Faith Is Trusting the Word of God
Faith is implicit trust in the Word of God, confidence in His trustworthiness, and the conviction that His promises will come to pass.
William MacDonald emphasizes that faith is an implicit trust in the Word of God, rooted in the conviction that God's promises are true and will come to pass. He clarifies that faith is not a blind leap but is based on the sure evidence found in God's revelations. MacDonald argues that true faith transcends mere belief and enters the realm of the impossible, asserting that believing God is the most rational choice one can make. He acknowledges the challenges of faith, including trials and waiting for God's promises, but insists that these difficulties strengthen faith. Ultimately, he concludes that without faith, it is impossible to please God, as disbelief equates to calling Him a liar.
Text
Â"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.Â" (Heb. 11:1)
Faith is implicit trust in the Word of God. It is confidence in the trustworthiness of God. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass. It deals primarily in the realm of the future (Â"things hoped forÂ") and the realm of the invisible (Â"things not seenÂ").
Whittier said that Â"the steps of faith fall on the seeming void, and find the rock beneath.Â" But not so! Faith is no leap in the dark. It demands the surest evidence, and finds that evidence in the Word of God.
Some people have the misconception that if you just believe a thing strongly enough it will come to pass. But that is credulity, not faith. Faith must have some revelation of God to lean on, some promise of God to cling to. If God promises something, then it is as sure as if it had already happened. If He foretells the future, then it is certain to be fulfilled. In other words, faith brings the future within the present and makes the invisible seen.
There is no risk in believing God. God cannot lie, He would not deceive, and He cannot be deceived. To believe God is the most rational, sane, logical thing a person can do. What is more reasonable than that the creature should believe the Creator?
Faith is not limited to possibilities but invades the realm of the impossible. Someone has said, Â"Faith begins where possibilities end. If itÂ's possible then thereÂ's no glory for God in it. If itÂ's impossible, it can be done.Â"
Faith, mighty faith the promise sees
And looks to God alone;
Laughs at impossibilities
And cries, Â"It shall be done.Â"
Admittedly there are difficulties and problems in the life of faith. God tests our faith in the crucible of trial and affliction to see if it is genuine (1 Pet. 1:7). We often have to wait long years to see the fulfilment of His promises, and sometimes we have to wait till we reach the other side. But Â"difficulties are food for faith to feed onÂ" (George Muller).
Â"Without faith it is impossible to please himÂ" (Heb. 11:6). When we refuse to believe Him, we are saying that He is a liar (1 John 5:10), and how can God be pleased by people who call Him a liar?
Sermon Outline
- I. Definition of Faith
- A. Faith is implicit trust in the Word of God
- B. It is confidence in the trustworthiness of God
- C. It is the conviction that what God says is true and that what He promises will come to pass
- II. The Realm of Faith
- A. Deals primarily in the realm of the future (things hoped for)
- B. Deals primarily in the realm of the invisible (things not seen)
- III. The Evidence of Faith
- A. Faith demands the surest evidence, and finds that evidence in the Word of God
- B. Faith is not credulity, but a rational and sane trust in God's promises
Key Quotes
“Faith begins where possibilities end. If it's possible then there's no glory for God in it. If it's impossible, it can be done.” — William MacDonald
“Difficulties are food for faith to feed on” — William MacDonald
“Faith, mighty faith the promise sees and looks to God alone; laughs at impossibilities and cries, 'It shall be done.'” — William MacDonald
Application Points
- Faith demands the surest evidence, and finds that evidence in the Word of God.
- Faith is not limited to possibilities but invades the realm of the impossible.
- Faith is necessary to please God, and without it, it is impossible to please Him.