Now every one of you believes the truth of the gospel; but the promises of the gospel, which are worthy of all acceptation, some of you have not accepted—are no more influenced by them than if they did not belong to you. The gospel contains a pearl of great price—“an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away;” but your confidence in the promise is feeble and inefficient—does not lead you to prayer—does not influence your conduct, so as to bring you in possession of this heavenly treasure. You have no faith. You have one of the elements of faith, but not the other. You have the belief, but not the confidence—that part of faith which belongs to the intellect, but not that which belongs to the heart. Therefore you are still poor, and naked, and miserable.
The Holy Scriptures record many admirable instances of true faith; in which confidence in the character, the providence, and the promises of God, rises into the most perfect assurance. Behold those women on the bank of the Nile. They are making a basket of bulrushes, and plastering it with bitumen. Placing the infant Moses therein, they commit the frail ark to the floods. Jochebed, why dost thou not fear that the child will be drowned? “I believe the promises of God, I believe that he will do good unto his people. I trust in him for the salvation of Israel.”
See that old man on mount Moriah. He has built a rude altar, and laid fire and wood thereon. He has bound his own son—his only son—his well-beloved Isaac, and is about to offer him as a sacrifice. Abraham, stay thy hand. Wilt thou slay thy only son? Then what will become of the promise? “My mind is easy. I will obey God. I believe he is able to raise Isaac from the dead. I feel assured that he will return home with me alive, and that from him will spring the Messiah.” So Abraham determined to offer Isaac upon the altar, for he confided in the promise—“In Isaac shall thy seed be called.”
We have another instance in the Centurion whose servant was healed by our Lord. He had perfect confidence in the word of Christ, even though Christ had given him no promise. “Only say in a word,” said he, “and my servant shall be healed. Thy word created the world; thy word has quickened the dead; and thy word can accomplish a cure without a journey to my house.” This is an instance of remarkable faith; and our Lord testified—“I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.”