GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XIXIssue47
/Published occasionally for mourners in Zion/
/Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees;And
make straight pathsfor your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out
of the way; but let it rather be healed.Hebrews 12::12-13/
STEADFASTNESS OF FAITH//
/For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit,
joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in
Christ.Colossians 2:5/
//Those who are born again by the operation of the SPIRIT of GOD and
indwelt by the same, are each introduced to a warfare which heretofore
they had not been acquainted with.When a man is dead in trespasses and
sins, he may have natural qualms of conscience (in varying degrees)
which produce in him feelings of regret and sorrow for what he perceives
are moral failures and lapses on his part. To a greater or lesser
extent, he may express remorse for his actions and even become depressed
because of what he considers, weakness or even “sin” as he might define
it. Yet he only laments his actions and has no concern for the root
cause of his state, nor the pervasive depravity which underlies his
whole being.
The work of the SPIRIT of GOD is to convince men of “/sin,
righteousness, and judgement/”. This “convincing” work is that which
causes a man to begin to despair of any sort of relief from the curse of
sin which he is increasingly made aware of.This despair is more gradual
in some than in others according to the good pleasure of GOD, but all
who are taught by the SPIRIT are confronted with their innate wickedness
and inability to deliver themselves from it.It is this awareness that
moves them (i.e.; the power of the HOLY GHOST) to cry out to the LORD
for help, calling upon HIS NAME.This is the initial work of the LORD in
HIS people to make them willing in the day of HIS power.
That man in this condition, upon hearing the gospel, must believe it,
for there is a testimony by the same SPIRIT that JESUS CHRIST is the
WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. That man thus awakened by the SPIRIT and
shown the glory of CHRIST believes that which he hears, and gladly
embraces CHRIST JESUS as LORD and MASTER.“/So then faith cometh by
hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17) “For by grace are
ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: _it is the gift of
God_.” (Eph 2:8/)
This work of “faith” is performed in the sons of GOD in order that
CHRIST might be glorified, and it is this work of salvation which
manifests the LORD’s purpose in the redemption of those for whom HE
died./“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good
works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” (Eph
2:10/) Thus these same sons are brought along a pathway which is marked
out by the LORD and culminates in their glorification and the gift of an
inheritance with CHRIST forever./“That in the ages to come he might shew
the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through
Christ Jesus.” (Eph 2:7/)
In their passage through this world of sin and sorrow, HE will
demonstrate that HE does indeed put a difference between HIS sons and
the children of wrath.They are a “holy people” (i.e.; set apart) unto
the LORD.They are a “peculiar” people, in that HE works in them both to
will and to do of HIS good pleasure, quite in contrast to the men of
this world who are left to pursue their own way unto that very end,
manifestingtheir appointment unto destruction/.“For who maketh thee to
differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now
if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not
received it?” (1Cor 4:7/)
The evidence of this work in the sons of GOD is seen as they are
embroiled in a life and death struggle with their sinful flesh which
according to that “new nature” which HE has given them, does ever strive
against that flesh which once had free reign over them.“/Therefore if
any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17) “For the flesh lusteth
against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are
contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye
would.” (Gal 5:17/)Paul describes this warfare and its outcome quite
clearly, /“For _I delight in the law of God after the inward man_: But I
see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and
bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O
wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this
death? _I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord_. So then with the
mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”
(Rom 7:22-25/)
So, because of this continuing conflict, which often leaves the sons of
GOD, discouraged and mindful of their great weakness, the LORD does
bring great encouragement to them by the recognition of the mutual faith
which is shared by those in whom HE is pleased to work and causes them
to have fellowship with (whether in actual acquaintance or reported
faithfulness; see Heb. 12:1,2) one another.Thus, we read in Paul’s
letter to the Colossians his great joy in considering the
“/steadfastness/” of their faith in CHRIST.
The term “steadfast” means to stand one’s ground, to be resolute, or
unmovable.The “FAITH” of GOD’s elect *is* CHRIST.Not CHRIST plus
something nor anything less than CHRIST.HE is the “ROCK” of their
SALVATION who cannot be moved.Thus, when Paul speaks of the
“/steadfastness/” of their faith, he is primarily considering the OBJECT
of their FAITH.It is impossible to have “steadfast” faith if the basis
upon which that faith rests is not “steadfast”.Having established this
FOUNDATION, he then considers the faithful work of the HOLY GHOST in
keeping them from falling, which men left to themselves will surely do.
The saints of GOD are encouraged and built up in the FAITH by the mutual
and shared belief in CHRIST and HIM crucified, of each one.When we see
brethren faithfully following on to know the LORD and walking in
obedience to HIS precepts, we cannot help but be strengthened and
reminded of the goodness of the LORD to lead HIS sheep in and out to
find pasture.We sometimes doubt our own standing in the LORD (since we
are acquainted first hand with the self-deception we are prone to) yet
we are encouraged by the work of the LORD in our brethren whom HE has
given us great esteem for.This is why a regular assembling of ourselves
together is of such vital need.
Over the course of his life, Paul, saw many walk away from the faith
which they once professed.This is why he often warned those to whom he
wrote, to watch and pray; to be diligent in that to which the LORD
called them.This is why he warned the Ephesian elders, with tears, to
beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing.There are multitudes of avenues
down which false professors may be turned aside, but there is only ONE
PATH wherein the DAYSTAR shines and the TRUTH is manifest. So, when the
LORD is pleased to enable us to behold the “steadfastness” of the FAITH
of HIS elect, we cannot help but be inspired to fight the good fight and
lay hold upon ETERNAL LIFE.As we see “faithful” brethren, we are
encouraged and made to rejoice in the LORD whose faithfulness is new
every morning.
The “steadfastness” of the FAITH of the brethren whom we observe, serves
to remind us that it is /“Not by works of righteousness which we have
done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of
regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Tit 3:5)/If HE
faithfully keeps our brethren from falling, will HE not do so for us,
and all who tremble before HIM, though we declare our own weakness in
faith, confessing with him who said, /“Lord, I believe; help thou mine
unbelief.” (Mar 9:24/)/“ But ye are come unto mount Sion, -- To the
general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in
heaven, --- And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the
blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. (Heb
12:22-24) /Have you come unto HIM?mam