The Nature of Belief

MEMORY VERSE: “But as many as received him, to them gave he power [margin, or, the right, or, privilege] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.” —John 1:12

MATTHEW 8:5-13; HEBREWS 11:1-6

THE Apostle Paul explains that faith “is the evidence of things unseen,” and therefore the substance, or foundation, “of things hoped for.” Those who cannot exercise faith in God and in the unseen things of God, cannot be Christians in the true sense of the word. It is essential to believe that God exists, and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him. God is invisible to us, but evidences of his existence are all around us.

If we believe in God, we believe in his ability to carry out his purposes toward the children of men. In order to accomplish his purposes God’s miracle-working power must operate. The birth of Jesus was a miracle. The resurrection of Jesus was a miracle. The “first resurrection” of the church and the general resurrection of the world are miracles. If the promises of the Bible are to mean anything to us we must have faith in these miracles.

The Roman centurion of our lesson had faith to believe that Jesus could restore his servant to health, and that faith was rewarded. Jesus said that he had not found such great faith among the Israelites, although there were a few who believed on him, and according to our memory text, these were given the power, or authority, to become the sons of God. The reference here is to the Gospel-Age sons of God who, upon proving faithful as followers of Jesus, will live and reign with him in his thousand-year kingdom.

Israel was called to be a royal nation, but failed to qualify through lack of faith and obedience. The final test of the nation was the coming of Jesus, the promised Messiah. The nation failed in that test, but the individuals who believed were granted the opportunity of becoming joint-heirs with Jesus in his kingdom, the kingdom which, in the divine plan, was to be established in the earth following his second coming.—Rom. 8:16,17

After healing the centurion’s servant Jesus made a very revealing statement to his disciples. He said that in his kingdom the people would come from the east, west, north, and south, and sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets; and that the children of the kingdom would be cast out. (Luke 13:29) The Israelites of Jesus’ day were “the children of the kingdom” to whom he referred. The majority of them lacked faith, and in the resurrection, when the messianic kingdom is functioning in the earth, they will find that they have lost their special position of favor as instructors of the people, and that this will have been given to the ancient fathers of Israel.—Ps. 45:16

The weeping and gnashing of teeth on the part of those cast out from this position of favor in the kingdom does not denote torment in hell-fire, nor even their loss of salvation. The expression is simply one which denotes chagrin and disappointment over the loss of their special privileges to which they had been called, but which they forfeited on account of their lack of faith and obedience.

The sons of God referred to in our memory text will participate with Jesus in the spiritual phase of his kingdom. (John 14:2,3; Eph. 2:6,7; Col. 3:14) This will be true of all his faithful followers of the Gospel Age. But the ancient servants of God, to whom Jesus said the people will come in the kingdom, will be the human representatives of that kingdom. John the Baptist was probably the last of these, and Jesus tells us that the least in the kingdom of heaven; that is, the heavenly phase of Christ’s kingdom will be greater than John. These will be greater because they will be exalted to the divine nature.—Luke 7:28; II Pet. 1:4

But John the Baptist will be in the earthly phase of the kingdom, in that group described in Psalm 45:16 as “princes in all the earth.” The first of these ancient worthy ones was faithful Abel. Paul refers to them as “the elders,” and tells us that they obtained a good report through faith, having received the testimony that they pleased God. (Heb. 11:5,13,39,40) In order to take their place in the kingdom as the representatives of the divine Christ, they will need to be raised from the dead, and Paul speaks of them as having proved worthy of a “better resurrection.” (Heb. 11:35) Only through faith can we understand and appreciate these wonderful arrangements of the divine plan.

QUESTIONS

How did the Apostle Paul define faith?

How much faith does one require in order to be a Christian?

Who are the sons of God referred to in our memory text?

Explain what Jesus meant by people sitting down with the ancient prophets in the kingdom.

How did the ancient worthies prove their worthiness?

| Home Page | Table of Contents |