Faith and Hope

Faith and Hope

When a person speaks, you can either believe or doubt what he says. The Spirit speaks words of guidance to us from heaven. If anyone draws back, the Father has no pleasure in him. The Spirit requires that His Words be heard and obeyed. Without faith our works are dead. But how can you believe unless someone has spoken? Works confirm faith. “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” James 2:14. In other words, faith accompanied by works can save.

When desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; when sin is full-grown, it brings forth death. Conversely, we can say: When faith has conceived, it brings forth works; when works are full-grown they give birth to life. This life has hope. Faith begets works and works beget life. There is no hope for the ungodly, but Jesus is our hope. 1 Tim. 1:1. The hope of a righteous man is increased by works of faith, because righteousness increases and saves from hopelessness and brings him into the hope of glory, Christ Jesus. This hope will not put us to shame.

A faith that produces works nourishes this hope. For such a hope, a person will gladly sacrifice, because he knows he will receive glory a hundredfold again in eternal life.

By works of faith, the Spirit comes into contact with water and blood in the body. Sin in the flesh is consciously condemned, and our spirit is freed from the law of sin and death. A life of righteousness grows, and the hope of glory increases.

Faith presses more deeply into the body and makes us conscious of sin that has not yet appeared before the judgment seat of our conscience. It is now judged in the flesh by the light of the Spirit, and righteousness forces its way into hidden places. All manner of unrighteousness within the body is laid bare; it is put to death; it must yield to the true Israelite in whom there is no guile. The land is cleansed by the obedience of faith, bringing even the most concealed enemies to the light and to judgment.

Paul received grace and apostleship to work the obedience of faith among all nations to the honor of Christ’s name, among whom you also are called. Rom. 1:5-6. How many of today’s preachers have the same goals as Paul: to bring about the obedience of faith?

The obedience of faith is not the same as simply believing in Jesus—it means that I believe in purification and sanctification. It means that I deal with each person on an individual basis and instruct him thoroughly in the ways of Jesus Christ. It means persuading him to obey the Spirit’s voice in his own heart. However, this work requires a sincere, mutual trust, because it is necessary for the person to be open and to reveal his inner state. Then the servant of the Lord can work hand in hand with the Holy Spirit. This is the work of God’s co-workers.

It is comparatively easy to stand behind a pulpit, deliver a sermon and then go home again. Such a preacher is not at all acquainted with the individual listeners. He has not exhorted a single one of them with tears, and he has not made the slightest attempt to work the obedience of faith in one individual.

A person must be brought into the captivity of the obedience of Christ. By God’s grace we must block all their ways of escape and close each gate with the two-edged sword of truth. This is what it means to work the obedience of faith. The hope of attaining the glory of God increases as soon as obedience is fulfilled; the soul is reconciled and rejoices in his new state.

Paul was called to this work, yet not only he, but everyone who wants to see a reward of his work. This is a lowly work, yet it is gold and silver and precious stones. Unfortunately, people prefer to build with wood, hay and stubble, because they can build something quickly with these materials and make it seem great in people’s eyes. Yet the day will come when everyone’s work will be tried by fire.