The Fulness Of Faith

VI

The Fulness of Faith.

X.—22. Let us draw near, In fulness of faith.

This translation, the fulness of faith, is not only more correct than that of " full assurance of faith," but much more significant. Full assurance of faith refers only to the strength and confidence with which we believe. The truth we accept may be very limited and defective, and our assurance of it may be more an undoubting conviction of the mind than the living apprehension of the heart. In both respects the fulness of faith expresses what we need,—a faith that includes objectively all that God offers it in its fulness, and subjectively all the powers of our heart and life in their fulness. Let us draw near, in fulness of faith.

Here, if anywhere, there is indeed need of fulness of faith, that we may take in all the fulness of the provision God has made, and of the promises that are waiting for us to inherit. The message comes to a sinful man that he may have his continual abode in the Most Holy; that, more real and near than with his nearest earthly friend, he may live in unbroken fellowship with the Most High God. He is assured that the blood of Christ can cleanse his conscience in such power that he can draw nigh to God with a perfect conscience and with undoubting confidence, and can ask and expect to live always in the unclouded light of God's face. He receives the assurance that the power of the Holy Ghost, coming from out of the Holiest, can enable him to walk exactly in the same path in which Christ walked on His way to God, and make that way to him a new and living way, with nothing of decay or weariness in his progress. This is the fulness of faith we are called to. But, above all, to look to Jesus in all the glory in which He has been revealed in the Epistle, as God and Man, as Leader and Forerunner, as Melchisedek, as the Minister of the sanctuary and Mediator of tho new covenantin one word, as our great Priest over the house of God. And, looking to Him, to claim that Ho shall do for us this one thing, to bring us nigh, and even on earth give us to dwell without a break in the presence of the Father.

Faith over deals with impossibilities. Its only rule or measure is what God has said to be possible to Him. When we look at our lives and their failures, at our sinfulness and weakness, at those around us, tho thought will come up— Is it for me t Dare I expect it? Is it not wearying myself in vain to think of it or to seek for it? Soul! tho God who redeemed thee, when an enemy, with the blood of His Son—what thinkest thou 1 would He not be willing thus to take thee to His heart? He who raised Jesus when He had died under the curse of thy sins, from the death of the grave to the throne of His glory, would He not be able to take thee too, and give thee a place within the veil? Do believe it. He longs to do it; He is able to do it . His home and His heart have room for thee even now. Let us draw near in fulness of faith.

In fulness of faith. The word has also reference to that full measure of faith which is found when the whole heart is filled and possessed by it . We have very little idea of how the weakness of our faith is owing to its being more a confident persuasion of the mind with regard to the truth of what God says, than the living apprehension and possession of tho eternal spiritual realities of the truth with the heart. The Holy Spirit asks us first for a true heart, and then at once, as its first exercise, for fulness of faith. There is a faith of insight, a faith of desire, a faith of trust in the truth of the word, and a faith of personal acceptance. There is a faith of love that embraces, and a faith of will that holds fast, and a faith of sacrifice that gives up everything, and a faith of despair that abandons all hope in self, and a faith of rest that waits on God alone. This is all included in the faith of the true heart, the fulness of faith, in which the whole being surrenders and lets go all, and yields itself to God to do His work. In fulness of faith let us draw near.

In fulness of faith, not of thought. What God is about to do to you is supernatural, above wluxt you can think. It is a love that passes knowledge that is going to take possession, God is the incomprehensible, the hidden One. The Holy Spirit is the secret, incomprehensible working and presence of God. Do not seek to understand everything. Draw nigh—it never says with a clear head, but with a true heart. Rest upon God to do for you far more than you understand in fulness of faith.

In fulness of faith, and not in fulness of feeling. When you come, and, gazing into the opened Holiest of All, hear the voice of Him that dwells between the cherubim call you to come in; and as you gaze—long, indeed—to enter and to dwell there, the word comes again, Draw near with, a true heart I Your answer is, Yes, Lord; with my whole heart—with that new heart Thou Thyself hast given me. You make the surrender of yourself, to live only and always in His presence and for His service. The voice speaks again: Let it be To-day—Now, in fulness of faith. You have accepted what He offers. You have given what He asks. You believe that He accepts the surrender. You believe that the great Priest over the house takes possession of your inner life, and brings you before God. And yet you wonder you feel so little changed. You feel just like the old self you were. Now is the time to listen to the voice—In fulness of faith, not of feeling! Look to God, who is able to do above what we ask or think. Trust His power. Look to Jesus on the throne, living there to bring you in. Claim the Spirit of the exalted One as His pentecostal gift. Remember these are all divine, spiritual mysteries of grace, to be revealed in you. Apart from feeling, without feeling, in fulness of faith, in bare, naked faith that honours God, enter in. Reckon yourself to be indeed alive to God in Christ Jesus, taken in into His presence, His love, His very heart.

1. Be followers of those who, through faith and longstifferi.ng. Inherited the promises. Faith accepts and rejoices In the gift; longsuffering waits for the full enjoyment; and so faith In due time Inherits, and the promise becomes an experience. By faith at once take your place in the Holiest; wait on the Holy Spirit In your inner life to reveal It in the power of God; your High Priest will see to your Inheriting the blessing.

2. In the fulness of the whole heart to accept the whole fulness of God's salvation—this is what God asks.

3. As In heaven, so on earth. The more I look at the fulness of grace In Christ, the more the fulness of faith will grow in me. Of His fulness have we received, and grace for grace.

4. A whole chapter is to be devoted to the exhibiting of what this fulness of faith Implies. Let us go on to study It with the one object for which It is given—our entering Into that life In the will and love of God which Jesus has secured for us.