In "Faith in Four Positions," Don Fortner explores the nature of true saving faith through the biblical account of the fall of Jericho, as recounted in Hebrews 11:30. Fortner argues that genuine faith is not merely intellectual assent to the truths of the Gospel, but involves obedience, waiting, expecting, and prevailing through God's promises. He supports his arguments with scriptural references including Joshua 6, Psalm 37:4-7, and Isaiah 55:11, illustrating that authentic faith manifests in actions aligned with God's revealed will, even when they appear irrational. The article emphasizes the doctrinal significance of understanding faith in a dynamic manner, enhancing believers' confidence in God's sovereignty and their role in advancing His kingdom despite their circumstances.
Key Quotes
“True saving faith is much more than an idea or an ideal. It is much more than the acceptance of facts—believing specific doctrines, believing that God is or believing that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day.”
“Obeying God... that is what faith does. [...] It is our responsibility and blessedness to obey our God's revealed will.”
“The waiting of faith involves expectation... We ought to expect the preaching of the gospel to bring forth fruit.”
“Yes, faith in Christ always prevails. We shall prevail over every obstacle over every foe inward and outward over death over hell and over the grave.”
What does the Bible say about faith?
The Bible teaches that true faith involves obedience, patience, and expectation in God's promises.
Moreover, faith necessitates patience, illustrated by Israel's wait for the walls to fall. It is contrary to human nature to wait on the Lord, yet Scripture encourages believers to find strength in their expectation of God’s work. This waiting is not idle; instead, it involves active expectation that God will fulfill His promises, as noted in Isaiah 40:31. Faith is, thus, an act of both waiting and expecting, where believers anticipate God's intervention and the realization of His plans in their lives.
Hebrews 11:30, Joshua 6:3-4, Isaiah 40:31
How do we know God's promises are true?
We can trust God's promises because they are anchored in His faithfulness and revealed through Scripture.
The fulfillment of God's promises in Scripture provides a historical basis for believers today. The consistent pattern of God delivering His people, as exemplified by the fall of Jericho, reinforces our confidence that He will fulfill His promises to us as well. Furthermore, faith in God's sovereignty and the expectation of His actions encourage believers to trust in His word, knowing that He does not lie and that His timing and methods may be beyond human understanding.
Romans 4:21, Joshua 6:20
Why is obedience important for Christians?
Obedience is a fundamental expression of true faith and submission to God's will.
Furthermore, obedience serves to strengthen our faith, as the act of following God's guidance often leads to experiences that deepen trust in His character and promises. While believers may struggle with perfect obedience, the desire to obey stems from recognizing God's goodness and grace. Thus, it is through obedience that Christians align their lives with God's will, experience His blessings, and fulfill their calling to live according to His Word as expressed in James 1:22.
Hebrews 11:30, Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:22
What role does patience play in faith?
Patience is essential in faith, allowing believers to trust God's timing and promises.
Scripture encourages believers to reframe their understanding of waiting; it is not passivity, but a dynamic act of faith that expects God to act (Isaiah 40:31). During times of waiting, Christians are reminded of God’s faithfulness and are called to remain steadfast in their hope. This builds assurance and strengthens spiritual endurance, ultimately affirming their trust in God's promises, as seen in Psalm 27:14, where believers are urged to wait on the Lord with courage and strength.
Joshua 6:3-4, Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 27:14
By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days. - Hebrews 11:30Faith in Four Positions
“By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.” Hebrews 11:30
The Lord told Joshua and the children of Israel exactly what they were to do to take Jericho (Josh. 6:3-4), and promised them that Jericho’s wall would fall down flat before them (Josh. 6:5); and it came to pass (Josh. 6:6-25). “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down.” But they did not fall, or even shake, until “after they were compassed about seven days.”
True, saving faith is much more than an idea or an ideal. It is much more than the acceptance of facts, believing specific doctrines, believing that God is, or believing that Jesus Christ died, was buried, and rose again the third day. Faith in Christ involves confidence in him and submission to him, as well as relying upon the merits of his blood and righteousness. There is much to be learned about faith in the fall of Jericho. That which is recorded in Joshua 6, to which this text refers, shows us four positions of faith.
Obeying
Here is faith obeying God. That is what faith does. I do not suggest that believers are perfectly obedient. We are not. But believers do bow to and obey the Lord their God. These people were required to march around Jericho for six days in utter silence. They were required to do this for six days, and then a seventh. – Thus the Lord taught them patience (Ps. 37:4-7).
God’s ways often seem strange to us. I am sure every man in Israel, when he heard Joshua’s declaration of God’s word, must have thought, “That sure seems like a strange way to conquer a place.” Who would ever dream of conquering a city with nothing but the blowing of a ram’s horn and carrying an ark?
No matter how contrary it may appear to be to human reason, no matter how unpopular it may be for us to do so, it is our responsibility and blessedness to obey our God’s revealed will (revealed in Holy Scripture) implicitly. We cannot do his work any other way.
The ark that Israel carried was typical of redemption accomplished by Christ. The blowing of the rams’ horns was symbolic of the preaching of the gospel. These and these alone are the weapons of our warfare, by which the church and kingdom of God assaults the gates of hell.
Waiting
The children of Israel obeyed God and waited for Jericho’s wall to fall. Nothing is more contrary to our proud flesh than waiting on God. We want action, and we want it right now. But faith must and will wait on the Lord. “Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.” – “Wait on the Lord, and keep his way, and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land: when the wicked are cut off, thou shalt see it.” – “Say not thou, I will recompense evil; but wait on the Lord, and he shall save thee.” – “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” – “The Lord is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord.”
Expecting
Waiting in faith is not lazy idleness, excused by claiming to believe in divine sovereignty and absolute predestination. Faith in God’s sovereignty and confidence in his eternal purpose inspires obedience to his Word and confidence in his Word. The waiting of faith involves expectation. We wait on God to work when we expect him to do so.
The faith by which Jericho fell was an expectant faith (Josh. 6:20). The people shouted before the walls fell down. Because they believed God, they expected those mighty, huge walls to fall. We who believe God ought to expect him to do all that he has promised. What could be more reasonable? If in the middle of a severe drought we pray for rain, we ought to walk around with an umbrella in our hands. We ought to expect the preaching of the gospel to bring forth fruit (Isa. 55:11). We ought to expect the triumph of the gospel. We ought to expect our God to do us good, and nothing but good, all the days of our lives (Rom. 8:28). We ought to expect goodness and mercy to pursue us everywhere we go (Ps. 23:6). We ought to live every day in the expectation of Christ’s coming (Tit. 2:11-14).
Prevailing
Israel took Jericho (Josh. 6:20). The walls fell down flat before them. God made a promise. They believed it. And faith prevailed. They conquered their enemies. Let us likewise believe our God (Matt. 17:20; 1 John 5:4). “Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.” “If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Yes, faith in Christ always prevails. We shall prevail over every obstacle, over every foe (inward and outward), over death, over hell, and over the grave. Read the last chapters of the Book and see (Rev. 19:1-6; 20:6).
Comments
Your comment has been submitted and is awaiting moderation. Once approved, it will appear on this page.
Be the first to comment!