Saving Faith - Its Counterfeits
There are those who have a faith which is so like to
that which is saving that they themselves may take it to be the very
same, and others too may deem it sufficient, yea, even others who have
the spirit of discernment. Simon Magus is a case in point. Of him it is
written, "Then Simon himself believed also: and when he was baptized, he
continued with Philip" (Acts 8:13).
Such a faith had he, and so expressed it, that Philip took him to be a
Christian, and admitted him to those privileges which are peculiar to
them. Yet, a little later, the apostle Peter said to him, "Thou hast
neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the
sight of God . . . I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness,
and in the bond of iniquity" (Acts 8:21, 23).
A man may believe all the truth contained in
Scripture so far as he is acquainted with it, and he may be familiar
with far more than are many genuine Christians. He may have studied the
Bible for a longer time, and so his faith may grasp much which they have
not yet reached. As his knowledge may be more extensive, so his faith
may be more comprehensive. In this kind of faith he may go as far as the
apostle Paul did when he said, "This I confess unto thee, that after
the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers,
believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets" (Acts 24:14).
But this is no proof that his faith is saving. An example to the
contrary is seen in Agrippa: "King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets?
I know that thou believest" (Acts 26:27).
Call the above a mere historical faith if you will, yet Scripture also
teaches that people may possess a faith which is more than the product
of mere nature, which is of the Holy Spirit, and yet which is a
non-saving one. This faith which we now allude to has two ingredients
which neither education nor self-effort can produce: spiritual light and
a Divine power moving the mind to assent. Now a man may have both
illumination and inclination from heaven, and yet not be regenerated. We
have a solemn proof of this in Hebrews 6:4.
There we read of a company of apostates, concerning whom it is said,
"It is impossible . . . to renew them again unto repentance." Yet of
these we are told that they were "enlightened," which means that they
not only perceived it, but were inclined toward and embraced it; and
both because they were "partakers of the Holy Spirit." Read it all HERE
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