JESUS CHRIST, The Object of our Faith

"Now I know thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from Me." - Genesis 22:12 [KJV]

So spake Jesus to His friend of old. What! did not God know that Abraham feared Him before this? Doubtless he did. But now in the exercise of faith and love he approved himself to God. He gave full evidence that God's commandments are not grievous: that it was his joy and delight to obey his God. Lord, give what Thou commandest, and command what Thou wilt, is the breathing of faith and love! 

Thus was the faith of Abraham justified by its fruits. Seest thou how his faith wrought by his works? And by works he gave full proof that he possest the faith of God's elect. Thus he obtained this glorious testimony to his own soul from the mouth of the Lord: "Now I know that thou fearest God with a loving, filial fear. Thy faith worketh by love: it has influenced thy heart to this eminent act of cheerful, unreserved obedience to Me." 

His faith consulted not flesh and blood; it surmounted carnal reason. The command of the Lord was the only rule of his conduct. He both sacrificed and enjoyed his Isaac. Thus saith Jesus to every believer, "Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."—John 15:14. The Spirit of God, by St. James, styles him a "vain man," who thinks he may have faith destitute of works.—James 2:20. It is the wisdom of a Christian to know that his justification in the sight of God, through the blood and righteousness of Jesus, is "perfect and entire, lacking nothing." This is received by faith only. 

But this belief cannot exist without its object, Jesus; therefore it cannot be alone in the heart without love. Faith works by love, and love lives by faith. This inward principle manifests itself by obedience, as an outward evidence. Thus the believer's works are manifest that they are wrought in God, and that the soul walks in the light of God's truth and love. But alas! it is an awful case amongst professors, as Paul said on another occasion, "Many are sick and weak among you, and many are fallen asleep," through the intoxicating draughts of the love of this world, and living after the flesh. Such have no inward testimony that they please God. 

They possess not joy and peace in believing. They give no outward evidence that they are married to the Lamb, and live by faith on Him. "Examine thyself, O Christian, whether thou art in the faith; prove thy own self. Knowest thou not thine own self, how that Jesus Christ is in thee, except thou be a reprobate."—II Corinthians 13:5.

 

Grace, like an uncorrupted seed, 

Abides and reigns within; 

Immortal principles forbid 

The sons of God to sin.

Not by the terrors of a slave, 

Do they perform His will; 

But with the noblest pow'rs they have, 

His sweet commands fulfil.

 

-preacher William Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)