The Oberlin Evangelist

LECTURE XI.

May 20, 1840.

UNBELIEF--No. 2

by the Rev. Charles G. Finney

Modernized by Cliff Collins

“So we see they could not enter in because of unbelief.” (Hebrews 3:19)

“He who does not believe will be condemned.” (Mark 16:16)

III. Why is unbelief unreasonable?

1. Unbelief is unreasonable because confidence in testimony is natural to the human race. This is a law of our nature. Until selfishness comes to take possession of our heart and blinds us concerning any truth or anything that opposes God’s will, confiding in a testimony is one of the easiest and most natural exercises of our mind. The conduct of very young children demonstrates this.

2. Unbelief is unreasonable because believing in someone’s testimony is one of the easiest and most natural things to do no matter how old you are. Society couldn’t exist without it. All the business transactions in the world turn on its confidence in people’s testimony. Everyone should know that no government, or order, or happiness, could exist in any community without confidence.

3. Unbelief is unreasonable because all evidence is in favor of having an unlimited and heart-felt confidence in the character and word of God.

4. Creation and providence confirm the truths of the Bible, and when we understand creation and providence, we can discover the same truths, perhaps not as clearly. The heavens above, the earth beneath, and everything within and around us, confirms the proposition that it is perfectly reasonable to place unlimited confidence in God.

5. The works of creation and providence, when we properly study and understand them, presents God in such a light that it confirms the testimony of the Bible. This leads us to the conclusion that the Bible means as much as it appears to mean. From this, we conclude that we can trust God for all His promises, and His promises mean exactly what they say.

6. Unbelief is entirely unreasonable because the atonement is the highest possible demonstration of God’s intention to do all the good He wisely can do to benefit every human being. Certainly, it is unreasonable to think that God should give His only begotten Son to die for men, and then willingly withhold any lesser good that He can wisely bestow on them. This is the reasoning and the conclusion of the apostle Paul. “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

7. The Atonement is the highest evidence that God can give of His infinitely great love for everyone of us. It is evidence so strong that it demands our most heart-felt confidence in His character, government, word, promises, providence, and in His tender care for our earthly and eternal good. Reader, did you ever consider the amount and force of evidence contained in the Atonement. Did you ever consider that God really loves you; that He loves you so much that He gave His only begotten and well beloved Son to die in your place? What higher evidence of love could you ask, expect, or conceive, from any being, than for God to give His own son to die to preserve your life. If what God did really happened, don’t you think that withholding confidence in His love for you is the most shocking, unnatural, and abominable thing you could do?

8. The Atonement so illustrates and confirms the love of God for us that it is perfectly reasonable to freely take all of God’s promises of good to us at His word. Let’s look at 2 Cor. 6:16-18, and 7:1 one more time. “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people’. Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate’, says the Lord. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters’, says the Lord Almighty’.” “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

From these promises, “I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people” and “I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters”, the Apostle concludes that completely cleansing ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, and perfecting holiness in the fear of God is quite practical. Now, I would ask you, isn’t this one of the most reasonable conclusions in the world? In the light of the Atonement, and considering the infinitely great love of God that He manifests in the Atonement, how much can we reasonably expect God to mean in such promises as these? What is naturally and fully implied in these and other similar promises, in view of His infinite love and the bountifulness of His heart as expressed in the Atonement?

I won’t hesitate to say, that in view of these promises alone, it is completely unreasonable to draw any other conclusion than the conclusion that Paul drew from them. And what shall we say about the almost numberless great and precious promises that are given to make us partakers of God’s divine nature? We must admit, that these promises lead us to the conclusion that it is completely unreasonable to believe anything less than that God will “sanctify us completely; and may our whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (See 1 Thess 5:23)

9. The evidence contained in the Atonement, of the infinitely great love of God for us, is confirmed and strengthened by the great patience and forbearance that God has exercised towards this world since the Atonement. His patience and perseverance in using whatever means are necessary to induce mankind to accept the Atonement, His striving by His Spirit and all the influences He exerts to sanctify and save, seem to pile demonstration upon demonstration of His infinite love and desire to do good for us. Certainly, we can think of nothing on earth or in hell that is more unreasonable than unbelief.

10. To stumble at any difficulties that lie in the way of faith is completely unreasonable, because we should expect these difficulties, and a moment’s consideration would show us that this is true. We are in the infancy of our existence. God can explain relatively little to us in this world. There is hardly anything in the universe that does not involve mysteries that we do not and cannot understand. Our own nature and the nature and constitution of everything around us, presents to us mysteries as impenetrable, and difficulties as great as any of the truths of religion. Yet, on subjects other than religious subjects, we receive testimony, and believe facts, where we cannot understand their philosophy or their explanation. We are forced to do this concerning almost everything in the Universe. And how infinitely unreasonable it is, in the midst of our ignorance of material things, to stumble at difficulties, perplex ourselves with mysteries, and withhold confidence in the testimony of God, simply because we may not understand the why and the how.

11. It is very unreasonable, not to feel an inward assurance that God’s promises will all be fulfilled. If I owed you a thousand dollars, you might have reason to feel insecure about being paid, and you may come to me and say, “I doubt your responsibility, I want to be at peace about this, and so I’d like you to give me more assurance”. This might be very reasonable. But will you ask for more assurance from God? Who will underwrite for Him? Who or what can make His promises more secure? Do you need an authorized deed of the Universe, a bond and mortgage, sealed, signed, delivered, and registered in the court of heaven? Why, you already have all of this and more besides. For “God, determining to show more abundantly to the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath, that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us.” (Hebrews 6:17-18) Now do you say, “why, I want to feel, in my heart, the assurance that God will fulfill His promises to me”. Feel in your heart! Doesn’t the promise and oath of God make you feel in your heart that what He has said shall happen? The state of mind that can complain about the need to feel assured that the God of infinite truth will not lie is infinitely unreasonable and abominable. What guarantee can He give? Who can be His bail? Who or what in the Universe can make His promise any more certain?

But, suppose you had the bond and oath of the richest man in America for a thousand dollars. Wouldn’t your neighbors consider you crazy, if you did not feel in your heart that your debt was secure? Yes, every court of law or equity in the land would pronounce you insane. I remember hearing about a wealthy man who became a hypochondriac and made himself continually unhappy, lest he and his family should become paupers. To relieve his mind, his wealthy connections offered to secure for him a large amount of money annually, to support his family. He replied, “that wouldn’t do any good, because those ‘riches would take on wings and fly away’.” He couldn’t put any confidence in any such security. Finally, a commission of lunacy was issued to secure his property, and he was pronounced a lunatic in view of his mental condition. Now I don’t hesitate to say, that his state of mind is almost perfect reason compared to the infinite unreasonableness and insanity of not feeling assured that all the promises of God will be fulfilled.

Why, what was so unreasonable about the conduct of this man? He refused to trust in human security and responsibility to support his family. Now in one sense, this might be unreasonable, and the court may have been right to pronounce him a lunatic or an unreasonable man. But if this is insanity, what do you call a state of mind that can’t confide in the testimony and oath of the infinite and ever blessed God of truth?

Beloved, God promises to maintain your family. Jesus declared, “Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat’? or ‘What shall we drink’? or ‘What shall we wear’? For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:31-33) The infinitely faithful God has promised to circumcise your heart and the heart of your seed, to love the Lord your God with all your heart, and all your soul. (Deuteronomy 30:6) He has promised to “sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ”. (1 Thess 5:23) Can you think of anything more unreasonable than if you felt assured in your heart, that God won’t keep His promises?

IV. What causes unbelief?

1. Selfishness prevents people from paying attention to the evidence of God’s character. People are so busy seeking their own private interests that they have very little time to consider God’s real character as manifested in His works of creation, providence, and grace. People, in deliriously scrambling after their selfish interests, almost forget that God even exists, and, for all practical purposes, they often do forget He exists.

2. The selfishness of people prevents them from receiving the idea that God is unselfish and loving. People are aware of their own selfishness. They witness the same principle in people all around them. And so, they conclude that everyone is selfish. It is amazing to see how difficult it is to possess the human mind with the true knowledge of God. God charges mankind with thinking that God is no different than they are. Judging others by our standard is very natural, no matter how presumptuous and blasphemous it may be concerning God.

3. Knowing our own hypocrisy in many areas, and seeing constant displays of insincerity and hypocrisy in almost everyone around us, naturally produces distrust in us, or a lack of confidence in the sincerity and unselfish love of others.

4. Aware of our own lack of mercy, and seeing the lack of mercy in others, makes it difficult to comprehend the infinite mercy of God.

5. The fact that people seek and think they can find happiness by getting all they can, blinds their minds to the fact that God’s character is just the opposite of this, that unselfish love is His character, that doing good instead of getting good, and giving good instead of receiving good, constitute His happiness. People continually cry “give, give”, and are never satisfied, no matter how much they receive. But God, on the other hand, finds His happiness in giving and in pouring out blessings from His infinite fullness on anyone that can be persuaded to receive them.

6. Men are naturally unwilling to see that God’s character is the direct opposite of their own. This is one cause of their unbelief.

7. Unwilling to believe whatever rebukes our sin is another cause of unbelief.

8. Concern for our own reputation is another fruitful source of unbelief. “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44) Here Christ clearly teaches that a regard for our own reputation will prevent us from receiving and believing the testimony of God.

9. Prejudice is often a fruitful source of unbelief. To pre-judge or make up your mind on any question before you know all the facts, will certainly turn your mind from a knowledge and belief of the truth.

10. Committed pride is another fruitful source of unbelief. When a person commits himself in favor of any error, or against any truth, he is in the greatest danger of never coming to any knowledge of the truth. He probably will reject any light that might correct his darkness.

11. Sensuality is another fruitful source of unbelief. Let any man turn himself over to indulging his appetites, and his mind will become as dark as midnight to all but objects he can feel. He will “walk after the sight of his eyes, and the hearing of his ears”; but he probably won’t believe or know anything about God as he should know. (See Isaiah 11:3)

12. Confidence in the opinion of unbelievers will prevent us from believing in the testimony of God. This is a very common source of unbelief. Multitudes confide more in men than in God, who allow their confidence in God to be completely destroyed or prevented by the unbelieving opinions of those who claim to have, but really don’t have, faith in God.

13. Everyone knows that the temptations of Satan are occasions of a lot of unbelief. By contradicting God and shaking the confidence of our first parents in God, he ruined the world.

14. A another fruitful source of unbelief is lack of a clear idea of what faith really is. Many think that they already believe because they admit the truths of the gospel, and are not aware of any positive unbelief. They overlook the fact that faith is our sincere and joyful assurance of the truth of God. However, they know that they have no sincere and conscious assurance. They think that having a sincere, clear, conscious assurance that God will fulfill His promises to them would be the highest and rarest attainment in religion. Thinking that what really constitutes the faith of the gospel is some very high and rare attainment, they settle for something short, and rest in a state of mind that completely lacks true faith.

15. Gluttony, and every form of intemperance, are sure causes of unbelief. They all grieve the Spirit of God. They sensualize and degrade the mind, and bring it into bondage to the flesh.

16. Our selfish will, more than anything and everything else, prevents the exercise of faith. The Jews resisted the evidence of miracles. And who has not observed how difficult it is to produce confidence in their mind, against their will. In fact, it is impossible. Confidence is an act of the will itself; and it is often amazing to see how much evidence can be accumulated before one’s mind, and yet his heart withholds its confidence. The truth is that people don’t believe God, because they will not believe God.

V. Why is unbelief wicked?

1. Unbelief is the most unreasonable abomination in the Universe. I mean exactly what I say. There is no greater perversion of right reason in the whole universe, than unbelief. If the son of a great prince who possesses immeasurable wealth, is filled with worry and anxiety over the possibility that he might not receive his daily bread, who would not say that he is being extremely unreasonable and ridiculous. And suppose, to quiet his anxiety, his father paid for everything that he owned, and made him secure in every possible way. In spite of all this, his fears continue, and he cries, “I can’t realize and feel assured in my own mind, that my father will supply my material needs”. Who would not say that he is being totally unreasonable? But, how would this begin to compare with the infinite unreasonableness of the person who complains that he does not realize and cannot feel assured, that God shall supply all his needs, spiritual and material?

2. Unbelief is the most damaging sin against God that you can commit. Unbelief implies and includes:

(1.) That you flatly deny the integrity of God’s character.

(2.) That you deny His attributes.

(3.) That you charge God with hypocrisy. You actually say to Him, “You claim that You love me, that You are able and willing to supply all my needs. You claim to have infinite compassion, and boast of Your infinite grace. You tell me, that You are able and willing to meet the needs of my nature; that You have given me Your pledge and Your oath, and sworn by two immutable things, by which You say it is impossible for You to lie. Yet, Lord, I do not feel in my heart that anything You have ever said is true. I have no confidence in your words, and I do not believe in my heart that your promises are true.”

(4.) Unbelief clearly charges God with lying under oath.

(5.) Unbelief charges God with infinite folly and inconsistency. Indeed, unbelief cannot lodge in any mind, without virtually accusing God with having the worst character of any being in the Universe. For when we take into consideration God’s promises and professions, how can we possibly exercise unbelief without virtually accusing Him of being the very opposite of everything He promises and professes.

Let’s look again at the illustration of the student, whose father has repeatedly assured him that he will supply all his needs. Now if these assurances were full, repeated, and even backed up by a written oath, it is easy to see that his son should not doubt or worry about his material support. The son should not question his father’s ability or willingness. Now suppose the father had made as many great and various promises as God has; and suppose he had made as great a sacrifice, to promote the well-being of his son as God has made to promote our well-being. Can you think of anything that would be more damaging to the father’s feelings and character, than for that son to have and show no confidence in his father’s word?

3. Unbelief has the most damaging tendency of any sin in the Universe:

(1.) For us, unbelief makes all heart-obedience impossible. How can we obey God from our heart, when we have no confidence in Him? Our obedience to any government, parental government, state government, or the moral government of God, is based on our confidence in the person in charge. If we destroy our private or public confidence in God, obedience from our heart becomes impossible.

(2.) The tendency of unbelief makes it the most damaging sin to the universe of creatures that we can imagine. It is a highly contagious abomination. Unbelief easily prevailed over our first parents, when the serpent suggested to Eve, that God was not sincere when He prohibited eating the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It is truly amazing to witness the contagious nature of unbelief. Let anyone question, doubt, or display by his behavior, that he has no confidence in God and His promises, and the influence seems to spread with almost unlimited power. If professing Christians display, by their careless lives, their unbelief in the guilt and danger of sinners, their unbelief seems to act like a spell over them. They begin to regard the most solemn assertions and threats of God as nothing more than the baseless fabric of a dream. I am astonished to see how even the suggestion of unbelief can chill everything to death, and destroy the spirit of prayer and confidence in God during a revival. All someone has to do is simply suggest that the revival is going to decline; that God can’t work because certain things are in His way. Simply let someone call into question the application or meaning of a promise; and you will see how easily confidence can be destroyed, and how unbelief in any situation, if it finds a place to vent, will flow through a community like a flood.

4. Unbelief tends to annihilate Gods’ influence over the Universe. God’s influence over us depends on our estimation of Him. If we lack sincere confidence in God, we destroy His influence over us. Thus, unbelief tends to completely annihilate the government of God. One purpose of the Atonement was to restore public confidence. Satan suggested (and our first parents believed him) that God was selfish in not allowing them to eat a certain fruit, because they would “become as gods, knowing good and evil”. (See Genesis 3) God designed the Atonement to exhibit in the strongest manner, God’s unselfish love for us, so He might restore our confidence in Him, and thus gain dominion over our hearts, for our good and His own glory. In the Atonement, God has given us the highest evidence that He possibly could give, of both the unselfish nature and infinite degree of His love. Nevertheless, unbelief tosses all this aside, and declares that it has no confidence in God. Thus, unbelief completely annihilates the power of moral government, and renders the gospel the savor of death unto death. It is openly refusing to be satisfied with the infinite evidence that God has given of His unselfish love for man. It is virtually saying, “I will not be satisfied with any evidence that God has given or can give of the integrity of His character. I will not trust Him. He will not have my confidence, no matter what He does or says.”

5. Of all the sins that a person can commit, unbelief grieves God the most. Suppose a husband finds that his wife has no confidence in him. Suppose he has always shown her his sincerest affection, and always manifested his love in every possible way. Now what could be more damaging to his heart than to discover that his wife has no confidence in him? Under these circumstances, if that husband has a good reason to grieve and feel deeply hurt and wounded to the depths of his heart; how must God feel when He sees that His creatures have no confidence in Him, in spite of the infinite pains He takes to secure their confidence, and thereby save their souls.

6. Unbelief “tramples the Son of God underfoot, counts the blood of the covenant by which He was sanctified a common thing, and insults the Spirit of grace”. (See Hebrews 10:29) Unbelief says, “I have no confidence in the need, nature, or reality of the Atonement, and as for Jesus Christ, I don’t believe that ‘His blood cleanses from all sin’. (1 John 1:7) I don’t feel in my heart, that He is ‘my wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption’. (1 Cor 1:30) In fact, I really don’t believe any such thing.”

7. Unbelief is the cause of every other sin. A little reflection will convince anyone who will look at this subject, that unbelief, or withholding a sincere confidence in the character, word, and promises of God, is the cause of worldly mindedness and selfishness, under all the forms that they exist in this world. Just let your mind have a conscious realizing assurance, that all the infinitely interesting things contained in the Bible are real, and it instantly breaks the power of selfishness and pride, and every other abomination, and delivers the soul up to the entire dominion of truth.

8. Unbelief sets aside infinite evidence, and therefore, it totally departs from the law of our nature. I’ve already mentioned that believing in testimonies is natural to man; and that an unblemished mind is as yielding as air to the influence of evidence. But, what must be the state of that mind that can withhold confidence in God, in the face of all the evidence He has given of the infinite excellence of His character. Unbelief is the most outrageous mutiny against the laws of our existence. It is the most abominable rejecting and the most abominable resistance of all the tendencies of an unblemished mind that I can think of.

9. Unbelief is the most horrible display of prejudice that the universe can present, or witness. If it weren’t for the appalling display of the facts in this situation, it would seem completely incredible that mankind should not be completely satisfied, and universally and continually exercise the strictest confidence in the word, character, and promises of God. We sometimes witness very shocking displays of prejudice in one human being towards another; because the prejudiced mind can’t believe anything good about the person he is prejudiced against. Whatever appears to be fair, he thinks is hypocrisy; and he explains away any appearance of goodness, in any and every way possible, rather than admit what is true. There are few more hateful displays of human character than this. But how infinitely detestable is that state of mind that is so prejudiced against God, that it sets aside the infinite weight of testimony in His favor and withholds all practical and heartfelt confidence in His word and oath?

10. God has done everything that He can possibly do to secure and even compel the exercise of confidence in Him. Suppose some mischievous mind introduces rebellion into a human government, by insinuations that destroy the confidence of the people in their ruler. Now suppose that while that ruler has the power to overcome, crush, and slay all of them, he decides instead, to pity them so much that he gives his only begotten and well beloved son to atone for their sins. Suppose he made every display of his unselfish love that is possible, and yet, the people still withheld their confidence, and his revolting subjects continue to maintain their wicked distrust in his character. Certainly, he could ask, “what more could I have done that I have not done to secure the confidence of my people. I have laid down my life to do you good, and why don’t you believe?” One might think that it is impossible that unbelief should have a place in this world after all the manifestations of God’s love that have been made to it. But Oh, what shall we say when we find, not only the heathen world, but the Christian world, and even the Christian Church, withholding confidence in God, and manifesting the most shocking unbelief concerning His providence and word? What more can God do to secure public and individual confidence? What higher evidence can He give? Or, in God’s own emphatic words, “What more can I do for my vineyard that I have not already done?” (Isaiah 5:4)

11. Unbelief is willful sin. It is easy to see, that it is almost impossible to make people believe what they are unwilling to believe. And when their will is strongly opposed to any truth, it is almost impossible to retain any confidence in that truth. But, how strong is the depravity in their heart? How powerful must their prejudice be, when infinite evidence does not secure the confidence of their mind? How much strength must there be in the opposition of their will, when their mind can look all around them, and see mountains of evidence piled on mountains of evidence, and yet not feel one particle of inward confidence and heartfelt rest in the character and word of the blessed God?

There are many ways that we can illustrate how the influence of our will modifies our belief on almost any subject. A drunkard does not believe that alcohol is poison. A Universalist does not believe that there is any hell. A gourmet does not believe that his non-nutritious condiments can damage his health. It is often shocking to observe the amount of influence that our will has in modifying our opinions. And when we speak about the faith of the gospel, which implies and includes willful acts, it is obvious that there can be no faith where our will does not yield. To talk about an unwilling faith is to talk about an unwilling willingness. The truth is, we are not influenced by evidence in situations where our will is opposed to the truth. We remain stubborn and rebellious, not convinced and humbled, and God does not gain our confidence no matter what He says or does.

REMARKS.

1. One unbelieving soul can do a lot of evil; especially if he is a minister of the gospel. How easy it is for a blind minister to keep his congregation forever in darkness concerning the meaning of the gospel and the fullness of the salvation that God provides.

2. A mind, under the influence of unbelief, is a very dangerous interpreter of God’s word. Without faith, no man discovers the true meaning of the Bible. Nor can that person possibly discover its spiritual importance without the state of mind that a right understanding of the word of God always implies.

3.Unbelief robs the Church of her inheritance. Because faith conditions God’s promises, and God can’t fulfill His promises where there is no faith, the evil of unbelief in the Church of God is tremendous! Gospel rest and salvation lie before us in all their fullness. God sincerely offers us complete Christian character in Christ Jesus in the sanctification of our body, soul, and spirit; but unbelief rejects all of this. Those who are unbelieving concerning the fullness of Christ’s salvation, take away the key of knowledge. They neither enter into gospel rest themselves, and those that would enter they hinder; this is especially true of those ministers who call into question the attainability of entire consecration to God in this life.

4. Unbelief is the last sin that deserves any pity. Yet, people whine over it, as if it were a calamity instead of than a crime.

5. An unlearned but spiritual mind will find it easier understand the Bible than someone who has learned unbelief.

6. A spiritual mind knows spiritual things; but a mind can know a lot about other things, and have no spiritual discernment concerning the truth of God.

7. It is often distressing to see a person who thinks he knows a lot, look with contempt on the opinions of those he considers ignorant about the real meaning of the Bible.

8. Faith sees the doctrine of entire sanctification abundantly revealed in the word of God. And when the person is drawn to examine this question, it often appears amazing to me, that any one should doubt whether this is a doctrine of revelation. I have already commented on the conclusion that Paul drew, from the last verses of the sixth chapter of 2nd Corinthians. “And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people’. Therefore ‘Come out from among them and be separate’, says the Lord. ‘Do not touch what is unclean, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters’, says the Lord Almighty’.” “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”

Paul quoted these promises from the Old Testament. From these promises, Paul’s faith instantly recognized the truth that entire sanctification is attainable in this life; and immediately added, “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God”. Here, Paul saw a sufficient guaranty for the belief of this doctrine, and that to “perfect holiness in the fear of God”, was placed easily within our reach by the grace of God. Now if Paul could draw this kind of conclusion from these promises, (and who, when they consider what is implied in the promises, can say that his conclusion was not legitimate?) what shall we say about that person who can look over all the exceeding great and precious promises, which have been given that we might be made partakers of God’s divine nature, and still see nothing to inspire the confidence that a state of entire sanctification in this life is so attainable that it makes its attainment a reasonable object to pursue?

9. No man properly understands and believes the Bible, who knowingly indulges in sin. There are multitudes, who appear to be trying to maintain a state of spirituality, while in some things, and perhaps in many things, they are indulging in sin and they know it. They do not walk according to the best light they have, and are yet trying to exercise faith and maintain some kind of spiritual relationship with God. They are trying to do what is naturally and forever impossible. Spiritual mindedness and disobedience are direct opposites. It is absurd to expect to have communion with God, and continue indulging in any known sin.

10. Many think they have faith, but they are aware that they have no inward, sincere confidence or assurance of mind concerning the word and promises of God. They are not aware of directly doubting or disbelieving what God has said; but even though they do not doubt God directly and consciously, they have no sincere, practical confidence in the truth of God.

11. For a long time, people have considered even the lowest degree of real faith as a rare attainment in piety. That state of mind where a person feels a confident assurance that God’s promises will be fulfilled; that state of mind that views the truth of God as real; has been looked on, and spoken about, as being highly spiritual; when in fact, such a state of mind is essential to the exercise of real faith.

12. In view of this subject, and of the present state of the Church, is it not surprising that Christ asked, “When I come, will I really find faith on the earth”? (Luke 18:8)

13. No one believes who finds it hard to love. True faith works by love. (Gal 5:6) Love is the natural and certain result of living faith.

14. No one believes who finds it hard to repent. Can one find it difficult to repent of his sins, who sees that the death of Christ is real?

15. No one believes, who does not have the spirit of thanksgiving and praise. Many individuals think they believe, who rarely, if ever, display a spirit of thanksgiving and of praise to God. Is it possible that anyone can believe that anyone can have a realizing sense of the infinite love, truth, and grace of God, and still have no heart to praise Him?

16. No one believes, who finds it difficult to pray. Can anyone who realizes the sorry condition that the world and the Church are in, and the willingness and ability of God to bless mankind, refrain from praying? Won’t his very breath be prayer, devotion, and praise? Won’t his very heart within him be liquid as water? Won’t his bowels of compassion yearn mightily over a dying world? And won’t his soul stand in a constant attitude of thanksgiving, praise, and supplication?