Faith's Practical Effects
The true believer has many privileges. He is permitted to trust Him who is invisible, and he has the satisfaction of believing that He is fully able to supply all his needs and support him in every trial. Faith gives to him the evidence and substance of things not seen, and enables him to realize the great truths of the gospel and to rejoice in the sweet promises of God. As his faith works by love, he loves Him in whom he trusts, and loves those who are begotten by Him. In life's toilsome journey he is supported and directed by faith in his God, a faith that is more than historical, being an implanted, living principle in his soul, which can no more die entirely than can the Spirit that produces it. He enjoys a stable peace in the midst of a changing world, and if, through the weakness of the flesh, he is startled and distressed by a sharp and sudden trial, he quickly flees to his strong refuge, remembers it is the Lord's doings, resigns himself to his will and patiently awaits the unseen issue. He uses prosperity with moderation, and meets adversity with calmness. Having committed all his concerns to the Lord, he knows that his best interests are safe. There are many things over which he can have no control, and he is glad to believe that there is a hand that rules in wisdom and makes his trials and afflictions subserve a noble purpose.It is the privilege of the true believer to show his faith by his works. Indeed the exercise of a living faith will produce a fervent desire to do the Lord's will, which will manifest itself in an effort to do his will. The best evidence of such a faith is the manifestation of such a desire, and one who is actuated by it will be solicitous how he may glorify God in the world, and live in the enjoyment of such foretastes of heaven as are attainable while he is yet upon earth. "Lord, what wilt thou have me to do," was Paul's first fervent and effectual prayer. This great champion of the doctrine of sovereign and discriminating grace, was faithful in exhorting God's people to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith they were called, and to present their bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, as their reasonable service. To walk with God in the exercise of faith, and strive to mortify the body of sin in the members, seeking a practical conformity to the character of the meek and lowly Redeemer, is one of the happiest privileges of the believer.
A believer's conduct towards his fellow-creatures is regulated, or should be, by the same principle of faith. As he feels his own weakness and unworthiness, and as he is conscious of living on the grace, mercy and pardoning love of his divine Master, in the same degree he is likely to possess a spirit of meekness and gentleness. Being humbled under a sense of much forgiveness to himself, he finds it easy to forgive others, if he has aught against any. Haughtiness and obstinacy are not the product of a true faith which works by love. To be resentful and unforgiving is to manifest a fleshly propensity that bears no mark of faith in Christ. To require injuries with kindness and to overcome evil with good is to manifest the gracious dealings of the Spirit in the heart and shows that a living faith has been imparted there. Gentleness, forbearance and forgiveness will certainly be seen where love is written in the heart, and where the soul has been liberated from the law and narrow dictates of a selfish spirit. A sense of our own failings will cause us to regard the failings of others with due allowance if we have this faith in our hearts. We will be slow to believe reports to the injury of others without sufficient proof, and even then we will not repeat them unless lawfully required to do so. To "speak evil of no man" is commanded by the same authority that forbids adultery, theft and murder, so we should keep our tongue as with a bridle.
Faith in Christ and love for him will induce us to deal honestly and justly with our fellow beings in our transactions with them, if we are regulated by this faith and love in these transactions. This is the pure incentive to true charity. Faith in Christ, when in lively exercise, carries with it a sympathetic feeling for suffering humanity, and opens ear, heart and hand to feed and clothe the needy, to visit the sick, and to comfort the distressed.
There are many corrupt customs and maxims of the world. Vain amusements and sinful practices present themselves in every community to a greater or less degree. The broad way appears decked with attractive scenes and flesh-gratifying delights. The false glitter of wealth and worldly display is viewed by the carnal eye with charming delight, while the siren music of pleasure's deceptive harp dulls the natural conscience and lures the soul on to destruction.
Abiding faith in the precious Redeemer and pure love for him serve as a safe-guard amid all these vain allurements of the pleasure-seeking world. The believer is in the world, but he is not of it. The discharge of the duties of that station in life in which the providence of God has placed him require him to mix with the world in ordinary business affairs, and the religion he professes as well as accepted rules of etiquette demands that he treat all with becoming respect, but he is disposed to look upon the poor pleasures and sinful amusements of those who know not God with a mixture of pity and disdain. Having learned to know better things, he is led to say,
"Let worldly minds the world pursue,
It has no charms for me;
Once I admired its trifles too,
But grace has set me free."
Evidences of pride are to be seen all around us, not only among the
non-professing world, but also among those who loudly profess faith
in Christ. "Society" people parade the streets arrayed in finery,
their necks never bending to notice others whom they regard as
being below their rank. What strutting worms they are! Such vanity
is the very opposite of the fruits of faith. Becoming humility is
characteristic of the true believer. Nothing is more becoming than
a disposition of modesty and a spirit of meekness, and nothing is
more disgusting than a display of overbearing pride. Faith in
Christ does not exalt its possessor in his own estimation. It does
not fill him with vanity, and cause him to think more highly of
himself than he ought to think. On the contrary, it strips of pride
and gives a desire to know and do the will of the Lord in meekness
and fear.
J. R. D.
Copyright c. 2005. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
