Living In The Light

February 12, Faith Is The Victory

For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.
And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
—1 John 5:4 LL 50.1

It is faith that enables us to look beyond the present, with its burdens and cares, to the great hereafter, where all that now perplexes us shall be made plain. Faith sees Jesus standing as our Mediator at the right hand of God. Faith beholds the mansions that Christ has gone to prepare for those who love Him. Faith sees the robe and crown prepared for the overcomer, and hears the song of the redeemed. LL 50.2

Perfect faith, the surrender of self to God, simple trust in His pledged word, should be a part of every minister’s experience. . . . LL 50.3

Faith is not feeling. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). True faith is in no sense allied to presumption. Only he who has true faith is secure against presumption, for presumption is Satan’s counterfeit of faith. LL 50.4

Faith claims God’s promises and brings forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims the promises, but uses them as Satan did, to excuse transgression. Faith would have led our first parents to trust the love of God and to obey His commands. Presumption led them to transgress His law, believing that His great love would save them from the consequences of their sin. . . . LL 50.5

To talk of religion in a casual way, to pray without soul-hunger and living faith, avails nothing. A nominal faith in Christ, which accepts Him merely as the Savior of the world, can never bring healing to the soul. The faith that is unto salvation is not a mere intellectual assent to the truth. He who waits for entire knowledge before he will exercise faith, cannot receive blessing from God. LL 50.6

It is not enough to believe about Christ; we must believe in Him. The only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces Him as a personal Savior; which appropriates His merits to ourselves. Many hold faith as an opinion. But saving faith is a transaction, by which those who receive Christ join themselves in covenant relation with God. Genuine faith is life.— Gospel Workers, pp. 259—261. LL 50.7

Further Reflection: : Why is obedience foundational to genuine faith? How does obedience serve to strengthen our faith and trust in God? LL 50.8