"SUPPLEMENT YOUR FAITH" (Part One)

Bob Myhan

od gave to the apostles "all things that pertain to life and godliness" and "precious and very great promises," that through them we "may be partakers of the divine nature." This was God's part. Our part is to “make every effort,” to "supplement [our] faith" with seven spiritual characteristics (2 Peter 1:1-7, ESV) commonly called "Christian graces." But before we look at the things with which we are to supplement our faith let us review the nature of faith.

irst, faith is that without which "it is impossible to please" God (Heb. 11:6) and involves believing two things about God: (1) “that he exists” [that is, He has a real, objective existence, rather than existing only in the minds of those who worship Him], and (2) "that he rewards those who seek him." If we really believe these two things we will "seek him." Thus, those who are not seeking Him do not believe one or both. If this is not the case, why is it not?

econd, faith is "the assurance of things hoped for” (Heb. 11:1). “Things hoped for” are things that are promised, which are then both desired and expected (Rom. 8:24,25). Abraham hoped for “the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb. 11:8-10); Moses hoped for “greater wealth than the treasures in Egypt; for was looking to the reward” (Heb. 11:24-26); Israel hoped for “the walls of Jericho [to fall] after they were encircled for seven days” (Heb. 11:30); Daniel hoped for ”the mouths of lions” to be stopped (Heb. 11:33; Dan. 6:1-23).

n what assurance did these people hope for these things? They hoped for them on the assurance of their faith in God who promised them. We have been promised eternal life with God on the condition of continued faithfulness (1 Peter 1:3; Titus 1:2; Rev. 2:10; 2 Tim. 4:6-8). Surely we desire it but do we also expect it? We have no assurance of it if at any time we cease to “seek him.”

hus, Enoch walked with God figuratively and spiritually, in that he walked [lived his life] by faith because he believed that God is, and that God is a rewarder of those who seek to please Him. Of course, God has not promised to reward our faith by taking us bodily from the earth so as not to see death. But He has promised us a crown of life (Hebrews 9:27, 28; Rev. 2:10).

hird, faith is “the conviction of things not seen" (Heb. 11:1). “Things not seen” with may be eternal or temporal. Eternal things are not seen because they cannot be seen (2 Cor. 4:17,18). It is because we cannot see God or heaven that we “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). Temporal things are seen if they are in the present but not if they are in the past or future. No human witnessed the creation of “the heavens and the earth” for it was already in the past by the time the first human was created (Heb. 11:7). The conviction that the creation actually took place—in the manner in which God said it did—comes from God’s word.

WHATEVER IS PURE

Guest Writer: Richard S. Hammock

“1. HAGNOS…pure from defilement, not contaminated (from the same root as hagios, holy), is rendered ‘pure’ in Phil. 4:8; 1 Tim. 5:22; Jas. 3:17; 1 Jn. 3:3” [Vine’s Expository Dictionary, p. 913].

urity plays an important role in the life of every Christian, and it begins with the very thoughts of our heart. Solomon said, “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23) and “as he thinks in his heart, so is he” (Proverbs 23:7). For us to be able to be pure in our lives we must be pure in our thoughts. We must keep out all evil and hateful thoughts. God became displeased with the people of the earth because “the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in me earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). It thus “repented” God that He had made man and He decided to purge the world of their wicked thoughts and their wicked deeds. The apostle Peter said of those who “walk after the flesh” that they had “eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin” (2 Peter 2:10,14). He is showing how impure thoughts have led these people to impure ac­tions.

owever, John tells us we do not know “what we shall be,” that is, what form we shall possess in eternity, but because of the hope we have in eternal salvation we purify ourselves “even as He is pure” (1 John 3:1-3).

he apostle Paul encouraged Timothy to be an example “in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12) and not to share in the sins of others but to “keep yourself pure” (1 Timothy 5:22). He also encouraged the Christians of Corinth to approve themselves before God “by purity” (2 Corinthians 6:4,6).

hristians are to live pure lives both in thought and in deed. We know that God is the only one who can and will judge our thoughts, but Jesus says we can know a tree “by its fruit” (Matthew 12:33). Just as pure thoughts will lead to pure actions, impure thoughts will lead to impure actions. By the example that a Christian gives we can tell whether he is a good tree or an evil tree. James tells us that “Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world” (James 1:27). We should strive to live a pure life. In the end, we will be happy that we stayed away from evil thoughts and evil actions. [Reprinted from Know the Truth, Vol. 3, No. 4 – June, 1988]

INSPIRATION – THE CLAIM OF THE BIBLE

Guest Writer: Charles “Skip” Sebree

he Bible makes quite a claim for itself—a claim that many people who say they believe in God and the Bible do not believe. We read in the first part of 2 Timothy 3:16, “All scripture is God-breathed.” Paul ex­plains the source of his writings when he says, ‘This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words” (1 Corinthians 2:13). Peter tells us in 2 Peter 1:21, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” These passages are affirming verbal inspiration, that is, the divine will of God has been revealed in words divinely selected to correctly and precisely convey it.

erbal inspiration (not to be confused with mechanical inspiration) insures that the whole, in its every part, is accurate and faithfully conveys the revelation of God. In essence, then, the scriptures are God’s words (1 Thessalonians 2:13), and such is claimed throughout the Bible. This being the case, they are inerrant, that is, exempt from error, free from mistake. Of whatever God speaks, it is true. Any historical references are accurate for God was there. Scientific references are correct for after all He created all things. These are not empty claims, for they can be examined and verified. If the Bible’s claims of being verbally inspired cannot be believed, then the Bible cannot be believed on anything.

he word of God is the basis for one’s faith (Romans 10:17). Faith is what gives as­surance to our hopes (Hebrews 11:1). Take away the word of God and there is no foundation for faith, and when faith falls there is nothing to give assurance for our hopes. It is tragic that there are people occupying pulpits who, in denying the verbal in­spiration of the Bible, are destroying the faith and hopes of many. [Reprinted from Know the Truth, Vol. 3, No. 8 – October, 1988]