The Bible Echo, vol. 11
October 12, 1896
“Living Faith” The Bible Echo 11, 40, p. 315.
THE term “living faith” is strictly proper; because faith indeed is a living thing. The just live by faith, and no man can live by what has no life in it. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.1
Again, faith is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8), and He is the living God; Jesus is its Author (Hebrews 12:2), and in Him is life—He is the life. In the nature of things that which comes from such a source must be of itself imbued with life. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.2
Again, faith comes by hearing the word of God (Romans 10:17); that word is “the faith word” (Titus 1:9), that is, the word full of faith; and that word is “the word of life.” Philippians 2:16. Therefore as the word of God brings faith, and is full of faith; and as that word is the word of life, it is evident that faith is life, is a living thing, and brings life from God to him who exercises it. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.3
THE LIFE OF FAITH
What life is it then which faith brings to men? Coming as it does from God, through Jesus Christ who is the “Author of life,” the only life with which it is imbued and which it could possibly bring to men is the life of God. The life of God is what men need and what we must have. And it is the life that God wants us to have; for it is written: “Walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God.” Ephesians 4:17, 18. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.4
Jesus came that men might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10. “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.” 1 John 5:11, 12. And Christ is received by faith, and He dwells in the heart by faith. Ephesians 3:17. Therefore as the life of God only, eternal life, is in Jesus Christ, and as Christ dwells in the heart by faith, it is as plain as anything can be that faith brings the life of God to him who exercises it. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.5
It is the life of Jesus Himself that is to be made manifest in our bodies, “For we which live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” 2 Corinthians 4:11. And the life of Jesus is manifested in us, by Christ himself living in us; for “Christ liveth in me, and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God.” Galatians 2:20. This is living faith. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.6
THE BLESSING OF THE REAL PRESENCE
Again He says, “I will dwell in them and walk in them;” “I will not leave you comfortless, I will come to you;” and “because I live, ye shall live also.” John 14:18, 19. It is by the Holy Spirit that He dwells in us; for He desires you “to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts.” Ephesians 3:16, 17. And “at that day“—the day that ye receive the gift of the Holy Ghost—”ye shall know that I am in My Father, and ye in Me, and I in you.” John 14:20. “And hereby we know that He abideth in us, by the Spirit which He hath given us.” 1 John 3:24. And we “receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:14. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.7
“Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” We must have the blessing of Abraham in order to receive the promise of the Spirit. The blessing of Abraham is righteousness by faith. See Romans 4:1-13. Having this, Abraham “received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had.” And we having this, can freely receive the promise of the Spirit circumcising the heart unto holiness and the seal of the righteousness of the faith which we had. Having the blessing of Abraham, and so being sons of God, God sends forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts. Galatians 3:26; 4:4-6. Having the blessing of Abraham, that you may receive the promise of the Spirit through faith, then ask that ye may receive—yea, ask and ye shall receive. For the word of God has promised, and faith cometh by hearing the word of God. Therefore ask in faith, nothing wavering, “for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.8
Such is living faith—the faith that comes from the living God; the faith of which Christ is the Author; the faith which comes by the word of God; the faith which brings life and power from God to men, and which works the works of God in him who exercises it; the faith which receives the Holy Spirit that brings the living presence of Jesus Christ to dwell in the heart and manifest himself still in mortal flesh. This and this alone is living faith. By this, Christians live. This is life itself. This is everything. Without this, everything is simply nothing or worse; for whatsoever is not of faith is sin. BEST October 12, 1896, page 315.9
A. T. JONES.