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How
Can I
Live Forever?
Chapter 11
The Faith That Saves
Faith
is a subject that is far too broad and far too deep to be
dealt with in the context of this document, yet in the light
of the foregoing, there is one very important aspect of
faith that we simply have to emphasize.
As
we have seen repeatedly, the righteousness of man is
worth less than nothing - it has no saving merit whatsoever.
This being the case, we have to conclude that the faith that saves
is only ever characterized by a
total distrust in our own righteousness and a total
dependence on Jesus’ righteousness. This is why . . .
`The
only faith that will benefit us is that which embraces
Him as a personal Saviour; which appropriates His
merits to ourselves.' (DA347)
Let
us be absolutely sure of the fact that true
faith is always and only a faith that works - for "the faith
that does not produce good works does not justify the
soul" (1SM397) - but true faith always understands and
accepts that the
works of man are only evidence that he possesses the faith that
justifies and saves.
Without
true faith, we all stand condemned before the law of
God, and our works or meritorious act can never lessen
our condemnation, but . . .
`By
faith in His merits [we are freed] from the condemnation
of the law.' (1SM396)
While
it is absolutely true that our own obedience to God's
law proves that
we possess saving faith, it is His obedience and only
His obedience that redeems us from the curse of the law. Our confidence for
salvation must therefore rest entirely on what He has
done, putting no trust whatsoever in what we may do or
may have done. In other words . . .
`Faith
claims nothing for its possessor because of his
righteousness, but claims everything because of the
righteousness of Christ.’ (ST 11-24-90)
`All
who will give up their hope of paying for their
salvation, or earning it, and will come to Jesus just as
they are, unworthy, sinful, and fall upon His merits,
holding in their plea the pledged word of God to pardon
the transgressor of His law, confessing their sins and
seeking pardon, will find full and free salvation.'
(Letter 148, 1897)
True
faith, therefore, believes and trusts in the merits and
the righteousness of Jesus alone, and it is only such a
faith that produces true obedience in us - an obedience
that is spawned and nurtured, not by our fear of eternal
death, but by a deep inward gratitude towards such a
loving and gracious God.
Clearly,
therefore, a faith that trusts in our own righteousness,
even in the smallest degree, is no faith at all. And,
more than this, the righteousness that is the product of
such a faith is also no righteousness at all - but
merely a specifies of vanity.
Speaking
of the faith of the centurion, Jesus said, `I have not
found such great faith even in Israel.' (Luke
7:9). Yet, just prior to Jesus making this statement,
the centurion said, Lord, `I do not deserve
to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not
consider myself worthy to come to you.' (Luke
7:6, 7)
Thus
we deduce that great faith is acutely aware of the fact
that it is undeserving and unworthy.
The
only other person who was commended by Jesus for having great faith was the
Syro-Phoenician women. This woman was not perturbed when
Jesus likened her unto a dog eating the crumbs that had
fallen from the master's table. Standing before Him whom
she believed to be the Master of earth and sea and sky,
she saw nothing in herself that was worth defending. Yet
the
persistent determination of this woman was evidence of
great faith - that type of faith that only thrives in the
heart of those who realise their unworthiness.
Whatever
else might characterize the life of the faithful, of
this we can be sure: he who has great
faith will have no confidence in what he is, in what
he can do, or in what he has done. He will understand that
while saving faith always works, it is only ever the faith that saves, while the
works only ever present sure evidence that he possesses the faith
that saves.
`A
correct faith will be made manifest in godly works.' (BEcho
06-11-94.3)
So
while saving faith will certainly produce genuine works
in us - works that are free of pride and self-glory - our
faith will only do this when we
accept . . .
¤
that
we are undeserving and unworthy, (MH161)
¤
that
our righteousness is worth less than nothing, (FW24)
¤
that
He has completed the work, (1SM394)
¤
that
He has fully satisfied the claims of the Law by
obeying the law on our behalf, (1SM396)
¤
that
He is a complete Saviour, (3SM181)
¤
and
that His life, given for us, is enough. (7BC935/6)
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