William was happy to know that Christ had died for his sins, but one question still troubled him. If he was saved by faith in the death of Christ, then of what value were his works, his prayers and his giving to the poor? William took this question to Master Faber. What would he say?
“We have no goodness at all,” he said. “All is of grace and of God’s pure mercy, granted to those who deserve nothing.”
Yes! Even Master Faber, the great idolater, had learned something of the gospel. Now William and his old friend could thank the Lord together, and they began to study the Bible, that precious book that so few could read. In fact, William began to teach others that the Bible alone was the guide for their lives.
Most people in that great city of Paris did not care for William’s teaching. They preferred their sins and the darkness to the great light of God’s Word. A few did believe, but as Farel studied his Bible, he began to see that to try to make churches better was not the answer. The only answer was to come out from them and begin again to follow the simple teaching in God’s Word.
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Not everyone who had been saved agreed with Farel, and it was at this time that he had to do something very hard. It had not been easy to leave his parents and go to Paris. It had been harder still to turn from the false religion he had been taught all his life. Now William had to choose whether he would go on with his Christian friends who wanted to stay in the churches even though there was much evil there, or whether he would stay away from the evil even though it could mean he would be alone.
What would you have chosen? What indeed are you choosing every day of your life? To mix the light with the darkness? William had read the verse, “Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity” (2 Timothy 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)). It was hard to do, but William left his old friend, Faber, and left also the city of Paris.
You, too, will have to make choices like this. God has a wonderful promise for those who choose to stay away from evil. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty” (2 Corinthians 6:17-1817Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17‑18)).