(Article for
publication week of 1-30-2014 AD)
"But as
many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to
them that believe on His name:" (John 1:12).
As we continue
our series of articles on saving faith, we will now with the help of the Lord
show you some of the principle acts of saving faith. We have shown you that
there is a kind of faith that is counterfeit and cannot save (see again James
2:19; Acts 8:13-23; Luke 8:13). The faith of devils, temporary believers and
false converts will not save because such "faith" is not accompanied
with love and worship of Christ. Devils and temporary believers and false
converts do not repent of sin, and they have not other spiritual graces. Their
faith is alone, without any good works to justify their faith. Such is the
"faith" of most professed Christians and church goers in our county
from all outward evidence. I pray daily that the Lord will send a great revival
in our county and that He would save the lost church members and lost preachers
in Simpson County, along with notorious sinners, and the young and tender. I
often feel like Jeremiah as I weep over my kinsmen and neighbours that I love
so much, and see them sinking down to an eternal and burning hell.
Now, let us go
on to consider some of the principle acts of saving faith. And the first to be
considered is receiving Christ. In
our text this week , in John 1:12, "receiving Christ" is practically
synonymous with believing on the name of Christ. This is the reason we call it
a principle act of faith. God's elect receive Christ in the same way that we
receive natural life. That is we receive it passively, before we are active.
Dear reader, you received the gift of natural life from God through the agency
of your natural parents apart from your will. So, you see , to receive Christ is
not an act of man's natural will, but it is the outworking of God's grace
working in an elect sinner.
Secondly,
receiving Christ is to receive the Christ of the Bible. There are many who have
been deceived (often self deceived) into thinking they are saved because they
"believe" in a Christ of their own imagination. True saving faith is
to believe in Christ as He is revealed in the inspired word of God which
testifies of Him (John 5:39). The scriptures testify that the Lord Jesus Christ
is the Eternal and Coequal Son of God. He is God manifest in the flesh. If you
have not received the true Christ, you are lost world without end.
Thirdly, to
receive Christ is to receive a whole
Christ. That is you receive Him as Saviour and Lord. Unless you receive Christ
as Lord to rule over you, you are not saved. If you are not now bowing your
knee to Christ as His slave, you are not saved. You must receive Christ in all
His offices. You need His priestly office to intercede for you. You need His
prophetic office to teach you. You need His Kingly office to subdue your
rebellion and protect you from the world, the devil and your own fallen nature.
You see dear reader, salvation is not just fire insurance to keep out of hell.
Salvation is to receive Christ for all that He is, and He is Lord and Saviour.
Finally, saving faith is to receive Christ with all of
your being. You must receive Him with your heart, soul, mind and strength. When
you receive Christ you surrender everything to Him. In reality, it is already
His. But when you receive Christ , you acknowledge it. Saving faith is all of
you, receiving all of Christ. Dear reader, have you received Christ?
