HE IS FAITHFUL
Hebrews 10:15 Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin.
Hebrews 10:19 ¶ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21 And having an high priest over the house of God; 22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 24 And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:
Especially in this day of world wide pandemic, believers need to be refreshed in the edifying truth that the Lord God is faithful. Let us take time to read a few scripture verses from among the numerous passages that set forth this truth.
1 Corinthians 1:7 So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: 8 Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 ¶ And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
2 Thessalonians 3:1 ¶ Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: 2 And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men: for all men have not faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
Titus 1:1 ¶ Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; 2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
As our text passage, listed above, informs us (Hebrews 10:23) the encouragement and enabling truth that causes us not to waver in the profession of our faith is that God is faithful! Hebrews 11:11 Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.
And we find that our faith is listed among those spiritual graces which the Lord called, “weighted matters.” Matthew 23:23 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. For it is of such great value to each individual believer as to the overcoming of the trials and afflictions, and sinful influences of the world. 1 John 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
It was by his own personal faith, granted him by God, that Noah overcame the sinful influences of his world, saving his own household. Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. And as that same kind of day shall be reoccurring, it would be of great benefit to us to also maintain such constant faith! Matthew 24:37 But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
And we are also warned not to allow the attitudes and enticements of the world to be of such strong influence as to be caught unaware. Luke 21:34 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. For some of the saddest words ever written are, “And knew not!” Matthew 24:39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
There was a world wide flood which God sent upon that world. There is now a world wide pandemic of virus upon our world. The human race in Noah’s day were only consumed with the fulfillment and satisfactions of the fleshly appetites. Matthew 24:38 For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, This age is the same. There is no consideration of God and His gospel! There is no concern for spiritual matters.
Noah was sealed up from the world within the ark, awaiting God’s judgment. Genesis 7:1 And the LORD said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation. 10 And it came to pass after seven days, that the waters of the flood were upon the earth. 15 And they went in unto Noah into the ark, two and two of all flesh, wherein is the breath of life. 16 And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in.
True believers today are not only separated physically from loved ones due to the virus infections, but they have also been spiritually brought out from among unregenerate family members and neighbors. 2 Corinthians 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
And as the ministry of Noah for 120 years went unheeded, so the true, spiritual ministry of the gospel today cannot even get some to believe in the physical infection of the virus. And the pleas for even the devout church members to seriously address their inner spiritual condition almost entirely goes unheeded! It is such an hour that even these grant it no consideration! Matthew 24:44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
Church members are like the sons-in-law of Lot, whose warnings were altogether unheeded. Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
Be assured of this, dear Ones, Noah’s pandemic was the exact same pandemic as is ours! Both are the pandemic of sin! Genesis 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6 ¶ And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8 ¶ But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
Jesus Christ is both faith’s author and finisher. And being so, both He and faith are gifts from God! Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
And since faith must always be active, Christ had to be in a present reality and belief of wholly trusting in the Father. And we find him doing so at the cross. King David had prophesied of this in his day. For he wrote of Messiah’s complete reliance on the Father for both his resurrection and ascension. Psalm 16:8 I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope. 10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 11 Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.
And we know that this referred to the Lord as he went into the jaws of death, committing his spirit completely into the hands of his Father! Luke 23:46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
And we are so blessed as to have the Apostle Peter’s message delivered through him at Pentecost. Consider carefully these words. Acts 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope: 27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 28 Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; thou shalt make me full of joy with thy countenance. 29 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. 32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
Therefore we see that our Lord’s faith was an active faith. For he had to believe God for himself. And therefore, He didn’t cry out, “My Father, My Father,” but “My God, my God!” For he was at that moment “made to be sin for us, who knew no sin!” Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? And at that exact moment He authored living faith, which was then, by the Holy Spirit, delivered unto the saints. Jude 3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
And now, throughout the world, the gospel is effectually used by the Holy Spirit to continue revealing faith into the elect believer’s souls! Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
For as the one preaching does so in true faith, those granted a spiritual, hearing ear receive faith. And that hearing ear comes by the Person of the Word of God! Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And as His total reliance upon, and trust in the Living God produced the works which satisfied the Father, that exact same faith does also produce good works from every believer! For God, the Father looked carefully upon Jesus’ travail to see if it was God-worthy! And it was, for God was “satisfied!” (That’s the greatest word in the Old Testament!) Isaiah 53:11 He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
Salvation by grace is assuredly “Not of works,” but it is just as assuredly “unto good works.” For these good works are as much ordained as the individual receiving this faith! Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
And as we read that hebrews 12:2 verse we see that effectual faith come with a “twin sister,” whose name is hope! For it was through the embracing by faith the joy that was set before him by which he endured the cross, while despising the shame! And these still abide with us today. 1 Corinthians 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
Pastor Gene Breed
December 2, 2020