VICTORIOUS FAITH IN THE HEART

“But what does it say? “The WORD is near you, in your mouth and in your HEART” (that is, the WORD of FAITH which we preach)” – Romans 10:8

The WORD of GOD is the Source of VICTORIOUS FAITH in the HEART: “But what does it say? “The WORD is near you, in your mouth and in your HEART” (that is, the WORD of FAITH which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Rom.10:8-10). Faith is the Victory that overcomes the world (1Jh.5:4). This Victorious Faith comes from hearing God’s Word: “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (v.17). Without Faith no divine blessing can be obtained or experienced from God: “But without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Heb.11:6a).

Our meditation text reveals the role of Faith in the process of Salvation. Faith for salvation is first established in the Heart to produce righteousness, and then confessed with the mouth to receive salvation. This is the Model of Victorious Faith regarding all aspects of the Believer’s life: sanctification, spiritual growth, healing, deliverance, provisions, prosperity, and spiritual gifts. Faith is fundamental to Christianity. The Christian life is a LIFE of Faith: “the just shall LIVE by faith” (Rom.1:17; Gal.3:11b). There is a WALK of Faith to embark on: “we WALK by faith, not by sight” (1Cor.5:7). There is a FIGHT of Faith to engage in: “Fight the good FIGHT of FAITH” (1Tim.6:12). Hebrews 11:1 says: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

Faith is a complete trust or confidence in someone or something! Faith must have an object or focus. Jesus Christ is the Focus of Believers. It is our faith in His Person and Work that gains victory over the world. It is trusting in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ Jesus our Saviour, for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting that overcomes the world. It is our identification with Christ and His finished work, by faith, that makes us Overcomers. Faith is the foundation on which the matter of our salvation stands. Faith is the key that opens the door to eternal life; the divine channel by which we receive the benefits of Christ’s saving work.

As a classical Model, Abraham’s life was built on faith in God. At God’s command, he left home and went to an unknown land without questioning God (Gen.12:1). He believed the covenant of blessings that God made with him. In obedience to God, he was even willing to sacrifice his son Isaac (Gen.22:10-12; Heb.11:17-19). Faith requires action. Faith without action is passive and dead. A victorious faith obeys God’s instructions as Abraham did. Such Faith will drive away fear and make us to live triumphantly.

Faith involves giving up our will in order to do the Will of God. When like Abraham, we believe in the promises of God from our heart, He will prove Himself as the Jehovah Jireh. Abraham believed God even when there was no ram for the sacrifice. He went to lay down his son’s life, but suddenly, the Lord provided a substitute. Likewise, we cannot provide adequate sacrifice for our sins. Jesus, the Lamb of God, is the only atonement for sins now and forever. Faith in God faces and conquers all oppositions. Faith in God is sufficient for every situation. Faith is our divinely-ordained Instrument of Dominion and non-transferable Sceptre for Victory.

Faith brings answers to prayer: “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive” (Mt.21:22). We develop our faith by listening to the Word of God (Rom.10:17). What we listen to will affect what we believe. We further develop the measure of faith given to us by God by putting it into action (Rom.12:3). Praise is one of the unfailing actions of Faith. Victorious Faith finds expressions in prompt, radical Obedience and passionate Praise. But it all starts from the Heart!