WHEN any person wishes to have to do with God, the first thing is to ascertain what are the terms which God has laid down on which He will meet any one. In the Old Testament writings the terms were figuratively stated, for types were only intended to hold a place till Jesus came, of whom the types spoke.
When Jesus was on earth He spoke of the terms on which He could bestow blessing. Terms must always be dictated by the Giver; this point is of the greatest importance. In Mark 9:22,22And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. (Mark 9:22) we read of a man who wanted blessing for his son who had a dumb spirit, which had possessed him from a child. The father appealed to Jesus, proposing the terms by saying, “If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus made no reply to these terms, but at once stated His own by saying, “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (vs. 23).
On hearing these terms, the father at once abandoned his own terms, and accepted the terms proposed by the Giver. He was indeed surprised to find that the blessing he sought was to be granted on such terms, and said with tears, “Lord, I believe, help thou mine unbelief” (vs. 24). Jesus immediately delivered the child from the evil spirit. Many persons are to be found today who, while owning that only Jesus can save them from the wrath to come, yet have not received the blessing of salvation. Like the father of the child, they seek to make their own terms, which are according to their own thoughts.
After Jesus bad died and risen again, God named His terms in very plain language. Thus the first preachers after the resurrection of Jesus stated the terms in every preaching, and declared that they were fixed both on God’s side and also on man’s side. They urged their hearers to at once approach God on the terms which He had laid down.
Since those days there has been no alteration in the terms, and every faithful preacher presents the glad tidings as they were laid down in the Holy Scriptures by the Spirit of God. These terms have always been suitable to every anxious sinner, and all who have bowed to them have found peace with God. No believer has ever regretted having agreed to God’s terms, for he has always realized more blessing than he expected.
After the resurrection and ascension of Jesus and the descent of the Holy Spirit, God announced that He could have mercy upon all. When mercy has been received, the way is clear for grace without limit, and then God’s love can be known by the Holy Spirit, which is given to every believer.
All this is proposed in the gospel. What a gospel it is! If believers knew it better, how much more they would enjoy it, and then speak of it.
On what terms can a repentant sinner obtain the good of this gospel? This is a very important question. Alas, many persons who preach do not know God’s terms, as laid down in the Holy Scriptures, so they mislead their hearers, and often many years of this life are wasted through being misled as to the terms. The blessing of the gospel has been waiting for anxious sinners ever since Jesus took His seat at God’s right hand, and numbers have availed themselves of the blessing on the only terms laid down.
Now what are the terms on man’s side, on which the blessings of the gospel are obtained? Living faith in God and the testimony which He has given concerning His Son. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Heb. 11:66But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)). This is a very powerful statement, and excludes every other way for blessing.
There is nothing material in the gospel, it is entirely good news of spiritual blessing to meet spiritual need; therefore, only faith can receive it. The blessing is received in the heart, not in the hands. It does not gratify natural desires, but meets spiritual wants. Hence it is available to faith, and faith receives what God offers. The result is immediate, as we read, “Being justified by faith we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). This is a wonderful result to faith, and true to everyone who has bowed in his heart to God’s terms. Thus spiritual need is met by virtue of the death and resurrection of Jesus, and what is even greater, all God’s righteous claims have been met to His own satisfaction, so that the sins of all believers have gone from God’s sight.
After any one has found peace with God, then it is important to know what position such an one occupies under the eye of God. The new position is in grace, which means in the favor of God. We read, “We have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Rom. 5:22By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:2)), and again, “By faith ye stand” (2 Cor. 1:2424Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. (2 Corinthians 1:24)). The natural circumstances of this life are not changed by the gospel, because the gospel is a testimony to spiritual blessings which are available through Christ’s first coming, while the change of body and the circumstances connected with it will be realized at Christ’s second coming.
It is well to be clear about this part of the truth, as many have been led astray to expect healing of the body. None of the apostles preached healing of the body; they had power to heal, but they never preached it. Those they healed had to die afterward, so it was only a temporary benefit, which was a sign of the change of dispensation from Judaism to Christianity.
If all the blessings are spiritual, then they can only be realized in our spiritual being by faith, and we can only continue to enjoy them by faith through the power of the Holy Spirit.
God has made every provision for our spiritual progress, both in giving us His revealed mind in the Holy Scriptures, and power to understand them by the gift of the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual progress means spiritual movement, so we read, “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:77(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7)). Walking implies movement, and this is made by faith because there is nothing which appeals to sight. Outward circumstances may be very trying, as the apostles had to prove, and many since their day also, but spiritual progress more than compensates for the trials of this life. For this spiritual vigor is necessary, so we must feed on Christ as the bread of God in order to maintain spiritual vigor. “The just shall live by faith” (Heb. 10:3838Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38)). Living implies that every part of the believer’s spiritual being is in full energy. After having laid hold of the beginning of the gospel and found peace with God, there is a reluctance to “walk,” that is, to move on in faith in subjection to the Word of God, and sometimes service for the Lord is used as an excuse. But service has no power apart from the servant being himself a living witness of what he testifies. The apostle Paul said to Timothy, “Thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, faith, long-suffering, love, patience” (2 Tim. 3:1010But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, (2 Timothy 3:10)). Faith when put to the test always produces works. In the record which we have in Hebrews 11, we find that in every case recorded the works proved the reality of the faith. Works do not produce faith, but real faith produces works.
If a farmer bought a sack of professed seed wheat, and had it sown in the field under proper condition to receive the seed, and then not one grain grew that would prove that what he bought was not seed wheat.
So faith which does not produce any good works is not faith, but only imitation (see James 2:2626For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. (James 2:26)). In this day of profession it is well to have a sure guide, and God has taken every care to protect His people against imposture.
This characterizes faith now as much as it did at the beginning.
G. W. G.