FAITH:
FOUNDATION OF;

Knowledge of God: basis for faith; Church: concept of God All things else being equal, the destiny of a man or nation may safely be predicted from the idea of God which that man or that nation holds. No nation can rise higher than its conception of God.…

A church is strong or weak just as it holds to a high or low idea of God. For faith rests not primarily upon promises, but upon character. A believer’s faith can never rise higher than his conception of God. A promise is never better or worse than the character of the one who makes it. An inadequate conception of God must result in a weak faith, for faith depends upon the character of God just as a building rests upon its foundation.…

Job told us, “Acquaint thyself with him and be at peace”; and Paul said, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” These two verses show the way to a strong and lasting faith: Get acquainted with God through reading the Scriptures, and faith will come naturally.

Job 22:21; Romans 10:17; Hebrews 10:19–23; 1 John 5:3–10

The Set of the Sail, 38, 39.