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