FAITH (Part Two)
In the
closing paragraphs of Part One of this discussion on Faith, I tried to stress
the importance of understanding that as humans we are three-part
beings…comprised of spirit, soul and body. The discussion at that point was to
target the significance of understanding that concept as it relates to human
life…and the issue of when that life begins. Without understanding our true
make-up, many of the Bible’s messages are difficult, if not impossible to understand…especially
in significant portions of the New Testament.
The
complexity of the process from sexual intercourse to the delivery of a newborn
infant requires many steps. Scientists have documented the physical and physiological
steps involved in developing the human body, but none have been able to
document when the soul and spirit bring the “life of our eternal soul and
spirit” into that mortal body. We are in reality that “soul and spirit”, and we
live inside that body. The Bible’s explanation of that critical step is one
that we are to accept by faith. [NOTE: I
will continue to distinguish between the “soul” and “spirit” because they serve
different functions in man. However, remember that the Scripture notes that
they are so closely interrelated that it takes the Word of God (sharper than
any two-edged sword) to separate them. (Hebrews 4: 12)]
I raise the
points above because without accepting them by faith it is impossible to fully
understand the significance and impact of what our Lord Jesus Christ
accomplished on our behalf through His death, burial and resurrection…and for our
future. For example:
· Human beings have a three-part
make-up, in which the invisible, eternal soul and spirit are contained in a
visible, mortal, physical body. (Genesis 1: 26-27, 2: 7; 1 Corinthians 15:
39-46; 1 Thessalonians 5: 23; 3 John 1: 2)
· It wasn’t until God “breathed the
breath of life” into the nostrils of the lifeless body of the first man Adam,
that “man became a living soul.” (Genesis 2: 7)
· The blood is the place in the
physical body where life (the soul and spirit) is contained until death.
(Leviticus 17: 11)
· Losing a critical amount of blood
negatively affects multiple body organs, including the vital brain, heart and
lungs, and will lead to death in animals and man. (Hebrews Chapter Nine)
· The last breath exhaled is the method
by which the soul and spirit are separated from the body. (Genesis 7: 17-22;
Job 27: 3, 33: 4, 34: 12-15; Matthew 27: 50; Mark 15: 37; Luke 23: 46; John 19:
30)
These
examples are just a few of the pieces of the framework of “evidence of things
not seen” that help establish the foundation for Christians who have “faith” in
the messages of the Bible. That faith is what led us to believe in our Lord and
Savior Christ Jesus. (Hebrews 1: 1). Those
points and scripture references also help in explaining the separation of the
visible from the invisible in a way that supports “faith” as “believable”.
However, there
are other areas for which there is not such a framework of “evidence”. They
include, among others:
· The actions of the Crucified Christ
Jesus during the three-day period of the burial of His body (Psalm 16: 10, 49:
15; Matthew 12: 40; Luke 16: 19-31, 23: 39-43; Acts 2: 29-32; Ephesians 4:
6-10; 1 Peter 3: 18-20)
· What happens to the soul and spirit
of people who have “died”? (Ecclesiastes 12: 7; Acts 7: 59; Luke 16: 19-31. 23:
43; 2 Corinthians 5: 6-8; 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-17)
It is in those
types of areas that our faith is more commonly tested. I’ll address those
concerns shortly, but first…regarding “faith”…
I was
reminded that God does not require man to have access to the Bible scripture
that we use to establish and exercise faith.
We have that access by His Grace.
What about others who don’t or didn’t have that blessing? I return to the Scripture for that answer, because
even they must exercise faith:
· Our God is the God of Love, and is
not willing that anyone should perish. All should be given the choice to
receive the eternal salvation of their souls. (John 3: 16-17; 1 John 4: 7-10; 2
Peter 3: 9)
· The Grace of God that brings
salvation has (already) appeared to all men. For those of limited access
to scripture or limited literacy, the message was placed in the heavens and the
firmament. (Psalm 19: 1-7; Romans 1: 17-18; Titus 2: 11) [That is not what
some now call “Astrology”.]
· Jesus Christ is The Son of God, and
“The Light” that ”lighteth every man that cometh into the world.” (John 1: 1-4,
9) With or without the written Scripture, He is the only way to man’s eternal
salvation. (John 14: 6; Acts 4: 10-12; 1 Timothy 2: 3-5)
Now in
returning to the definition of “faith” (Hebrews 11: 1), let’s look again at ”The
substance of things hoped for…” There
are three major points in the scripture that highlight that concept:
1. Why do we need faith? - “Without faith it is impossible to please Him
(God): for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a
rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Hebrews 11: 6);
2. How do / did we develop faith? - “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the
word of God.” (Romans 10: 17-18)
3. What do we do with our faith? - “The just shall live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:
4; Romans 1: 16-17; 2 Corinthians 5: 7; Hebrews 10: 38)
The first
point above notes that we seek to please God because of the love He first has shown
to us. Again, we love Him because He first loved us. (1 John 4: 15-19) As much as God loves His favored creation man
(John 3: 16-17), He still requires that man make the choice to believe / have
faith in what He has said through the scriptures. That “faith” is not to be a
passive acceptance of God’s message, but an active one that must be spoken.
(Romans 10: 6-13)
That leads
to the second point. Before a person can have faith in the Gospel of Jesus
Christ and become a Christian, that person must have heard that truth from someone.
The Bible addresses that very point in the same passage of the Scripture that
says: “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they
have not heard? and how shall thy hear without a preacher / proclaimer? And how shall they preach / proclaim except they
be sent? …So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
(Romans 10: 14-17)
The discussion
of the third point has some interesting historical significance. On October 31,
1517, the German Priest and Theologian Martin Luther formalized his break with
the Catholic Church by nailing his “95 Theses” to the door of the University
Church in Wittenburg, Germany. His dispute with the Catholic Church is
documented in the references below, and focused on his interpretation of the
Scripture that “the just shall live by faith”. “Payment for sins” could
not be accomplished through monetary payments (“Indulgences”) required by the
Catholic Church. This began the Protestant Reformation Movement, and the
Lutheran Church. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology_of_Martin_Luther ;
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ninety-five_Theses )
“Just” Christians
have been “justified” / declared righteous by having faith and believing in our
Lord Jesus Christ and the Gospel of Grace. (1 Corinthians 15: 1-4; Romans 10:
9-13) Having been made “just” in the eyes of God, the Scripture says that Christians
are to “live by faith”. Our lives
are to be a testament to our Lord Jesus’ love for us, and mankind in general. Our
lives are to be translated into demonstrating the “agape`” love of Jesus…of always wanting the best for others. (Romans
13: 8-10) Further, not only collectively
but also individually, we are to be knowledgeable in the Bible scriptures and
the effect that the Lord Jesus has had on our life. That knowledge should allow
each of us to be the “voice” that is given credit when a new believer is asked:
“What made a difference in influencing their decision to receive Jesus?”, that
they should answer: “My faith came from hearing…(Your Name Here.)”
Dr. W. A.
(Bill) Robinson
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