813. 1CO 15:11. FAITH AND ITS PREREQUISITES

1Co_15:11. Faith and Its Prerequisites

"Therefore, whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed."’971Co_15:11.

In this chapter the apostle gives us a full and clear account of the gospel which he preached. He also states the saving character of this gospel to believers, 1Co_15:2. &c. He relates the evidences of the resurrection of Christ, from 1Co_15:5-7. He then refers to his own vision of the Redeemer, 1Co_15:8 Afterwards he speaks of his own unworthiness, and the triumphs of divine grace to him and in him, 1Co_15:10. He modestly refers to his abundant labors in the gospel, and its success, &c., see the text. Now the text evidently refers to saving faith, and the way in which it was produced. This agrees exactly with Rom_10:17, "So faith cometh by hearing," &c. Let us then notice,

I. The things which are essentially requisite to faith.

1. There must be a testimony or declaration. There must be something to be believed.

Now this testimony is the gospel of Jesus Christ. This record of God concerning his Son. This record presents to us God’s Son in human flesh, as the mediator between God and man. Thus the apostles called upon men to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Here the titles refer to his divinity,’97to his work; and to his being anointed for its execution. God’s testimony also exhibits the death of Jesus as a sacrifice for sin. That he is the Lamb of God, &c.; that he died, &c.; that he bare our sins, &c. And thus that all who come to God by Christ, shall not perish, &c. This, then, briefly is the testimony, and which is the first great essential requisite to faith.

2. This testimony must be published and made known.

Men must hear it or read it. "Hence Christ sent his disciples with it to all the world, and to every creature. "So we preach," &c. Men cannot be accountable for the gospel until they possess it. Whereever it comes, it is the imperative duty of mankind to hear it. To refuse to hear it is sin; to neglect it is to insure condemnation. "I called, but ye refused," &c.

3. There must be capacity in those who hear if, to understand it.

Now we know that a peculiar cast of mind is necessary to understand some branches of science, &c. Also with respect to metaphysics. Hence had the gospel been a series of mathematical problems, or metaphysical essays, only a very few could have understood it. But the gospel refers to two great facts in the history of Jesus Christ, and demands the belief of these, on the ground of the truth of the gospel. Every person, therefore, of sane mind, however small in mental capacity, or unlearned, may understand this testimony, without which faith could not be exercised. Here, then, we see that it is essential to faith that there be a testimony, brought and presented to minds capable of understanding it. Consider,

II. The nature of saving faith.

Now, from what has been said, it is clear that where the gospel testimony is preached, it may be treated by some with indifference. Others may treat it with idle speculation, form peculiar opinions about it, and thus leave it. Others may listen with interest, and cordially believe it. Now saving faith is the cordial belief of the gospel. It is the belief of the heart; the act of the will and the affections. "With the heart man believeth unto righteousness," &c. Now a cordial belief of any great truth will be influential; it will operate on the mind and life. That faith which is real and saving is thus distinguished, and made manifest from all that is counterfeit. But we shall see this more fully if we look at the scriptural representation of faith.

(1.) Man is far off. He has wandered towards the regions of death. Faith in this case is coming to Christ. Returning to the Lord. Drawing near on the ground of his invitations and promises. "Him that cometh," &c. "Come unto me all ye that labor," &c. "Seek my face and live." "Thy face, O Lord, will I seek."

(2.) Man is guilty. Under sentence of death, and pursued by the avenger of blood. God has provided a city of refuge, &c. To this he is urged to flee. He is assured the gates are wide open, and he has the word and oath of God to rely upon, that if he flies and enters he shall live. Believing this, the passions of the soul are excited, and his whole heart moves swiftly to the hope set before him. He exclaims,

"Hide me, O my Saviour, hide,

Till the storm of wrath is past,

Safe into the haven guide,

Oh, receive my soul at last."

(3.) Man is diseased with the serpent sting of sin. He is on the verge of death. His drooping spirit is fainting within him. But the antidote is proclaimed. Christ is lifted up, and he is told to look,’97to look to the cross of Christ, to see the Lamb of God; and he does so, and exclaims,

"See there my Lord upon the tree,

I hear, I feel, he died for me."

(4.) Man is a moral wreck, floating on the ocean of life, ready to sink into perdition. Jesus in the life-boat of mercy, comes near to him, and throws out the rope of deliverance. He is urged to lay hold of it; and with the earnest grasp of a person conscious of perishing, he does so, and is thus rescued from eternal misery.

(5.) Man is lost. Wandering in darkness on the mountain of ruin. He is exhorted by one he meets to call out for help, and that Jesus is not far from him. He does so. He utters in loud exclamations of fear, "Lost, lost, lost!" and he unites with it, "Save, Lord, or I perish;" Jesus hears and delivers him from the destruction to which he was exposed. Now in each of these instances you see how faith is the soul and spring of the movement of the sinner towards Christ. To show the workings of the opposite principles of presumption or indifference, the person exhorted to flee to the city of refuge with the avenger of blood in pursuit, if he presumes on his safety, he lingers, and is overtaken; or, if he is indifferent, he is involved in the same ruin. So thousands presume instead of exercising present faith; and thousands intend to do so at another period, and thus perish in their unbelief. We ask,

III. What are the evidences of saving faith?

Now these evidences are of two kinds.

1. Those of which the believer only is conscious, and which we shall call internal evidences of faith.

(1.) Faith produces hope. Fear and terror are annihilated. No longer dread and dismay is felt hanging over the soul.

"Now I have found the ground wherein

Sure my soul’s anchor may remain:

The. wounds of Jesus for my sin.

Before the world’s foundation slain;

Whose mercy shall unshaken stay,

When heaven and earth shall flee away."

(2.) Faith produces peace and joy. Being justified, &c. "I will praise thee," &c.

(3.) Faith produces love. "Works by love." Christ is now the chief among ten thousand, &c. The heart is set on fire with it. "The love of God is shed abroad," &c. "We love him," &c. "Unto him who hath loved us," &c. The other kind of evidences are,

2. Those which are visible to all men, and which we denominated external.

(1.) Faith produces humility and contrition. Soul now in the dust. No self-exaltation. No self-vindication. Faith prostrates the mind before God, and real abasement will be visible to those around.

(2.) Faith leads to a profession of Christ. Christ will be honored by the lips, and by the assumption of his name and cross. Not ashamed to own him and to follow him before men. Hence in the Acts we ever read that when faith was exercised, the exhibition of it, was being baptized into the Lord Jesus Christ. The 3000 at Jerusalem: the Samaritans, Paul, the eunuch, &c.

(3.) Faith leads to practical godliness. It is seen in obedience to Jesus Christ. Evidenced in good works; walking in Christ, and treading in his steps. Hence faith is a holy principle. Brings men out of the world, and out of the way of sin, into the church and the way of salvation.

Application

1. Let our faith be tested by these evidences. Examine, &c. Prove yourselves, &c.

2. Learn the importance of faith. No salvation without it. You may be saved without learning, or wealth, or great gifts, but not without faith. He that believeth not, &c. We see the cause of this essentiality of faith, as unbelief rejects God’s provision of mercy’97shuts the opened gates of salvation.

3. Now receive the gospel message, and live.

Autor: JABEZ BURNS