Thy mercy, my God, is the theme
of my soul. That faith, which is the gift
of God, is not passive, but is very active due to the fact that
the same Spirit that bestows this gift also works in those
to whom He is pleased to give it both the will and to do of
His good pleasure. This faith is manifested by causing
those who have it to hunger and thirst after the One who is its
object. Their greatest satisfaction comes as they see him exalted
and triumphant over all his enemies, most especially as regards the
complete payment for the sins of those for whom he died, and
the hopeful expectation which they possess of being found among
them at the day of his appearing. The man who has no desire after
Christ, nor any longing to be found included in that number
of those he comes to claim as his sheep, does not have faith,
regardless of what religion he may be a part of, what doctrine
he professes to believe, or how loudly he may tell others the
way of salvation. Those who are called in Christ
will be found looking for him. They weep to think that they
might ever grow weary of the preaching of Jesus Christ and
Him crucified. Their desire is rather that such
might be their constant source of delight. They rejoice in the
accounts of His kindness and tender mercies toward unworthy
sinners, knowing that they are such. To know that He is the
friend of sinners gives them encouragement. They find comfort
in His teaching and the manifestation of His faithfulness towards those
He has chosen. They weep at the thought of their
own dullness of understanding and coldness of heart, and lament
that they have caused His grief and contributed to His sorrow.
That which is called faith by the multitude is nothing more
than presumption, which is built upon the notion that a man can
believe as a matter of his own free will. The average person
we hear talk of faith likens it to a form of positive thinking,
by which they are able to perform all sorts of exploits, conquer
any foe, effect great healings, and get any prayer answered according
to their own desire. The man with true faith, on the
other hand, casts himself at the feet of Christ, all too aware
of his own helpless state, and cries out, Lord, I believe, help
thou mine unbelief. If he is enabled by the Spirit
to accomplish any task to which he may be called, he acknowledges
the source of his power and is aware of the Lord's authority
and sustenance. If you ask the average person who calls himself
a Christian, what is the basis of your hope, most would reply,
I have believed. Then they point to a time when
they joined the church, made a decision, got saved, or were
baptized as proof of such. True faith, on the other hand,
transcends such events and confesses Christ has died for sinners,
believing Him to be the Son of God, able to effect their deliverance
and merciful to them that call upon His name. They that have
this faith look for him. The one who bled for wicked men
is the very basis of their hope and expectation, and their longing
desire is to be found in him. They look for him as those who
can find no place of rest except there. As Peter said, Lord, to
whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal
life. When those who have been acquainted with their own depravity
and unbelieving spirit are given true faith, they are most amazed
at the thought that such might be found in them. They are often
encouraged as they see that faith manifested in others whom they
call their brethren. They find assurance not in their
loud claims of faith, nor even the assurances which are spoken
to them by others, but in the sweet promises of the gospel
applied to their soul by the work of the Holy Ghost. Some
carnal professors can point to much assurance given to them
by those who promote free will faith, while others rely upon
an adherence to what they call sound doctrine. They can revel
in the multiplicity of their good works and deeds, the strength
of their religious affiliations, or the accuracy of their confession
of faith. They are content to abide in
those comfortable places, and the soothing melodies of their
belief serve as a suitable elixir. Those who are called by Christ,
however, are compelled to look for him and rejoice in his appearing
alone. When the Aaronic High Priest
went into the Holy of Holies once a year with the blood of
a bull, he went in as a sinner with sin, and he came out in
the same condition. When Jesus Christ entered into
those holy places not made with hands, he came as a lamb without
spot or blemish, yet laden with the sins of his people, which
he had imputed to himself by reason of his kinship to those
who were hidden in him. He entered upon that heavenly
altar as their substitute and suffered the exact sentence of
death which was due to each one as transgressors of the holy
law of God. When Christ died, He put away
sin forever, and to those that look for Him, He appears without
sin unto salvation. They need look no further, for
it is with this perfect sacrifice that they are forever sanctified
and satisfied. Christ is all. If you would like
a free transcript of this broadcast, email us at 4the4 at windstream
dot net.