The Living Word (Lesson 4)

The Agency of Faith

It is one of the most fundamental truths of Christianity that faith is essential for anyone to come to God and please him Eph.2:8,9; Heb.11:6. It is equally clear in scripture that faith is necessary for anyone to benefit by God’s word. Hebrews 4:2 explains to us that the Israelites had the same Word that we have today – but they did not profit by it because it was not mingled with faith Heb. 4:2. When those Israelites grumbled in the wilderness and disobeyed the commandments of God, they revealed their unbelieving hearts. And that unbelief excluded them from the benefits of the Word. But it is perhaps less often recognized that faith is even necessary for a proper interpretation of scriptures. Faith is not simply something that can be decided for or against after arriving at an understanding of biblical teaching. Rather, faith is prerequisite for that understanding. One cannot interpret the word of God correctly while disbelieving it. Unbelief is impossible when its truths are clearly understood. When God causes the glorious light of the gospel of Christ to shine in a person’s heart through the hearing of the word, that light cannot be dismissed or rejected. It is too glorious. And that light is the very essence of the true interpretation of scripture. So if someone rejects the gospel, he is clearly showing that he has no true understanding of scriptures. He is blinded in his mind – and this spiritual blindness is because he has hardened his heart in unbelief Eph. 4:17-19. So on the one hand, it is impossible to understand the true message of scriptures without faith; and on the other hand, it is impossible to have faith in the message of the word, and yet miss its benefits. This is because true faith always produces obedience (“Faith without works is dead” – Jam. 2:14-26). And obedience is the pathway of the blessings contained in God’s word. The person who “looks into the perfect law of liberty” and then continues his way unchanged, is merely a hearer of the word, and not benefited at all by it Jam. 1:22-25. Obedience, then, is the test of whether or not we have actually participated in the blessings offered in scriptures to those who understand God’s word in faith. Jn. 15:10 tells us that those who are partakers of Christ’s eternal love show it by keeping his commandments . The difference between the one who benefits nothing from the study of the Word and the one to whom the Word is a life-giving fountain of eternal blessing is simply faith. The Bible is a spiritual book; it is alive, and full of spiritual blessing: therefore, in order truly to understand it in its life-giving reality (unlike any other literary work in the world) faith is an indispensable hermeneutic.

The role of faith in the Old Testament

The Old Testament is very clear that apart from faith, man was devoid of true understanding, and unable to please God, or enjoy fellowship with him. There is no Old Testament example of someone with spiritual insight into God’s word that trusted in himself, instead of God, for his understanding. On the contrary, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” (Prov. 1:7). There is no faithless “fear of the Lord”. Therefore, without faith there is no understanding of the word of God. The Psalms and Proverbs are filled with this teaching Prov. 2:1-9; 3:5,6; 15:32; Psa. 119:12,43,64,66. Moreover, the Old Testament histories are filled with examples that bear this teaching out. It was only those who believed that truly understood God’s word. And these were the ones for whom the blessings of God’s word were reserved. Just a couple of many possible examples will suffice to illustrate this truth.

  1. Abraham Gen.15:1-6; Rom.4:3; Gal.3:5-7
  2. Moses Exo. 33:12-19
  3. David Psa. 16:8-11; Acts 2:30,31

The role of faith in the New Testament

We have seen that faith was indispensable in the Old Testament. In the New Testament faith is just as indispensable for a true understanding of scripture; and in addition, faith has been given many additional benefits and supports which the Old Testament had not yet revealed.

  1. A greater reason for faith Matthew 27:51 tells us that at Christ’s death the veil of the temple was rent in twain; therefore, when we look to Christ in scriptures, we are able to do it “with an unveiled face” (2 Cor. 3:18), seeing him in faith where he has entered behind the veil, as our forerunner, to intercede for us Heb. 6:19,20. The result of this is confidence as we come to him Heb. 4:14-16. We have more cause for confidence when we speak to him; but more than that, because of Christ we have more confidence when God speaks to us. Hebrews 1:1,2 reveals to us that God has spoken to us through his Son – in fact, John even calls him the Word Jn.1:1. The sum of all this is that in the New Testament our faith is more firmly buttressed and holds forth more precious promises – and therefore it is even more clear how vital faith is for the understanding of scriptures.

  2. The great results of faith The purpose of scripture is so that we may please Christ II Tim.2:15; and know him Phil. 3:10; Eph. 1:16-21. But these things only come as faith produces obedience 1 Jn. 2:4,5; Jn. 14:21. The word reveals Christ; therefore, we only understand the Word as we know Christ; but we only know Christ if we love him and keep his commandments – which only comes by faith. In sum, faith is the key which unlocks the great and glorious purpose for which scripture was written – to know Christ.

Study Questions:

  1. Usually, when we’re reading something, we try to understand what it’s saying first, and then we judge it, to determine whether or not we believe what we understand it to be saying. Is this approach legitimate with the bible? Why or why not.

  2. Last lesson we talked about the fact that the bible was written to show us the person and work of Christ. Read 1 Peter 1:8. According to this verse, what is necessary for us to see Christ (spiritually) and rejoice in him, even before we can literally see him with our physical eyes? Does this suggest anything that must be necessary for us to see the true message of the bible?

  3. Read 2 Corinthians 3:13-16. According to this passage, what is the true meaning of scripture? Can everyone who reads the bible understand that meaning? Why or why not?

  4. According to the same passage, what needs to happen for the veil that blinds our understanding to be done away with?

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