How fuzzy and vague are men’s ideas of FAITH!

Everyone talks of it, but what is it? The professional counselor says to the young man, “Remember, you must have faith if you would succeed.” The politician says, “We can stop inflation and have economic strength if we keep our faith.”

But what is FAITH?

We had better have it clear because eternity depends upon it, according to  Romans 3:28 — “For we maintain that a person is justified by faith apart from the works of the law.”

Every act in life requires a kind of faith. For instance, suppose a friend tells me of a good book now in the public library. On his recommendation, I get in my car and sign out the book.  Notice, it is faith all the way. I believed my friend without having seen the book. I had confidence in the mechanism of my car, the brakes, etc. I trusted the jacket on the book was telling the truth when it indicated without my investigating what the subject matter of the book would be….and so on with each new move.

Faith is the confidence to venture out.  Every new act in life takes faith. We believe that the evidence we have is sufficient for us to act upon.

Now when we come to the matter of God and our faith in Him….here is trust in a person.  As one put it, “Faith is a belief in God and a trust on His promise.”

So many are creeping toward God — afraid, as if they are crawling out on thin ice that may drop them into cold water at any moment. Remember the story of the man crawling uneasily across a frozen stream. Hearing a noise, he looks up to see a native of the area driving a team of horses across the ice — whistling as he goes! The poor man gets up and walks with courage.

Many, I say, are creeping in fear toward God. Listen! We have the powerful word of the Apostles, the witness of thousands who have gone on before, and the encouragement from God Himself as He calls from beyond, “Taste and see.” “Come, I won’t cast you out.”

Christians, help those around you by testifying of His support. We must ourselves become more familiar with this way of faith. Let’s explore the trails of faith by studying the first part of Romans, chapter 4.  Here can be seen some of the essential features of faith.

First, the HUMILITY OF FAITH, verses 1-5.

We cannot work God into debt to us by our good living. Indeed, the very idea of faith is turning from self-trust to trust in what Jesus Christ did for us on the cross. “Where, then, is boasting? It is excluded.” See Romans 3: 27.

Second, the FELICITY OF FAITH, verses 6-8.

God says here in effect, “blessed is the one to whom God credits righteousness.”  Thus, as the chains of guilt drop forever, a man can arise to serve God out of gratitude.

Third, the UNIVERSALITY OF FAITH, verses  9-12.

Is this blessed life for me? Yes, our text here assures us that just as it was for Abraham, it is for us. Abraham’s experience is proof that we can turn from our vain efforts at trying to get God’s favor via the golden rule, ten commandments, ritual etc. and simply rest in faith in what Christ has done. Faith in Jesus Christ is the way for all.  It is the only way for any.