WHY GOD MUST DEMAND FAITH (Part Three)

By Bob Myhan

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hen God promised to bless Abraham, He gave him conditions to fulfill in order to manifest his faith. Abraham knew that God had promised to bless him because he had the evidence of his senses. But if Abraham had stopped at knowledge, he would not have been blessed. It was necessary for Abraham to believe that God would so bless him if [and only if] he was to diligently seek God by fulfilling the conditions given him by God.

Even without revelation from God, Abraham might have formed an opinion as to whether he might have been blessed but he could not have believed much less known that he would be so blessed. After receiving revelation, Abraham could have formed the opinion that God would bless him even if he did not obey but he would not have been blessed because he would have had no motivation to obey. "Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3).

Abraham was made righteous because he diligently sought God. He diligently sought God because he believed that God exists and that God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

Whether Abraham was justified by faith without works depends on what kind of works one has in mind. If one means works of human origin whereby justification might be earned, then he was justified by faith without works. In Romans 4:2-5, Paul specifically excludes this kind of works from having anything to do with Abraham's justification.

If, however, one means works of divine origin whereby one manifests his faith, then Abraham was not justified by faith without works because he was definitely characterized by this kind of works. He had left home and family, sojourned in the land of promise, and would have offered up his only son as a burnt sacrifice if he hadn't been stopped by the Angel of the Lord, all because he believed God.

So God counted Abraham a righteous man, not because Abraham earned such a reward by performing works of his own, but because he believed that God would bless him as strongly as if he had sensory evidence that the blessing had already been received. And it was this strong faith that motivated him to do the things God commanded him to do.

The blessing of Abraham, on the condition of a strong, active faith, illustrates the teaching of the New Testament on the justification. We are told,

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Heb. 11:6)

Abraham was blessed [or justified] because he "believed God." In Matt 3:17, God introduced Jesus as his Son, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." We must believe [accept as fact on the basis of God's testimony] that Jesus is God's Son. If we fail to believe this we fail to believe God. And if we fail to believe God we call Him a liar. And calling him a liar will not please him!

So to be justified under the New Testament, one must believe on the basis of God's testimony that Jesus is God's Son. But if one believes this, he will be motivated to do all the things Jesus has commanded him to do, which things are but a manifestation of faith. &

[To be continued]

The Work of the Holy Spirit (Part Two)

By Troy Johnson

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ow, then, do we walk after the Spirit? The answer is found in the verses following. Paul continues, "For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh" (Romans 8:2,3). There are three laws found in these verses.

The first of these laws is "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus." This law is the gospel, the truth, the New Testament, or the law of Christ. It begins with Matthew's account of the gospel and ends with the book of Revelation.

The second law is "the law of sin and death." This law is the general principle that if you sin, you die (see also Romans 6:23 and Ezekiel 18:20).

Finally, the third law (verse 3) is the Mosaic law. This is the law that was given to Moses on Mount Sinai and proclaimed to Israel while wandering in the wilderness. To answer the question, we walk after the Spirit by walking according to "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus."

Here is Paul's point: The Mosaic law was impotent in freeing man from "the law of sin and death," but "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" could (and for Christians did) free us from "the law of sin and death." Therefore, there is no sentence of death, "no condemnation," to those who are "in Christ Jesus." Further in this context, Paul contrasts walking after the flesh with walking after the Spirit. To walk after the Spirit is to mind the things of the Spirit; spiritual living (verse 6). To walk after the flesh is to mind the things of the flesh or, to be carnally minded; carnal living, worldliness, sensual lifestyle (verse 6).

Notice in verse 7, Paul writes that "the carnal mind" "is not subject to the law of God." Remember and keep in mind, the carnal mind is opposite of the spiritual mind. Since, the carnal mind is not subject to the law of God, the spiritual mind is subject to the law of God, and, thus, to walk after the Spirit—to be spiritually minded or to be led by the Spirit—is to be subject to the law of God. Verses 8-9 concern the person who refuses to follow the Spirit of God. In other words, he refuses to follow or subject himself to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Paul's conclusion is found is verses 12-14. He writes, "Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God." To keep this in context, to live after the flesh is to die spiritually which is "the law of sin and death," but to be led by the Spirit of God, "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus," is to be the sons of God and to live.

This conclusion also fits the general context of the book of Romans. Throughout this book, Paul is developing his stated theme, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:16, 17).

Notice the provisions the gospel provides. First, it is "the power of God unto salvation." The gospel contains all the provisions needed to obtain salvation. No other provision is needed including the Spirit working independently from the gospel. Second, the gospel reveals the righteousness of God. This is not speaking of God's character of righteousness, but the gospel reveals righteousness or justification through faith which is from God. Again, no other means is needed to understand the righteousness which God imputes upon the faithful servant of Christ. &

[To be continued]