212. 2PE 1:1. THE PRECIOUSNESS OF FAITH
2Pe_1:1. The Preciousness of Faith
"Precious faith."’972Pe_1:1.
Faith is the sincere and hearty credence of testimony. The faith referred to in the text is clearly the belief of the Gospel, by which Jesus is received into the soul, as the only Saviour from guilt, condemnation, and the wrath to come. Faith;s not only an important grace in religion, but it is the very foundation of it, and there cannot be genuine and evangelical piety without it. The apostle directs our attention to its preciousness.
I. Faith is precious in its Object.
That object is the Lord Jesus Christ. Who can tell the preciousness of the blessed Redeemer? In the dignity of his person he is higher than the loftiest seraph in the skies. He is the Son of the Most High. The incarnate Deity. Jehovah-Jesus. Immanuel, God with us; the Creator of the universe; the Ruler of worlds; the Upholder of all things; the terror of devils, the benefactor of earth, and the joy of heaven. No language can describe, no imagination conceive, the height of his dignity and glories. And he is the only object of faith. We may hearken to Moses, sit in the school of the prophets, and joyfully receive the tidings of apostles and evangelists; but we are only called to believe in the name of the Son of God.
II. Faith is precious in its Testimony.
The testimony which faith receives is the glorious Gospel of the blessed God. The value of this testimony is incalculable. It is the word of truth The word of life. The word of salvation. It reveals tidings divine, heavenly, and eternal. More precious than thousands of gold and silver. One single verse of this is worth more than all the books extant. "This is a faithful saying," &c.
III. Faith is precious in its benefits.
By faith,
1. We are justified.
"Being justified by faith," &c Rom_5:1. "By him all that believe are justified," Act_13:39; Rom_3:21-26
By faith,
2. We are adopted into the Divine family.
"Ye are all the children of God by faith," Gal_3:26. "To as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God," &c. Joh_1:12.
By faith,
3. We are sanctified.
"Sanctify them through thy truth," &c Joh_17:17. Now it is only the truth received by faith that benefits us. Blood of Christ cleanseth from all sin, but that blood must be the object of our faith. "Purifying their hearts by faith," Act_15:9.
By faith,
4. We obtain complete and eternal salvation.
"Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls," 1Pe_1:9. "Kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation," 1Pe_1:5. Believers, says John, know that "they have eternal life," 1Jn_5:3.
IV. Faith is precious in its Influences.
Faith produces,
1. A living spiritual influence.
"He that believeth, though he were dead, yet shall he live," Joh_11:26. "The just shall live by faith." "The life that we live in the flesh is a life of faith in the Son of God," Gal_2:20. Faith feeds upon the bread of life; draws from the wells of salvation the water of life; inhales the breath of life.
Faith produces,
2. A comforting influence.
"I had fainted unless I had believed," &c. "Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe in God, believe also in me," &c. "The God of hope fill you with all joy and peace through believing," 1Co_15:12; 1Pe_1:18.
Faith produces,
3. An enriching influence.
Who can describe the extent and preciousness of the Divine promises? yet they are all yea and amen to them that believe. By faith Christ’s unsearchable riches, both of grace and glory, are ours By faith we are heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.
Faith produces.
4. An establishing and conquering influence.
We stand by faith. Hold fast our profession by faith. Endure by faith. Gain the spiritual victory by faith,’97over the flesh, by being crucified with Christ,’97Over the world, "This is the victory," &c. 1Jn_5:4,’97Over the devil, "Shield of faith by which we quench," &c. Eph_5:16.
In death faith produces,
5. A joyous triumphing influence.
Cannot die happily or safely but by dying in the faith. Faith must realize the glories of eternity, and bring them near to our souls. Faith must realize the virtue of Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and rest upon it. Faith must then realize the presence of Christ, and exult in it. "O death, where is thy sting," &c.
Faith produces,
6. A meetening influence for eternal glory.
We cannot be acceptable to God without faith. We cannot enter heaven unless we are savingly united to Christ and accepted of him. This is effected by faith. Faith receives the ring of reconciliation; puts on the wedding-garment; receives Jesus into the heart, "who is the true God, and eternal life." He who hath Christ, hath life, life now, and life for evermore. How indescribably precious, then, is faith! More precious than gold, or rubies, or dignities, or health, or even life itself. Precious under all circumstances, at all times, living or dying, in time and eternity
APPLICATION
This subject should excite us,
1. To careful examination. Have we this genuine faith? This faith that justifies, adopts, &c.? That produces such happy influences upon us?
2. Faith admits of increase. It is the will of God that it should grow. To effect this let us cultivate a close walk with God. Often peruse the sacred records. Be diligent in the means of grace, and continue instant in prayer.
3. Strong faith will be productive of solid peace and growing spiritual enjoyments. It will ever be to us according to our faith. Strong faith will give much glory to God, magnify Jesus, and greatly add to the usefulness and holiness of the Christian character.
Autor: JABEZ BURNS