|
|
|
|
| This first lecture explains precisely what faith is. It is described as the first great governing principle, the foundation of all righteousness, without which there is no power. | ||
|
1 FAITH being the first principle in revealed religion, and the foundation of all righteousness, necessarily claims the first place in a course of lectures which are designed to unfold to the understanding the doctrine of Jesus Christ. 2 In presenting the subject of faith, we shall observe the following order: 3 First, Faith itself--what it is: 4 Secondly, The object on which it rests; and 5 Thirdly, The effects which flow from it. |
||
|
6 Agreeably to this order we have first to show what faith is. 7 The author of the epistle to the Hebrews, in the eleventh chapter of that epistle, and first verse, gives the following definition of the word faith: 8 "Now afaith is the bsubstance (assurance) of things choped for, the devidence of things not seen." (JST uses assurance) 9 From this we learn, that faith is the assurance which men have of the existence of things which they have not seen; and the principle of aaction in all intelligent beingsa. |
9a the principle of action in all
intelligent beings Since 'faith' to many is an 'intangible'
feeling of mental belief, they tend to divide 'faith' from their list of
actual 'actions' of 'works' which one can actually do and which is very
much a 'tangible' unto them. To those who divide faith from works, it is a
passive state of mental cognizance. That is being aware of what one thinks
upon a matter and separating it totally from what one does about a matter.
Nothing could be further from the truth. If one forces mental conviction into
the realm of only 'thought', then one takes it from its true source of 'power'
or 'impowerment'. Faith is not merely a 'state of mind'. It is a true and
living power which moves to action. The 'exercising of faith' is motion and
power and works beyond that of the mere physical realm, but it is not a
stagnant 'inactive' state of mind. It is a moving flowing force of action.
The exercise of faith is the first great required 'work' of the Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
The confusion comes in definition. The 'works' which most speak of are the 'works' of the Jews which are the works of the law. That is in performance of the law is man justified. This was the belief of he Jew. Thus our scriptural concept of 'works' becomes artificially skewed, in that many scriptural references and most all references by tranditional Christianity so limits what is considered as 'works' those which relate to the compliance with the law. Yet one of the first and great commandments is to 'exercise faith in Christ'. 'It is the cardinal principle of the Church of Jesus Christ.' (D.O. McKay) That is it is the first principle, the highest precept, the greatest law and commandment of God, to exercise faith in Jesus Christ. It is the 'first great work' required of man to perform. It is that greatest work without which all other works are dead unto salvation. And thus the point which the Apostle Paul does attempt to emphasize to the Jews, that there works without it afford them nothing in terms of God's salvation unto man. Yea, it faith is not a might work, the what meaneth the often use phase of the Savior when he states, 'Thy faith hath made thee whole?' Or what meaneth the scriputures which speak of the faith to move mountains and by which the very elements do obey? Are not these might 'works' of faith? What doeth healeth a man, but by the hand of faith in the power exercised in God? Faith is a mighty power in God, it is a mighty work. It is the first and greatest of all the works of and in God. When man begins to understand that faith is that first great work and power in God, then man can move beyond the mere works of the law into the realm of the works of God unto salvation by the exercise of their faith in Christ. Faith is a working force, it is a 'work' in the highest sense and meaning of the word 'work' or 'works'. It transcends all of the works of the law, and it bring that which is the necessary life in to them unto salvation. Else all 'works' in and of themselves are but dead unto salvation in God. |
8a
TG
Faith b GR 'assurance', 'basis', 'foundation'; JST Heb. 11:1 ... assurance of things hoped for ... c TG Hope d GR proof 9a James 2:17-20; Gal. 2:16; D&C 63:11
|
|
10 If men were duly to consider themselves, and turn their thoughts and reflections to the operations of their own minds, they would readily discover that it is faith, and faith only, which is the moving cause of all action, in them; that without it, both mind and body would be in a state of inactivity, and all their exertions would cease, both physical and mental. 11 Were this class to go back and reflect upon the history of their lives, from the period of their first recollection, and ask themselves, what principle excited them to action, or what gave them energy and activity, in all their lawful avocations, callings and pursuits, what would be the answer? Would it not be that it was the assurance which we had of the existance of things which we had not seen, as yet? Was it not the hope which you had, in consequence of your belief in the existence of unseen things, which stimulated you to action and exertion, in order to obtain them? Are you not dependant on your faith, or belief, for the acquisition of all knowledge, wisdom and intelligence? Would you exert yourselves to obtain wisdom and intelligence, unless you did believe that you could obtain them? Would you have ever sown if you had not believed that you would reap? Would you have ever planted if you had not believed that you would gather? Would you have ever asked unless you had believed that you would receive? Would you have ever sought unless you had believed that you would have found? Or would you have ever knocked unless you had believed that it would have been opened unto you? In a word, is there any thing that you would have done, either physical or mental, if you had not previously believed? Are not all your exertions, of every kind, dependant on your faith? Or may we not ask, what have you, or what do you possess, which you have not obtained by reason of your faith? Your food, your raiment, your lodgings, are they not all by reason of your faith? Reflect, and ask yourselves, if these things are not so. Turn your thoughts on your own minds, and see if faith is not the moving cause of all action in yourselves; and if the moving cause in you, it it not in all other intelligent beings? |
||
|
12 And as faith is the moving cause of all action in temporal concerns, so it is in spiritual; for the Savior has said, and that truly, that he that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved. Mark 16:16. 13 As we receive by faith, all temporal blessings that we do receive, so we, in like manner, receive by faith all spiritual blessings, that we do receive. But faith is not only the principle of action, but of power, also, in all intelligent beings, whether in heaven, or on earth. Thus says the author of the epistle to the Hebrews, 11:3: 14 "Through faith we understand that the worlds were aframed by the bword of God: so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear." 15 By this we understand that the principle of power, which existed in the bosom of God, by which the worlds were framed, was faith; and that it is by reason of this principle of power, existing in the Deity, that all created things exist-so that all things in heaven, on earth, or under the earth, exist by reason of faith, as it existed in HIM. |
14a
TG
Creation b TG Jesus Christ, Creator |
|
|
16 Had it not been for the principle of faith the worlds would never have been framed, neither would man have been formed of the dust--it is the principle by which Jehovah works, and through which he exercises power over all temporal, as well as eternal things. Take this principle or attribute, (for it is an attribute) from the Deity and he would cease to exist. 17 Who cannot see, that if God framed the worlds by faith, that it is by faith that he exercises power over them, and that faith is the principle of power? And that if the principle of power, it must be so in man as well as in the Deity? This is the testimony of all the sacred writers, and the lesson which they have been endeavoring to teach to man. |
||
|
18 The Savior says, Matthew 17:19,20, in explaining the reason why the disciples could not cast out the devil, that it was because of their aunbelief: "For verily, I say unto you," said he, "if ye have bfaith as a grain of mustard-seed, ye shall say unto this cmountain, Remove hence to yonder place! and it shall remove: and nothing shall be dimpossible unto you." 19 Moroni, while abridging and compiling the record of his fathers, has given us the following account of faith as the principle of power: He says, page 563, that it was the faith of Alma and Amulek which caused the walls of the prison to be wrent, as recorded on the 264th page; that it was the faith of Nephi and Lehi which caused a change to be wrought upon the hearts of the Lamanites, when they were immersed with the Holy Spirit, and with fire, as seen on the 421st page, and that it was by faith that the mountain Zerin was removed, when the brother of Jared spake in the name of the Lord. See also 565th page. |
||
|
20 In addition to this we are told in Hebrews, 11:32, 33, 34, 35, that Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens; and that women received their dead raised to life again. &c. &c. 21 Also, Joshua, in the sight of all Israel, bade the sun and moon to stand still, and it was done. Josh. 10:12. |
||
|
22 We here understand, that the sacred writers say, that all these things were done by faith--It was by faith that the worlds were framed--God spake, chaos heard, and worlds came into order, by reason of the faith there was in HIM. So with man also--he spake [page 9] by faith in the name of God, and the sun stood still, the moon obeyed, mountains removed, prisons fell, lions' mouths were closed, the human heart lost its enmity, fire its violence, armies their power, the sword its terror, and death its dominion; and all this by reason of the faith which was in them. 23 Had it not been for the faith which was in man, they might have spoken to the sun, the moon, the mountains, prisons, lions, the human heart, fire, armies, the sword, or to death in vain! |
||
|
24 Faith, then, is the first great governing principle which has power, dominion, and authority over all things: by it they exist, by it they are upheld, by it they are changed, or by it they remain, agreeably to the will of God. Without it, there is no power, and without power there could be no creation, nor existence! |
|
|
|
|
|
OF THEOLOGY Question. What is theology? Q. What is the first principle in this revealed science? Q. Why is faith the first principle in this revealed science? Q. What arrangement should be followed in presenting the
subject of faith? Q. What is faith? [page 10] rance which we have of the existence of unseen things, must be the principle of action in all intelligent beings. Heb. 11:3, Through faith we understand the worlds were framed by the word of God. (1:8,9.) Q. How do you prove that faith is the principle of action in
all intelligent beings? Q. Is not faith the principle of action in spiritual things
as well as in temporal? Q. How do you prove it? Q. Is faith any thing else beside the principle of action? Q. What is it? Q. How do you prove it? [page 11] 10:12. Then spake Joshua to the Lord in the day when the Lord delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel, and he said in the sight of Israel, Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon, and thou Moon, in the valley of Ajalon. Josh. 10:13. And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves of their enemies. Is not this written in the book of Jasher? So the sun stood still in the midst of heaven, and hasted not to go down about a whole day. Mat. 17:19. Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out? Mat. 17:20. And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard--seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.--Heb. 11:32. And what shall I say more? for the time would fail me to tell of Gideon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthah, of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets. Heb. 11:33. Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Heb. 11:34. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Heb. 11:35. Women received their dead raised to life again: and other were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection. (1:16-22. ) Q. How would you define faith in its most unlimited sense? Q. How do you convey to the understanding more clearly, that
faith is the first great governing principle, which has power, dominion and
authority over all things? |
||