"Faith is rest, not toil. It is the giving up all the former weary efforts to do or feel something good, in order to induce God to love and pardon; and the calm reception of the truth so long rejected, that God is not waiting for any such inducements, but loves and pardons of His own goodwill, and is showing that goodwill to any sinner who will come to Him on such a footing, casting away his own poor performances or goodnesses, and relying implicitly upon the free love of Him who so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son." Horatius Bonar
Galatians 3:11-14 But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
"This is such a good reminder that faith is resting in what God has given us through Jesus Christ in His death on the cross." - Elizabeth Van Nattan (my mom)
(First published here Oct. 2011)
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I was having a conversation with my brother this past week and was reminded of this quote by Horatius Bonar. It is so easy to fall into the way of thinking that faith is work or that somehow our works add to our faith. True faith does produce good works, as we read in James, but faith itself is rest, not work. It is resting in Christ's finished work and knowing that He is sufficient, He finished to work of salvation on Calvaty, and we are complete in Him.
Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Are you having trouble having faith? Get into God's word. Notice it doesn't say that faith cometh by preaching. Not by theology, not Christian fiction, not philosophy, not following a Christian personality, not watching cheesy (or even good) Christian videos on YouTube. Hearing the word of God. Read it out loud. Listen to it online or recordings. Read it. Read it. :-)
This is such a good reminder that faith is resting in what God has given us through Jesus Christ in His death on the cross.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the quote and what you said about Romans 10:17. "Read it. Read it " God's word is powerful!
ReplyDeleteFaith is rest. Even after salvation Christians struggle to have faith in God for His provision. Or, we can be afraid. But, if we were to have faith we would find ourselves resting in His promises that we can find in the Bible. Which brings us back to the admonition, "Read it. Read it."
You're welcome. And, yes, you are right. There are many ways that we can let our faith grow weak or struggle to act upon it. God's word is an amazing miracle in our hands!
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