell short of the glory of God! The one sure thing that will destroy you and I is... "UNBELIEF"! All manner of sin will be forgiven among men, but the one sin that won't be forgiven (if we die in it) is the sin of "UNBELIEF"! How can anyone be saved who does not believe and believe on Him with all their heart???
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8
In God's eyes there is no difference between an unbeliever and a murderer. Unbelief is an insult to God's Son and a slap in the face to God! It is this "mixture" of faith plus works that is sure to keep a man in Unbelief until he either repents of it or dies in it.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Jesus is ready to make Himself known by giving the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him, "SO ASK"!
You'll find that; in the long run, you didn't really lose anything. You'll find that by losing everything you have gained everything instead. You'll find that what you thought you had lost isn't even worthy to compare with all that you have gained by coming to Christ.
You'll be filled with a peace you never knew: 'Peace with God' - a peace that surpasses ALL understanding! Your joy will be full and will be gushing forth along with your praises and thanks from your lips as you ride high up on cloud nine (in the heavenlies with Christ). "Heaven and God's throne" is where He is to be seen... and THAT is where you belong!"
This same Jesus that you laid hold of, God has made Him both Lord and Christ... going from Hearing (with your understanding) how He laid down His life... FOR YOU... to Seeing Him (in the Spirit) risen from the dead and seated upon the throne of glory,,, and I assure you that you will virtually LEAP FOR JOY!!! You will have seen Him alive and well!
Now you'll want to rush out and tell everyone the Good News as you witness Him to others in your new-found faith, telling them of who He is and how He died and rose for our sins, finishing the job... but only TO ALL WHO HEAR AND BELIEVE AND THUS RECEIVE HIM!
What was once hidden is now revealed. In it you'll find the most Glorious, Saving Knowledge and Spirit of what this new born-again life you have received is all about, and rejoice in Him evermore.
The outpouring of the Spirit is given to all who ask Him, and known by all who receive Him, by... "FAITH"... because they believed your testimony of Jesus Christ in your witnessing of Him who is lifted up to new life and is now seated in the heavenlies!
To Faith belongs one of the most misconstrued meanings of all time. So many people think they have a "Saving Faith" when in reality they have absolutely nothing. Their faith is falsely based on a wrong premise or belief instead of on God/Christ and what He did alone.
All of this leaves their "Hope" of gaining heaven based upon a false hope as well.
Where were they when He paid in full as the final and finished payment for their sins???
None of us were even born back then! So why are they trying to help Him pay off their own sin-debts?
Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. Joh 20:26-29
Throughout the Bible we are to understand that it is impossible to have faith without seeing Christ - IN THE SPIRIT! Many have seen Him IN THE FLESH (Mark 8:28), yet few have seen Him as He is, through the eyes of the Spirit, as God knows Him to be!
"Because", they say, "no one has seen the Father but the Son, and no one has seen the Son except the Father."
That is all true TO A POINT - BUT what they conveniently forget to realize is the rest of that scripture:
"and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him." (Matthew 11:27)
But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.
For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Corinthians 2:9-16
Alas, nothing could be further from the truth!
This "Faith" I have been speaking of is not only heard but seen and understood as well. It is full of "Light" (Understanding!). It is so "FULL" that it "Changes" the person who sees or receives it! They will never think the same about the Holiness of God and the Righteousness of Christ, or about their own wretchedness and absolute need to be saved, ever again!
This is how He does it...
Of sin, because they believe not on me;
Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. John 16:8-11
Yet even that would be but a pitiful way to try and describe the amazing and astounding and glorious Grace of God revealed in the face of Jesus Christ!!!
I am speaking here of the one and only living faith that comes from a very real belief in a very real God, and given by non-other than God Himself!
As fallen creatures we cannot do anything in our power to arrive at such a faith - with one exception - and that is to "HEAR" the Gospel - "HEAR" what God is saying concerning His Son by His Spirit. Dwell on it, as you seek to understand its glorious magnitude, all the while asking God to make it clear to you.
For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Luke 11:9-10
Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:31-32
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
"Anything" (other than Christ) that is our life to us; that we are unable to part with, is exactly the kind of blockage or mountain that stops us from Hearing Christ and being saved...
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. John 10:27-28
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9
He is ready to give you back all that you gave up in asking Him to come, only this time around it will be "different" - He will come and live in your heart - He will be residing in the most holy place (after the Spirit uses the word of God to cleanse it) - in the very center of your being/heart - Spirit to spirit - and you shall be changed.
If they think you "strange" because of your testimony of the crucified and risen Christ, know that you're in GOOD company, past, present and future!
May every blessing in Christ be yours,
Biff
