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Home Search Topics Contact About | Faith Is A Mysterious MiracleColossians 1:27: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:2 Peter 1:3: According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: 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.
Grace, being saved and faith pertain unto eternal life and Godliness. They are all mysterious parts of God*s gift of salvation. The truths about God, salvation and eternal life found in the Bible are impossible for a natural man to believe in his heart. Until he becomes something more than a natural man he will be unable to believe them. He might have all the pieces of the puzzle in his mind, but his mind cannot put them together properly. In his mind, faith will mysteriously come and go. Faith in his mind will not give him peace. Faith in his mind will not make him a new creature in Christ. Faith in his mind will not save him. I was there for 43 years of my life. 1 Corinthians 2:14: But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.Receiving Jesus into one*s heart is the only way he can become a new creature with faith in his heart rather than a natural man without it. Saving faith resides in the hearts of the saved. Romans 10:8-10: But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. When a man receives Jesus into his heart, Jesus provides the necessary faith in the heart of that man. Hebrews 12:2a: Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; . . .Romans 12:3: For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. Luke 17:5: And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith.Mark 9:24: And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief. God provides faith to us through Christ living in our hearts and He somehow also provides it through the Bible. Romans 10:17: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Some individuals come to faith after hearing the gospel only once. Others have to hear it dozens or hundreds of times. I was one of those. Hearing the Word of God from individuals who do not have Christ in their hearts seems to slow down the impact of the Word of God. The Word of God is powerful, but when Christ is not in the heart of the preacher, he is no better off than his listeners. Preachers like that will not understand their need of having Christ in their hearts, so they will not encourage others to receive Christ into their hearts either. I sat under preachers like that for a couple of decades before I heard one on Christian radio who had Jesus in his heart and convinced me that Jesus was what I needed too. I cannot fully explain to others or to myself the mystery of how the combination of hearing the Word of God and inviting Christ into our hearts saves us. I can just tell you that it works. I cannot fully explain the peace that I have now or the restlessness that I had before receiving Him. Philippians 4:7: And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.I cannot fully explain how He could cause my wicked heart of unbelief to respond to Him in faith. Hebrews 3:12: Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God.
Jesus Himself marveled at both people of unbelief and people of faith. Mark 6:6: And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. Matthew 8:10: When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
I too marvel at the changes He has made in me. I was a habitual faithless Christ-rejecter who surprisingly and suddenly received Him by faith. Matthew 21:42: Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord*s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?I cannot fully explain how I was responsible to trust the Lord and yet when I look back at the faith He has given me I see faith in Him as a gift from Him and a miracle wrought by Him. Except to call it a miracle of His doing, I cannot fully explain how, when I received Jesus into my heart, He removed my doubts and fears and replaced them with faith and confidence. I am in total agreement with Daniel W. Whittle who expressed it this way in his hymn I Know Whom I Have Believed. I know not how this saving faith |
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