Faith in God and the Bible
The apostle Paul wrote: "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works" (II Tim. 3:16, 17).
If you can believe that statement then you should have no difficulty knowing what the will of God is in terms of exercising faith!
Paul also wrote: "But 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" (Heb. 11:6).
Here, belief in God is intrinsically tied up with the matter of faith. Those who wish to walk by faith must have a sense of the reality of God — they must be actively conscious of His existence. Furthermore, they must believe that He is capable and willing to respond to the needs of those who diligently seek such intervention. As David said: "Thou art near, O Lord. . ." (Ps. 119:151). And again in Psalm 145:18: "The Lord is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth" (RSV). God is as close as your next sincere, believing prayer!
David also said: "He fulfils the desire of all who fear him, he also hears their cry, and saves them" (Ps. 145:19, RSV).
God is not deaf. Because of His compassionate nature He cannot help but respond to the prayers of those who truly believe, in faith, that He hears them.
But a faithful person is not unsure of himself. He does not waver in faith, but is sure that God is there and that He hears our prayers. James made this clear when he was discussing the matter of asking God for wisdom.
"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that a double minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything of the Lord" (James 1:6-8, RSV).
Faith and doubt are antonyms to God!
Abraham's Example
Abraham did not doubt that God would fulfill His promise to make him the father of many nations — even though what he saw, the physical evidence, told him otherwise. Abraham and his wife Sarah were long past the age when couples have children. Sarah even laughed at the whole idea that they would have a son in their old age (Gen. 18: 12). But ". . . Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness" (Rom. 4:3). Abraham had simple confidence that God would indeed perform what He had promised to do. He had hope even when the physical circumstances told him he should have none (verse 18). Abraham's concept of faith is summed up in verses 19-21 of this same chapter:
"And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body [he did not walk by sight!] now dead [i.e., impotent], when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb: He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. "
Here is the simple definition of Abraham's faith. He is the father of the faithful (cf. Rom. 4:11, 16). Abraham is our prime example of faith — next to Jesus Christ Himself!
Faith is therefore predicated upon knowing the will of God. When we recognize His promises and claim them in confidence, we are exercising faith. The greatest evidence available is the fact that Cod has promised something. This is the basis for faith. This information overshadows he physical evidence in many cases. Yet, this is not blind, unknowing faith. It is based upon a clear understanding of the will of the living God.
Misguided, Misdirected Faith
Unfortunately, many well-meaning Christians have inadvertently created a source of ridicule by sometimes misunderstanding what is meant by faith.
Perhaps a prime example is found in the snake-handling sects of the southern United States. These zealous, but often misguided, people believe that the voluntary handling of poisonous reptiles is a demonstration of faith. After all, God has made certain promises in this regard in the Bible: "These signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils [demons]; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them . . ." (Mark 16:17-18).
The apostle Paul, on one occasion, accidentally took hold of a poisonous serpent on the island of Malta. "Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and put them on the fire, when a viper came out because of the heat and fastened on his hand. . . . He, however, shook off the creature into the fire and suffered no harm" (Acts 28:3, 5, RSV).
These examples are often used to justify the handling of rattlesnakes, copperheads, water moccasins and other deadly reptiles.
This is an example of misguided faith based on an inaccurate understanding of God's will. Jesus was not talking about voluntarily picking up poisonous creatures in order to "show off" one's faith. Rather, He was referring to just such an instance as Paul encountered — an accidental situation.
We can understand this important truth from Jesus' own example.
Christ's Personal Example
At the beginning of his 3½ year ministry, Jesus was put through one of the most severe trials of His entire life — next to the crucifixion itself. He was severely tempted directly and personally by the "god of this world" (II Cor. 4:4) — the devil. Jesus defeated the devil because He knew the will of God. Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus — accurately. But the devil misused those scriptures. He misapplied them.
"Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple. And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God [an appeal to Christ's nonexistent vanity!], cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone" (Matt. 4:5, 6). If you will check Psalm 91:11-12 you will find that the devil quoted the scripture quite accurately! He did not twist it. It was indeed a promise of God!
But the devil misused that scripture. He did not place it alongside those other scriptures, which qualified its meaning and intent! Jesus was familiar with the entire Bible — after all, it was He who inspired it through the Holy Spirit in the first place (John 1:1-5). He knew that God did not intend that people should go around taking unnecessary risks or acting in a foolhardy manner simply because God had promised protection!
Rather than take the bait that Satan was offering, Jesus wisely quoted another scripture to him — a scripture which qualified the one the devil had cited: "Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God" (Matt. 4:7; Deut. 6:16).
To cast Himself off the edge of the Temple wall would have been tempting God. It would have been taking an unnecessary risk — tempting fate. It would not have been a demonstration of courage to do so — it would have been foolish!
This is also the case with "snake handling." A number of well-meaning, but misguided, people have died as a result of "tempting God" in this manner.
God does promise protection from accidental situations that may occur inadvertently. But He does not expect Christians to take unnecessary risks in anything. To do so is to tempt God! It is not faith or courage — but foolishness!
Faith must be based on understanding and knowledge.
Faith Toward God
It is also critically important to understand in what direction faith is to be exercised. Some have mistakenly placed their faith in "faith healers" and sideshow evangelists who seek to create a personal following. But no man can heal! God alone is able to heal the sick and raise the dead. Placing faith in men is a mistake: "Thus saith the Lord; Cursed be the man that trusted in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord" (Jer. 17:5).
By contrast, Jeremiah says: "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is" (verse 7).
Faith is toward God — and God alone!
This does not mean that man cannot help — in the matter of healing, for example. As Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong has said on occasion: "God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves."
The medical profession is able to help those who are sick or injured. Luke, the writer of the Gospel by that name and the book of Acts, was called "the beloved physician" (Col. 4:14).
He is not called the "beloved ex-physician"! He traveled with Paul on his various journeys. Yet Paul himself was used of God as an instrument of healing on numerous occasions. Not that Paul ever healed anyone. He did not. God alone can heal — but He used Paul as a vehicle through which He performed miracles of healing (cf. Acts 14:8-10; 19:1 1-12; 20:9-10; 28:8-9).
As Jeremiah also wrote: "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise" (Jer. 17:14).
The Christian must understand the correct role of each factor in the questions of faith and healing. It is largely a matter of understanding and balance. Any one scripture must be understood in the light of those other scriptures which apply to the situation.
Faith as a Way of Life
Faith does not apply only to healing. Faith is — or should be — a way of life. As quoted earlier, we walk by faith. It should be a daily, ever-present factor in every Christian life.
Faith may be applied to physical protection, healing, finances, job hunting or job retaining! Faith pertains to solving of marital problems or other difficulties in human relations. Faith is the key factor in claiming any promise of God! (See Romans 4:20, 21)
It is faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and in His resurrection that gives the Christian hope for the future. As Paul wrote: "If in this life only we have hope [faith] in Christ we are of all men most miserable"! (1 Cor. 15:19)
Faith in the glorious future promised by God to His children is the driving force in the life of every truly converted child of God. It is the motivating factor — the element that gives the Christian the confidence to face the trials of being a Christian in a godless society of skepticism and doubt.
Walk, not in the blind faith of ignorant men, but in the knowledgeable, understanding faith of the children of God!
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