WHY GOD MUST DEMAND FAITH (Part Four)

By Bob Myhan

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ith flying colors, Abraham passed three distinct tests: the test of faith [the promises of God over the wisdom of man], the test of hope [the command of God over natural inclinations] and the test of love [loyalty to God over family affection]. The apostle to the Gentiles wrote, “And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Cor. 13:13). Love is “the greatest of these” because one day faith will be replaced by sight and hope will be replaced by realization but love will never be replaced. And, just so, the greatest of these three tests is the test of love.

It was necessary for God to demand faith on the part of man in order that man’s love for sin might be destroyed. It was necessary for man’s love for sin to be destroyed because one who loves sin does not understand the enormity, or magnitude of sin. That is, he does not realize what an enormously wicked thing that sin really is. But the more one believes in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ, the more clearly he will see sin for the great barrier between man and God that it is. And, as one sees this more and more clearly, his love for sin will diminish proportionately. As one's love for sin diminishes, his desire to put an end to the practice of sin will grow. This seems obvious from even a cursory consideration of Romans 1:18-32, which details the postdiluvian fall of man.

Jesus came to fully reveal God’s love for man and to motivate him to love God in return in order that he might desire to forsake sin. In doing so, He taught us how to please God.

“And He who sent Me is with Me. The Father has not left Me alone, for I always do those things that please Him" (John 8:29). In this passage, to please God is to "always do those things that please Him."

“Then Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner’” (John 5:19). If Jesus did only what he saw the Father do, and we do only what we see Jesus do, we can not help but please God.

“‘For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak’” (John 12:49). Jesus did not have a separate and distinct will of His own. He and the Father are one (John 17:20-22) and they always have been one. And if we are “one” in them, we will please them by “speaking where the Bible speaks and being silent where the Bible is silent” and doing all that we do, “in word and deed,” in Jesus’ name or by His authority.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me’” (John 14:6). Thus, in order to please God one must come unto Him through Jesus Christ.

“‘No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day’” (John 6:44). Being raised up at the last day will be the final proof that one has pleased God. But Jesus will only do this for those who come to him. And only those can come to him whom the Father draws. But "every man...that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto" Jesus (John 6:45). So, the Father draws all those that hear and learn of Him. We hear and learn of Him through His Son, Jesus Christ (Heb. 1:1-2).

But if man could not be brought to the point of trusting God to the point of placing his hope of eternal life entirely in God’s hands and loving Him enough to forsake sin, which God cannot abide, he would have no hope of pleasing God, whatsoever. &

The Work of the Holy Spirit (Part Three)

By Troy Johnson

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inally in these key verses of Romans, Paul declares that from the gospel the righteousness which emanates from God is "revealed from faith to faith." Literally this phrase can be translated "out of faith into faith." From the system of faith (the word of God), Christians grow in faith (Romans 10:17). Paul develops this theme throughout the book of Romans. The gospel is all sufficient, and as such, there is no need for direct revelation.

This conclusion is further developed in the context of the New Testament. Peter declares the all-sufficiency of the scriptures in 2 Peter 1:3. God has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness."

Nothing else is needed. When the "sword of the Spirit" is wielded, the Holy Spirit wields His mighty power by and through the Word of God which He inspired (Eph. 6:17; Heb. 2:12; 2 Peter 1:20-21). Also consider the parallel verses of Eph. 5:18-19 and Col. 3:16. A casual comparison of these verses reveals that being "filled with the Spirit" is to "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom."

Finally, if the Holy Spirit leads us directly in our understanding of the Word, then there could be no misunderstanding because the Spirit makes no mistakes. Since there are misunderstandings among Christians, then we must conclude the Holy Spirit did not lead us in our understanding.

Further, if the Holy Spirit leads us directly in our understanding of the Scriptures, then He keeps us and guards us from apostasy. In fact, since the Holy Spirit is perfect, it would be impossible for a Christian to fall away. However, the Bible teaches that Christians can and do fall away (Gal. 5:4; 6:1; Heb. 6:4; Acts 8:13, 20). Therefore, we must conclude the Holy Spirit does not lead us directly. 

The Holy Spirit is pleading with you to be led by Him! No, He isn't leading or influencing you in a direct or miraculous way. He is pleading with you through the Spirit-inspired word. Listen to the Spirit pleading. It is not a voice in your mind or a vision in a dream. It is the word of God, the word given to us through holy men of God by the Holy Spirit. &