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Commentary on "Faith"
Day 5: Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Better promises
The author is very right when he writes: "Faith is more than a feeling... faith is doing what we know God asks us to do even though we don't feel like doing it." I'd like to address the root of the kind of faith that gives us the power to obey even when we don't feel like it.
One important aspect of growing in faith that is sometimes overlooked is having a love for truth and living in reality. In the face of tough circumstances, personal difficulties, or sinful desires, it can be very tempting to "pretend" -- to deliberately deceive ourselves -- in order to temporarily escape pain, quell our conscience, or otherwise deaden unpleasant feelings. Sin especially makes false, but enticing, promises, and tempts us away from the light of truth and honesty.
The kingdom of God, however, is founded in light and truth, and it is founded on better promises, promises that are true and that lead to "pleasures forever", as David writes: "You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in your right hand there are pleasures forever" (Psalm 16:11). Isaiah calls, "Come, house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord" (Isaiah 2:5). Jesus said, "I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness" (John 12:46). God's word, and especially His promises to us, are the key to breaking out of self-deception and having the power to follow Jesus into the light. I have mentioned John 8:31-32 in every commentary this week so far, and I'll include it again (Jesus speaking): "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free." Another passage that speaks to the powerful effect of God's promises is 2 Peter 1:2-4:
Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord; seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.
Isn't it wonderful that God's power has already granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness? -- and it's all through the knowledge of Him, and through his promises to us.
What are some examples of "precious and magnificent promises" that free us from sin by giving us the power to act in faith? I'll list just a few examples that are helpful to some areas of weakness for me.
Worry/anxiety:
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:5-7).
- "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:18-20).
- "... for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matthew 6:32-33).
Worry about the future:
- "And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them" (Psalm 139:16).
- "[Jesus Christ] will also confirm you to the end, blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
- "I [Jesus] am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20).
Sexual temptation:
- "Therefore, if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore consider the members of your earthly body as dead to immorality, impurity..." (Colossians 3:1-5).
Legalism/perfectionism:
- "He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast..." (Colossians 1:22-23).
- "But to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, his faith is credited as righteousness" (Romans 4:5).
- "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6).
- "My [Jesus'] grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Dwelling on past sins:
- "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).
- "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Romans 8:1).
When we give our lives to Jesus, He doesn't leave us in our sin. Rather, he leads us to live in truth and by faith in the truth. He is the God of truth. David says in one of his Psalms of repentance: "Behold, You desire truth in the innermost being, and in the hidden part You will make me know wisdom" (Psalm 51:6). In another Psalm, he cries out, "Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name" (Psalm 86:11). This is the heart-cry of a child of God: knowing our own darkness and sin, we need and long for our hearts to be undivided in simple devotion to and trust in Jesus.
Condition for growth: humble surrender
Towards the end, the author makes the statement: "by our personal choices we can help create the right kind of environment in which spiritual growth can take place." There is really only one heart attitude and one choice that can effect true spiritual growth in your life, and that is to humbly surrender of all of yourself to God. Surrender means giving up your right to yourself. When you have done that, there is true freedom.
What is Jesus asking you to surrender? Lay yourself down at His feet. It may be incredibly painful to give up things you hold dear, but He will lift you up, and and He will give you joy in His presence. "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6-7).
May the Lord direct our hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ. (2 Thessalonians 3:5)
Summary
- God's promises to us enable us, very practically, to live by faith in Him and be freed from the power of sins
- Humble surrender (giving up your right to yourself) is the only heart attitude and choice that can effect true spiritual growth.
Copyright 2008 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 9, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.
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