Encouragement in Christ Jesus

  THE WEDNESDAY WORD
What Faith Sees
D.G. Miles McKee

“Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). But how is faith obtained? Listen to this! “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).

Its no wonder the Word of God is under such attack nowadays

Real faith, is not faith in ourselves or faith in what we do. No indeed! But real faith is a living, personal faith, in that living, personal Saviour who came to earth and lived, died, was buried and rose again. And real faith now informs us that this same Saviour ascended into heaven and is now ruling and reigning and seated in cosmic authority (see Acts 2:33; Hebrews 10:12).

“Behold Him there, the risen Lord,
The sinless spotless sacrifice.
Upward I look and see Him there,
Who made an end of all my sin.”

As we listen to what God’s word says about Christ Jesus and His work for us, faith grows. Faith bows to the divine record of the person, work and offices of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Faith sees, in a personal way, that the Bible is true when it says that all have sinned (Romans 3:23).
Faith causes us to agree that, in ourselves, we are lost and undone (Isaiah 53:6).
Faith leads us to fully trust in Christ Jesus as our sin-bearer (1 Peter 2:24-25).
Faith sees that Christ alone did all the work that was needed to cleanse us and make us fit for the presence of God (John 19:30).
Faith rests on the fact that the work which Christ finished on the cross 2000 years ago, is really finished.
Faith agrees that we cannot add to this work (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Faith agrees that we cannot take away from this work. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Faith grasps that peace is not only a thing of enjoyment within us, but it is Christ outside of us: for He is our peace (Ephesians 2:4).

“My love is oftimes low,
My joy still ebbs and flows,
But peace with Him remains the same;
No change Jehovah knows.” -Bonar

Salvation is received by faith plus nothing. If there was a way for us to contribute to our own salvation; or if it depended on our merits; or indeed, if there were some way we could earn it or deserve it — then we would not receive our salvation by faith alone; we would be saved by faith plus works. But salvation is God's gift. It is all by grace! There is nothing we can possibly add to what God has already done to save us in Jesus Christ. There is no other way to receive the benefits of Christ Crucified than by faith alone.

Some years ago, an old preacher had just finished giving a lecture at a Bible College and asked for questions.  One student raised his hand and asked, “Sir, when were you saved.” The old pastor knew what the student wanted to know.  He wanted to know where and when the Pastor had received Christ ... was it at a gospel meeting, or in a church, did he raise his hand or walk to the front of the church?

The old preacher smiled and said, “When was I saved? Ï was saved 2000 years ago at Calvary, for it says in 2 Corinthians 5:19 “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself not imputing their trespasses to them.” I received that salvation by faith alone 50 years ago.

To receive this glorious salvation, we don’t do anything…we simply rest on His doing, dying and rising again.

Salvation was accomplished by Christ alone, it is received by faith alone without the addition of any works of our own.

And that’s the Gospel Truth!

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NOTE: The Wednesday Word goes out to many pastors in Asia and Africa who in turn translate it into their native tongue and teach it to their congregations and pastors fellowships. Please pray for the continued and increased spread of the Gospel through this medium.

Please also pray for us. We need partners who will financially stand with us as we help take care of orphans in India and Pakistan and spread the gospel in Europe, Asia and Africa. Contact Info: http://www.milesmckee.com/