Principles of the Doctrine of Christ: Faith Toward God (conclusion)

Beloved, in conclusion of our theme under “The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ” focusing on “Faith Toward God” – almost everyone has been taught that they should get an understanding about something before accepting it. While we may not understand the meaning of all things, we can “get (an) understanding” (Proverbs 4:7) as to why we should have faith toward God. Remember, we are dealing with the foundation instead of dealing with people who know God or are turning to God. Understanding is the foundation of faith. Be reminded that “faith is the substance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1). Beloved, we must first know what we are hoping for. Then, once we understand what we really want, faith requires us to believe that we are going to receive those things, even when they are unseen. There are many who have turned to God with all their hearts, but who have never had true faith toward God. Why? Because they did not know and understand what they wanted God to do for them. This can happen to anyone who doesn’t hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Gospel is the only prescription, the only formula that can produce “faith toward God”, because this Gospel is the only teaching that shows us how great God is! The apostle Paul wrote that if a non-Christian needs help from God, he must first “believe that (God) is, and that he is a rewarder of them that (wholeheartedly) seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

Chosen ones, we live in an era where people are taught that God gives His Spirit. This is true, but what’s even more important is that one can only receive His Spirit by FAITH. In your spare time, read about those who were saved by faith and filled with the Holy Spirit (Acts 24:24, 26:18; Galatians 3:26-27; Ephesians 2:5-8). In the last scripture listed, the apostle writes that even grace is given as a gift from God, but it is received by faith. Beloved, most of the things that are given by God are received by faith and according to faith (see II Timothy 3:15; I Peter 1:5; Romans 3:25; Galatians 3:8, 5:5; Philippians 3:9).

Precious Ones, when a person has faith to be baptized in the Name of Jesus, he is “buried with him (Jesus) in baptism, wherein also (he is) risen with him through the faith of the operation of God” (Colossians 2:12). Yes – there is an “operation of God”! It is faith that makes God’s blessings function on our behalf. So, if we are to benefit at all from God’s provision, we must have “faith toward God”.

I will write from a new subject next week. Until then, know that…

I love you all SO very much.
In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Principles of the Doctrine of Christ: Faith Toward God (continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our series of letters exploring the “Principles of the Doctrines of Christ”, focusing on “Faith Toward God” - Jesus said, concerning the healing of the centurion’s servant and the great faith of the centurion, “Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel” (Matthew 8:5-10). We learn from this story that the centurion was expecting something, and that his expectation was shown by his actions. Beloved, in another example of faith, the scripture records that “they brought to (Jesus) a man sick of the palsy (a crippling disease) lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer: thy sins be forgiven thee” (Matthew 9:2). In other words, the faith manifested by others caused this man to be healed of his debilitating disease.

Precious Ones, as simple as these examples of deliverance were, the question should often be asked, “Why don’t we have as much faith today as we should?” The answer, Beloved, could very well be that we reason with our intelligence too much! For example, when Jesus told His disciples to “take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees”, his disciples “reasoned among themselves, and thought that Jesus had said this because “(they had) taken no bread”. When Jesus perceived this, “he said unto them, ‘O ye of little faith, why reason among yourselves because ye have bought no bread?” (Matthew 16:5-7). The fact that the disciples were reasoning among themselves indicated to Jesus that they had but little faith. Let us learn from this that we should just believe. As a child, who has only been a few years on this earth, believes anything you tell him, let us believe anything (without reasoning or questioning) that Jesus tells us. This is the true manifestation of pure faith.

Chosen Ones, Paul testified unto the Jews and the Greeks about repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 20:21). However, unless we today are taught how to have faith toward God, we will trust in other things which cannot help us. The more “faith” you have, the more capacity you have to love and to believe for the rest of the congregation. We can always use more love in any congregation. Paul told Philemon, “(I heard) of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus; and toward all saints” (Philemon 1:5).

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, may the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit rest on each of you.

I love you all SO very much.

In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Principles of the Doctrine of Christ: Faith Toward God (continued)

Beloved, in continuance of our series entitled “Faith Toward God,” I would like to admonish you that everyone who “believeth on [him], as the scripture hath said” should receive the Holy Ghost, since this was prophesied by Jesus Himself. This is confirmed in the second part of the verse, “out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). The Holy Ghost is that living water - the gift that was promised by Jesus. Beloved, this is the Gospel - the Good News! The Gospel is supposed to give everyone the hope that they will receive that which was promised.

Precious Ones, the Apostle Paul speaks of the opening of the door of faith. How was it done? The apostles preached the Word of God, giving the Gentiles the opportunity to come to Jesus. Through the preaching of the Gospel on the Day of Pentecost, the door was opened for the Jews. Without the preaching of the Gospel, there would be no one to believe on the Lord. Paul puts it this way, “Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed...but after that faith is come [when we believe], we are no longer under a schoolmaster [the law]” (Galatians 3:23,25). In other words, Paul is saying that we, like the Jews, were shut up in our traditions, but when we learned the truth as revealed in Christ, we had “faith toward God” and became believers.

Chosen Ones, when the door of faith was opened to us, we left our traditions and teachings behind, and were sealed by the Holy Ghost. Many people make the mistake of thinking that faith and belief are the same. Not so! When we have faith, we are assuming that we are going to get something, but when we believe, we accept that our God can be trusted to give it to us, so we are convinced that it is already ours!

Children of God, this is the position with most people. When they feel that they can trust God, they expect things from Him. As Christians, we must be convinced that God wants us to have all good things - even things that we may not even have thought to trust Him for.

I will write more on this subject next week.

I love each and every one of you all SO very much.

In His Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy

Principles of the Doctrine of Christ: Faith Toward God (Part 1)

Beloved, I feel inspired to write unto you a series of letters on “The Principles of the Doctrine of Christ”. The first subject in this series is entitled “Faith Toward God”. The word “faith”, as used in Hebrews 11:1 (“Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”), is drawn from the Greek word pistis which has three primary meanings (1) belief (2) an assumption of what is being expected (3) a conviction concerning matters which have not yet been observed! In Galatians 5:22, we learn that “faith” is one of the “fruits” (characteristic traits) of “the Spirit”. In Titus 2:10, we learn that “faith” teaches us how to conduct ourselves. Without faith, we believers would not know what our God expects from us!

Precious Ones, the first step toward salvation is faith toward God. A person cannot repent unless he believes (has faith) that repentance is necessary! We are taught that no man can come to God until he believes that “(God) is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently (whole-heartedly) seek him” (Hebrews 11:6). Beloved, no person will seek something if he doesn’t believe it exists! Likewise, if a person doesn’t believe that God has great blessings in store for him, he cannot receive those blessings! After repentance, the next step is to turn to God for deliverance. Jesus said it this way, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: (first) repent ye, and (then) believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). So, the question remains, “How can they believe on him of whom they have not heard?” As Paul said, “How shall they (the unbelievers) call on him in whom they have not believed?” (Romans 10:14). Beloved, the only answer to this question is that unbelievers must “hear” the Gospel. Then, they will learn of the true God (Jesus), and the result will be that their confidence will be built up in Him. The more they read in the New Testament of Jesus’ miraculous powers, the more their faith will grow and bear fruit for them! Soon after, they will begin to look to God for salvation.


Chosen Ones, one of the major problems in today’s society is that many trust in their own righteousness. This is perpetuated by doctrines of humanism, such as the New Age movement. However, we of the Church must have “Faith Toward God”. We must trust that the one and only Savior is the living God, Jesus Christ! The apostles Paul and Peter taught us the sequence of steps toward true salvation in their epistles (letters). Paul said, “ye...trusted (in God), after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed (had faith), ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). Peter said, “God, which knoweth the hearts, ...(gave) them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us (the Jews)”! In other words, God filled those sinners with the Holy Spirit because they believed (had faith) that it was for them, as well as for the Jews.

I will write more on this subject next week. Until then, know this...

I love you all SO very much.
In the Master’s Love,

Pastor William L. McCoy