The Apostle Paul taught that ?faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen? (Hebrews 11:1). {{more: continue …}}?
BELIEVE CHRIST …
We accept a man’s words when we trust the man. As Christians we must accept Christ. Behind that acceptance lies confidence in Jesus Christ. The beginning of all true Christian faith has in it, not only the intellectual acceptance of certain propositions as true, but a confidence in the truth of Him, Jesus Christ our Lord.
But what shall we say about a man or woman who professes to be a disciple, and neither trembles, nor thrills, nor hopes, nor dreads, nor desires, nor does any single thing because of the creed, what they believe. Believe Jesus, but do not stop there.
BELIEVE ON CHRIST …?
Neither building upon a foundation, nor leaning upon a support which is thought of as below what rests upon it, but rather the hanging upon something firm and secure which is above what hangs from it. The same picture is suggested by our word ‘dependence.’ ‘As a nail fastened in a sure place,’ said one of the prophets, ‘on Him shall hang all the glory of His Father’s house.’ ‘Hangs my helpless soul on Thee.’
The rope lowered over the cliffs supports the adventurous bird-nester in safety above the murmuring sea. They who clasp Christ’s hand outstretched from above, may swing over the deepest, abyss, and fear no fall.?
BELIEVE INTO CHRIST …
True Christian faith is the flight of the soul towards Christ.
To yearn after whom is better than to possess all, and following hard after whom, even in the very motion there is rest, and in the search there is finding. Religion is the flight of the soul, the aspiration of the whole person after the unattainable Attainable — ‘that I may know Him, and be found in Him.’?
As Christians, growth, progress, getting nearer to Christ, yearning always with a great desire after Him! Think of our contentment with present attainments that marks Christian people — tortoises in their crawling rather than eagles in their flight. Let us remember that the faith which believes Him, and that which believes on Him, both need to be crowned and perfected by that which believes towards Him. Our motto should be, ‘Forgetting the things that are behind, I reach forward to the things that are before.’
We may dwell in Him. He may be the strong Habitation to which we may continually resort. One of the Old Testament words for trusting means taking refuge. In the New Testament we find this expression. ‘I flee unto Thee to hide me.’ (Psalms 143:9) In that Fortress we dwell secure.?
To be in Jesus, wedded to Him by will and desire, wedded to Him in the oneness of a believing spirit and in the obedience of a life, to be in Christ is the crown and climax of faith, and the condition of all perfection. To be in Christ is life; to be out of Him is death. In Him we have redemption; in Him we have wisdom, truth, peace, righteousness, hope, confidence. To be in Him is to be in heaven. We enter by faith. Faith is not only the acceptance of His Word, but is the reliance of the soul on Him, the flight of the soul towards Him, the dwelling of the soul in Him.
“Come, my people, enter your chambers, and shut your doors behind you; hide yourselves for alittle while until the wrath is past.” (Isaiah 26:20)
“I don’t know how, but I know WHO!”
See you on Sunday!
Peace,
Pastor Nelda
