The Nature of Faith and Its Manifestations

The Nature of Faith and Its Manifestations

Faith is the only thing that matters, that is, it is the only means by which we can acquire what has been promised to us after we have fulfilled the conditions; therefore it must be of the utmost importance to become acquainted with the characteristics and the nature of faith. Because God’s Word—the Word of life—is absolutely true, the innate nature of faith is full conviction that we will receive it, that it will become like that, that it will become an accomplished fact, a reality, a certainty because the condition has been fulfilled.

The one fact leads to the next fact!

Faith is something firm and definitive, something immovable, completely separated from the least intimation of doubt.

Faith has nothing to do with wishing to do or any kind of an attempt at doing. There is nothing vague or uncertain in its nature. I either believe that it is God’s clear Word and that it is true, or it is not God’s Word and it is not true and ought not to be believed. The only basis for believing is that I shall believe it to be true. And if it is true, it is meaningless for me not to believe it.

The manifestations or effects of faith are always the same; namely, that it happens, that I receive it, that it becomes like that, that it is revealed as an accomplished fact to God’s honor and praise and for the benefit of mankind.

Examples: He who humbles himself, which is what Jesus Himself did, will be exalted! Just as truly as God lives, the person will be exalted whether he wants to or not! What he is exalted to is an overcoming life, a godly life! When this happens, we also know that the person has humbled himself voluntarily. This is one of life’s main laws! God guides everything and everyone in harmony with this law!

He who exalts himself is irrevocably humbled. God faithfully sees to it. Israel’s history, world history, and church history confirm this fully. A man exalts himself before his destruction. Pride comes before the fall. God gives grace to the humble to the same extent that he is humble. This happens in a very precise and just manner!

“Give, and it will be given to you . . .” is also one of life’s main laws; it is not a nice side issue, as most people think. They are badly mistaken! Be quick to correct that mistake if you are one of the many who have made this disgraceful error! If a person says or thinks, “No one ever gives me anything,” we know what, according to this true law of life, he has sorely neglected! That is guaranteed!