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Three essentials to be considered in one's beliefs are FACTS, FAITH and FEELINGS. Without these three, in this order, there can be no reality in a Christian experience.But, when beliefs are supported when the essentials are in reverse order as follows: Feelings, Faith and then Facts, mostly it will be in defence for already accepted beliefs without FACTS. FACTS are not to be scratched for, to back up already accepted beliefs.
When beliefs are questioned with close scrutiny and FEELINGS are agitated, chances are that there isn't enough Biblical FACTS for that accepted belief.
Jesus was talking to the Jews at the feast in John 8:45-47 we read, " 8:45 And because I tell [you] the truth, ye believe me not.
8:46 Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me?
8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear [them] not, because ye are not of God."
Jesus at the same feast had previously said, in John 7:16-19,"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.
7:17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or [whether] I speak of myself.
7:18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.
7:19 Did not Moses give you the law, and [yet] none of you keepeth the law? Why go ye about to kill me?"
As long as beliefs are not Biblicaly based, religion would be a dead letter. All devine revelations of the scriptures would find no response in the soul.Bible truth by which we are sanctified would be ineffective. Christ and His provisions for our salvation could not be appropriated. There could be no true rejoicing in the Lord.
These three, to fulfill their purpose,must be kept in their proper relationship with each other.
FACT is the evidence, the ground, the essence for a working FAITH.
FAITH is that which makes it possible for one to appropriate the FACT.
FEELING is the satisfaction which comes as a result of laying hold on the FACT by FAITH.
In our longing to gain a satisfying Christian experience we often are inclined to reverse this order. This renders the whole procedure ineffective. No one can expect to gain a sound experience in the things of God, by beginning with FEELING. If this is attempted, the spiritual experience has no abiding foundation and the religious behavior will change with every changing influence and environment.
The true religious experience must have first of all a sound durable foundation- a FACT, and not a passing FEELING.Neither can FAITH come first. Without some FACT or foundation, FAITH becomes a baseless make-believe.
To better understand the operation and working relationship of these three- FACT, FAITH, FEELING- we must consider each in turn according to the natural sequence.
FACT COMES FIRST:
God revealed to us, for our good, FACTS that comprise a dependable biblical foundation that we may lay hold on by FAITH. Leave these FACTS out of reckoning, and FAITH becomes useless and powerless, and FEELING becomes a wild, changeable impulse.
In Isaiah 8:20 we read, " 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, [it is] because [there is] no light in them."
To the eye of FAITH what is otherwise invisible becomes visible.FAITH is not a blind confidence to be exercised in the absence of some adequate, tangible evidence. It is the word of God that reveals to us the basis for a balanced, sane beliefs and behavior in exercising genuine FAITH. To take traditional beliefs as FACTS will not make them FACTS but presumptions or accepted conveniences.
Paul declares in Romans 10:17, "10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."
As you search the scriptures sincerely, earnestly, and prayerfully, you will discover the greatest FACT of all time. The ground, the very essence of all our religious life is JESUS CHRIST The WORD OF GOD.
In John 3:16-18 we read "3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. "
How then do we explain Matthew 1:20 "But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost"
The Demons in Mark 5:7 said "And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, [thou] Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not."
We know Jesus had one Father. He said in John 5:43 "I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive."
He also said in John 10:25 "Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me."
Jesus then said in John 4:23,24 "4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth."
He says again in Mark 13:32 "But of that day and [that] hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father."
The problem with beliefs that are not Biblically based, when they are questioned, FEELINGS are agitated. FEELINGS are put first before FACTS. One then gets into a defensive mood.
It is very easy to assume traditional beliefs as FACTS because of long time practice without questioning. That is why Jesus said inthe following verses:
In Matthew 15:8 we read "This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with [their] lips; but their heart is far from me.
15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching [for] doctrines the commandments of men."
FAITH COMES SECOND:
Faith acts on assumption that the thing hoped for is real. Faith always implies an element, a trustworthy object; something more or less of the dark, hidden unknown. Where everything is visible to the mind and heart, there faith can hardly exist. This was Paul's view point in Hebrews 11:1,2 when he said, "11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
11:2 For by it the elders obtained a good report. "
FAITH allows you to walk in the dark but not FEELINGS. FAITH is trustful. It is not a matter of fits and starts, according to impulse and emotion of the hour; but it is a principle that has its foundation in Jesus Christ.
There is a sort of belief that is entirely distinct from FAITH. The existance of the power of God, the truth of His Word, are FACTS that Satan and his host cannot deny. The Bible says in James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."
This is not FAITH, it is mere presumtion. Presumption is Satan's counterfeit of FAITH. FAITH claims God's promises, and bring forth fruit in obedience. Presumption also claims promises BUT, uses them as SAtan does, to excuse transgression.
Faith caused Stephen, the first Christian martyr to stand with calm assuarance a he said these words in Acts7:56-60, " 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
7:58 And cast [him] out of the city, and stoned [him]: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.
7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon [God], and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
Paul as he came to the end of his journey said in 2 Timothy 1:12, "1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day." and in 2 Timothy 4:8 he said, " 4:8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
FEELING COMES THIRD:
It is possible to have a degree of FEELING and emotion without FAITH in a FACT, but this is not the real thing. A pleasant, self-satisfied FEELING is not an evidence of sanctification. Genuine FEELING comes as a result of exercising FAITH in the never-failing promises of God regardless of circumstances.
In the Christian experience FEELINGS come and FEELINGS go. FEELINGS can be deceiving but we have an anchor in JESUS The WORD of God.This should be the basis for all Biblical beliefs. To believe anything as FACT with not Biblical proof is a terrible assumption we should get rid of without fear or favor.It is human to stand with the crowd, but it is devine to stand with Christ's Word without compromise.
It is also human to fear Isolation, and yet we all know that truth is not supported by the majority.
As we read we find in Matthew 7:13-29 "Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide [is] the gate, and broad [is] the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
7:14 Because strait [is] the gate, and narrow [is] the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
7:17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
7:18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither [can] a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
7:19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
7:27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
7:28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
7:29 For he taught them as [one] having authority, and not as the scribes."
ONE WRITER SAID:-
"There is no excuse for any one in taking the position that there is no more truth to be revealed, and that all our expositions of Scripture are without an error. The fact that certain doctrines have been held as truth for many years by our people, is not a proof that our ideas are infallible. Age will not make error into truth, and truth can afford to be fair. No true doctrine will lose anything by close investigation. We are living in perilous times, and it does not become us to accept everything claimed to be truth without examining it thoroughly; neither can we afford to reject anything that bears the fruits of the Spirit of God; but we should be teachable, meek and lowly of heart. There are those who oppose everything that is not in accordance with their own ideas, and by so doing they endanger their eternal interest as verily as did the Jewish nation in their rejection of Christ." CW 35.
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