Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him (Heb. 10:38).
Martin Luther declared that there are two kinds of faith: first, believing about God and believing that what He says is true, which is really a form of knowledge; and second, believing in God, which means that we put our trust in Him and give ourselves up to His will. Such faith throws itself upon God, whether in life or in death, and that is necessary in the life of every Christian. Such faith comes from hearing--that is, accepting--the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). The just, or righteous, person remains just, or righteous by faith. It is Christ's righteousness, God's justice, that is theirs. It is through faith that we share the righteousness of Christ, the power of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the glory of Christ.
A poet and an artist were once examining a painting by Poussin depicting the healing of the two blind men. The poet mentioned several remarkable things about the painting. The artist seemed unsatisfied and pointed out something else. He said, "Do you see that discarded cane lying there by the steps of the house?"
"Yes."
"What does it mean?"
"Why, on these steps the blind man sat with his cane in his hand; but when he heard that Christ had come, he was so sure that he would be healed that he dropped his cane and rushed into the presence of the Lord. Isn't that a wonderful conception of faith?"
And it was. Too often we hold on to the old cane and crutches of self-help and of righteousness that we have done, instead of looking wholly to Jesus. "This is victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it" (Ps. 52:9).
Martin Luther declared that there are two kinds of faith: first, believing about God and believing that what He says is true, which is really a form of knowledge; and second, believing in God, which means that we put our trust in Him and give ourselves up to His will. Such faith throws itself upon God, whether in life or in death, and that is necessary in the life of every Christian. Such faith comes from hearing--that is, accepting--the Word of God (Rom. 10:17). The just, or righteous, person remains just, or righteous by faith. It is Christ's righteousness, God's justice, that is theirs. It is through faith that we share the righteousness of Christ, the power of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, the glory of Christ.
A poet and an artist were once examining a painting by Poussin depicting the healing of the two blind men. The poet mentioned several remarkable things about the painting. The artist seemed unsatisfied and pointed out something else. He said, "Do you see that discarded cane lying there by the steps of the house?"
"Yes."
"What does it mean?"
"Why, on these steps the blind man sat with his cane in his hand; but when he heard that Christ had come, he was so sure that he would be healed that he dropped his cane and rushed into the presence of the Lord. Isn't that a wonderful conception of faith?"
And it was. Too often we hold on to the old cane and crutches of self-help and of righteousness that we have done, instead of looking wholly to Jesus. "This is victory that overcometh the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4).
MEDITATION PRAYER: "I will praise thee for ever, because thou hast done it" (Ps. 52:9).
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