Ephraim has encircled Me
with lies,
And the house of Israel with
deceit;
But Judah still walks with
God,
Even with the Holy One who
is faithful.
Hosea 11:12
Proofs have been given as to the general use of the word faith and proof from consciousness but what we really need is proof from Scripture; this is what will be discussed in this blog. The Bible throughout its pages teach with all uniformity that faith is founded on the testimony or authority of God. It is admitted that a proof of this fact that Scriptures come to by means of revelation, revelation of things we could not otherwise know. When it is spoken of revelation of things it is not here intimated that it is anything like what is being and has been taught for many years in churches professing to have some vision or revelation from God, things which occur in the minds, yet have no Scripture proof. Further that these revelations propounded as evidence of a persons faith or the action or working of the Holy Spirit find no ground in Scripture. All one must do is read Jeremiah 23:25-40 and there is no way that just because someone says "Thus say the Lord" is from God or that any revelation has come from God. Listen to part of what Jeremiah writes: "Behold, I am against the prophets," says the the LORD, "who use their tongues and say, 'He say." Further Jeremiah writes: "But since you say, 'the oracle of the LORD: 'Because you say this word, "The oracle of the LORD!" and I have sent to you, saying, "Do not say, 'The oracle of the LORD!" 'therefore behold, I, even I will utterly forget you and forsake you, and the city that I gave you and your fathers, and will cast you out of My presence" (Jeremiah 23:38-39). It is not that God will prompt us by use of dreams, or remind us of His Words, His laws, to direct and protect us, but without Scripture to be found as the ground for such things, it is best that we carefully examine their words. This revelation spoken about as proof can be found in the declarations of the Prophets in the Old Testament, when as messengers or mouthpieces of God declared what the people were to believe and what they were to do. They spoke as directed by God. The New Testament is the testimony of Jesus Christ who came to earth not as a philosopher rather as a witness. Jesus giving an answer to Pilate said: "Pilate therefore said to Him, 'Are you a king then?" Jesus answered, "You say rightly that I am a king. For this cause I was born, and for this cause I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice" (John 18:37) Speaking to Nicodemus, Jesus said: "Most assuredly, I say to you, We speak what We do not know and testify what We have seen, and you do no receive our witness" (John 3:1). You may wonder why the word "We" is capitalized? Because the "We" refers to the context where only those "...born of the Spirit." introducing into the context the Spirit and the Spirit is a witness with Jesus. John the Baptist testifies in this manner: "He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthy and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all. And what He has seen and heard, that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony. He who has received His testimony has certified that God is true" (John 3:31-33). Were not the Apostles witnesses? Were they not ordained: "And you are witnesses of these things" (Luke 24:48). Did not Jesus command the Apostles to tarry in Jerusalem, met them and said: "But you shall receive power wen the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (Acts 1:8). Cannot we put our faith in the testimony of the Apostles for were they not witnesses? "This Jesus God was rased up, of which we are all witnesses" (Acts 2:32). Not only were the Apostles witness of Jesus' resurrection, but also that God had exalted Him: "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins" (Acts 5:31). The Apostles were witnesses more than the physical death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, they witnessed to the fact that He was exalted and that exaltation was that He was at the right hand of the Father making intercession for sins and forgiving sins: "And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, not to all people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after he arose from the dead. And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be the judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins" (Acts 10:29-43). It is then demonstrated that proof of faith based on the testimony or authority of God is proved. You may ask how? God's children from before the foundation of the world know that God has enabled them, drew them, demonstrated by their new found love of Him, His Son, the desire to follow His commands, and are remorseful when they fail and repent. Our faith is founded on that testimony and authority of God.
The Greeks complained sorely against the Apostles because the presented their doctrines not as propositions to be proved, and as a society that embraced philosophy, especially that of Socrates, and Plato, complained on the grounds that those doctrines were not presented philosophically, further, reason was left out of the equation. To them it was unthinkable that things cannot be reasoned, why any sentient being should be able to reason things out, and where was any philosophical equation for faith, they rested upon their ability to philosophize a thing to be true and faithful. It was the Apostle Paul that gave objections to this form of thinking where he taught that: "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, 'He catches the wise in their own craftiness" (1 Corinthians 3:19). Philosophy, the wisdom of men is utterly incompetent to solve the great problems of God, the universe, sin and redemption. Why? Because it is all so speculative especially concerning things of God. This philosophical or reasoned approach to Christianity is found in many churches today, in authors promoting their opinions on how we should act or behave, in fact many Bible studies or Christian seminars are nothing more than social, psychological methods, pandering to the feelings and emotions of people who are undergoing some form of trial and are looking for something to ease their pain or give some advice for advancement, all wrapped up with Christian terms. Paul adds that the doctrine that he taught truths were not to be determined on the basis of reason, rather they were matters of revelation. We are to receive them on the authority of God, not on some philosophical or reasons of truth. The Apostles were not philosophers, they were witnesses, they did not fall upon the reason of man to determine their faith or to proclaim as a testimony to that which they witnessed. There was no argument in regards to man's wisdom, they simply stated and declared the counsels of God and that faith upon those doctrines were grounded on the powerful authority of God.
There will be more Scriptural references in regards to this matter of faith based upon the testimony of God, on His authority in the next blog. For now, we must consider our faith, and the ground for our faith; is it feelings, is it simply a consciousness emotion based on facts outside of Scripture. Are you being led down a primrose lane, great sounding words, often founded upon Scriptural texts, proof texts that are not in order of context? If you can say that your faith is based solely on the authority of God, then Hallelujah for you did not come to that determination by your own self, rather it is a gift from God, your faith.
Because of the house of the
LORD our God
I will seed your good.
Psalm 122:9.
In Christ
Richard L. Crumb
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