The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-06-21

We believe that the first principles
and ordinances Of the Gospel are:
(1) Faith In the Lord Jesus Christ;
(2) Repentance; (3) Baptism by i'm
mersion for the remission Of sins;
~ Laying on Of hands for the gift
Of the Holy Ghost. (Articles or
Faith, A.
Faith in God is the first, the fun
damental, the basal principle OF the
Gospel; as, indeed, faith, In the moro
general usage of the term, Is the i'm
polling cause to activity even in or
binary affairs. Faith and belief are
not .infrequently confused, and the
words are too commonly regarded as
synonymous. An approach to iden-
tity of meaning appears in early Eng
lish, in consequece of which fact be-
lief is sometimes give the more defl-
mite Specification Of faith in our YER
sions of the Holy Scriptures. Belief
may be nothing more than mental
assent to any proposition, principle,
or alleged fact; whereas faith i'm
plies such confidence and conviction
as shall inspire to action. Belief Is
by comparison passive, a mere agree
ment or tacit acceptance only; faith
is active and positive, and is accom-
panied by works. Faith is vivified.
vitalized, living belief.
Even the devils believe that Jesus
| is the Christ, and so fully that they
tremble at the prospect Of the fate
foreshadowed by that belief (see
James 2:19). Their belief may
amount even to certain knowledge,
! but they remain devils nevertheless.
! Consider the man possessed by a
demon in the country Of the Gada-
renes. When he beheld Jesus afar
off he ran to the Master and wor-
SHIPPED Him, while the evil spirit by
| whom the man was controlled ac-
knowledged the Lord, calling Him
Jesus, thou Son of the Most High
God" mark s.; for analogous IN
stances see Mark 1:23-27 and 3:S-11.)
Strikingly similar in form, yet vi
tally different in spirit and effect.
is this testimony of the demons as
compared with Peters confession OF
Whom say We that i am?" Peter
replied in practically the same words
voiced by the unclean spirits: "Thou
art the Christ, the Son of the living
God" Matt. 1916, 49,
Peters faith had already been
! tested. and had demonstrated its
vital power. Through faith the
Apostle had forsaken much that had
, been dear, and had followed his Lord
| in persecution and suffering. His
knowledge of God as the Eternal
Father and OF Jesus Christ as the
/ Redeemer may have been no greater
| than that of the demons; but while
/ to them that knowledge was an add
/ ed cause Of condemnation. to him it
was the power of righteous service
and of eventual salvation.
| In theological sense faith in
cludes moving, vital, inspiring con-
fidence in God, and the acceptance
fof His will as our law and Of His
words as our guide in life. Faith in
] God is a principle Of power, for by
! its exercise spiritual forces are made
operative. BY this power phenomena
! that appear to be supernatural, such
, as we call miracles, are wrought.
Even the Lord Jesus was influenced
and in measure controlled by the
lack of faith or the possession there
of by those who sought blessings at
His hands. We are told that at a
certain time and place Jesus could
there do no mighty work" because OF
the peoples unbelief, which was SO
dense that He marveled at it. Mark
1 SIS, g. Repeatedly did the Lord re.
! Duke and admonish with such re-
! proofs as 20 We of little faith"
ssWrhara is yoIIr IA ith p, md sfHOu ia
it that ye have no faith?" In glo-
] rious contrast rang out His words OF