Have Faith in God
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the importance of having perfect faith, which is possible through the divine nature and the imparting of the Spirit of Christ.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the necessity of perfect faith in God, asserting that doubt can undermine our trust. He explains that while human nature may struggle with this, the divine nature within us, through Christ, enables us to possess such faith. Simpson encourages believers to rely on the Spirit of Christ to cultivate faith and love that surpasses human standards, urging us to love one another as Christ loves us. He highlights that this love and faith are gifts from God, empowering us to live in accordance with His will.
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God requires of us a perfect faith, and He tells us that if we believe and doubt not, we shall have whatsoever we ask. The faintest touch of unbelief will neutralize our trust. But how shall we have such perfect faith? Is it possible for human nature? No, but it is possible to the divine nature; it is possible to the Christ within us. It is possible for God to give us faith, and He does. But Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He bids us have the faith of God. As we have faith through the imparting of the Spirit of Christ, we believe even as He.
We pray in His name and in His very nature, and, [we] live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved [us], and gave himself for [us] (Galatians 2:20).
The love that He requires of us is not mere human love, or even the standard of love required in the Old Testament, but something far higher. The new commandment is to love one another (John 13:34), not as ourselves but as He has loved us How shall such love be made possible? Our love is simply His love working in us and imparted to us through the Spirit.
Sermon Outline
- The Requirement of Perfect Faith
- The Possibility of Perfect Faith
- The Source of Perfect Faith
- The Nature of Perfect Love
- Love is not human love, but divine love
- Love is made possible through the Spirit
Key Quotes
“The faintest touch of unbelief will neutralize our trust.” — A.B. Simpson
“Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith, and He bids us have the faith of God.” — A.B. Simpson
“We pray in His name and in His very nature, and, [we] live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved [us], and gave himself for [us].” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We must have faith without doubt in order to trust God fully.
- The Spirit of Christ imparts faith to us and makes perfect love possible.
- We must live by the faith of the Son of God and love others as He has loved us.