Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1884-05-22
&eadiua fur the Sabbath.
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
[ (Origlllal.1
FAITH.

fohgnal.l
FAITH.
Great importance is, in the Scriptures, at
tached to faith. This every Bible reader
will readily admit. Such expressions as
"without faith it is impossible to please
God," and "the just shall live by faith" are
of very frequent occurrence in the Scrip
lures. In fact, the conclusion to which we
are forced to come is that the Bible teaches
that those whohave faith are safe, and those
who have not faith are in a state of con-
demnation, which must end in hopeless
ruin, unless they in some way obtain it,
Such being the case, it is incumbent on eve
ry human being to mediate frequently and
seriously on this subject. We should ask
ourselves the questions, What is faith, and
have we it? In attempting to answer these
questions the Bible should be our guide.
We should search it for definition of faith,
and for description of those persons who
have faith.
The word faith is derived from the Latin
word foo, that is derived from the Greek
word peitho. The primitive meaning of the
Greek word pettho is to persuade. In the
passive and middle voices it means to obey.
This seems to be the leading idea which is
attached to it in the Scriptures. Faith and
are inseparably connected. Where faith is
there is also obedience and there can be- no
obedience without faith. Faith and belief
have nearly the. same meaning, but faith is
more comprehensive, including some things
which are not contained in belief. The fol-
lowing is very comprehensive and strictly
Scriptural definition, $50 far as a definition
is possible) of faith. "Faith in Jesus Christ
is a saving grace, whereby we receive and
rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is
offered to us in the gospel" The definition
of faith given in this quotation is that tits
a saving grace" This, however, does not
distinguish it from repentance unto life.
Repentance unto life is saving grace, but
it differs from faith in that in repentance
the sinner turns from his sins unto God, and
in faith the sinner receives Christ and rests
upon him and upon him alone for salvation,
and in accordance with the plan revealed in
the Scriptures.
In faith, according to the accepted use of
the word, two things are included. The
grace itself bestowed by God and the e8er-
else of the grace by those upon whom ii is
bestowed. The word grace, literally, means
a gift. In it's wide and unlimited sense, it
includes everything of every kind and char
acter, which God gives us. In its restricted
sense, it denotes those spiritual gifts which
God, in Christ Jesus bestoWs. There are a
variety of graces but God is the author of
them all. From him cometh down every
good and perfect gift. That particular gift
of God, which is called faith, is the power
to believe God, and the power to believe in
Jesus Christ for salvation, as he offers IL to
us in the gospel.
By the fall man lost confidence in God,
and sin blotted out from the mind correct
knowledge of God. When God bestoWs the
grace of faith he reveals himself by his
word and spirit, to those upon whom he be-
slows the gift. 1t would be Scriptural to
say that the power to believe is a part OF
what is produced in the soul at the new
birth or in regeneration. The soul dead in
tresspasses and sins cannot believe. 1t is in
capable of exercising faith. The capability
to believe God and receive and rest upon
Jesus Christ for salvation as he is offered in
the gospel is part of the change produced
in the soul by the Holy Spirit in regenera-
ton.
So far as faith is regarded as grace, it is
wholly of God. No one denies that regen-
Grafton is absolutely a work of the Holy
Spirit. If the whole be the work of the
Holy Spirit, all the parts which make up The
whole must be the work of the Holy Spirit
By his spirit God creates US anew in Christ
Jesus.
So far as the exercise of faith is sconcerned,
or so far as the actual receiving and resting
upon Jesus Christ for salvation is concerned,
it is a work of the individual. God bestows
upon US eyes and ears, or he gives us the ca
pability to see and to hear, but the act OF see
ing and hearing belongs to the individual
who possesses the eyes and ears.
Faith, like some other graces, grows and
develops. The principle of faith like the
principle of life, underg0es no change but
that of development. It must be remem-
bered that faith, like everything else, has its
laws of development. Under some circun-
stances it grows, but under other circumstan-
ces it does not grow. Exercise is absolutely
necessary to physical development: The
muscles of the right arm of the blacksmith
grow and become strong, to degree that Is $
not attained by the muscles of the arms OF
those who are notsimilarly situated with the
blacksmith. So tits with faith. The more
constant, it is used the stronger it becomes
The 6. with of faith is dependent mainly
upon the increase of knowledge. Faith
cometh, we are told, by hearing, and hearing
by the word of God. We cannot come to
God, that is we cannot believe in him or trust
on him unless we know that he is and what
he is. These facts we cannot learn but from
the Bible and the enlightening influences Of
the Holy Spirit.
God uses means. It is not done by miracle.
Where there is no vision the people perish,
and wherever there is vision some people
are saved.
The fact that we use the means Of divine
appointment for the development of faith is
good and satisfactory evidence that we have
faith. On the contrary, if we despise the
means which God has appointed for the
growth of faith, we may safely conclude
that we have no faith.
s@ The influence of the gospel upon So
ciety israrely taken into consideration when
the blessings of the religion OF the Bible
oro to6 LNow pI.rc0Oc Slpn tO he