Covenant Faith
SECOND QUARTER 2021
SABBATH SCHOOL INSIGHT #12
JUNE 19, 2021
“COVENANT FAITH”
On Sunday’s lesson, the author rightly states that “whether in the Old or New Testament, old or new covenant, salvation is by grace alone.” Actually, as we have studied on the Everlasting Covenant this quarter, we have seen that His covenant promise to the human race is timeless and unchanging throughout scripture from beginning to end. An infinite and eternal love that led to an infinite and eternal sacrifice for you, me and the entire human race.
It is, therefore, most appropriate to begin our study this week with “reflections of Calvary” including the following passage from Testimonies for the Church (Vol. 2, p. 213): “When men and women can more fully comprehend the magnitude of the great sacrifice which was made by the Majesty of heaven in dying in man’s stead, then will the plan of salvation be magnified, and reflections of Calvary will awaken tender, sacred, and lively emotions in the Christian’s heart. Praises to God and the Lamb will be in their hearts and upon their lips. Pride and self-esteem cannot flourish in the hearts that keep fresh in memory the scenes of Calvary……All the riches of the world are not of sufficient value to redeem one perishing soul. Who can measure the love Christ felt for a lost world as He hung upon the cross, suffering for the sins of guilty men? This love was immeasurable, infinite.”
“The scenes of Calvary call for the deepest emotion. Upon this subject, you will be excusable if you manifest enthusiasm. That Christ, so excellent, so innocent, should suffer such a painful death, bearing the weight of the sins of the world, our thoughts and imaginations can never comprehend. The length, the breadth, the height, the depth, of such amazing love we cannot fathom. The contemplation of the matchless depths of a Saviour’s love should fill the mind, touch and melt the soul, refine and elevate the affections, and completely transform the whole character.”
With this in mind, we can see why Paul in 1st Corinthians 2:2 tells us: “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Christ and Him crucified.”
Similarly, as this week’s lesson looks at the faith of Abraham, we see a man who believes in his God completely. A God of infinite love and mercy, his Creator whom he can trust in all things and so he is willing to follow his God wherever He leads him. In Genesis 15:6 we see that he is credited with righteousness because of his faith, not his own righteousness (which would be self-righteousness), but the righteousness of Christ which we all need.
On Wednesday’s lesson, the author notes: “The great truth, that of being declared righteous, not because of any act that we can do but only because of faith in what Christ has done is the essence of the phrase “righteousness by faith.” Yet, it is not that our faith itself makes us righteous, rather faith is the vehicle by which we obtain the gift of (Christ’s) righteousness.”
But where do we get the faith that we need? Do we search for it? Do we work at it? Can we get it from someone else?
Let’s look together at what God’s Word has to share with us.
- In Revelation 14: 12, we are told that God’s remnant will have the faith of Jesus: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”
- The faith of Jesus is what gave Jesus His strength through His entire walk on this earth and as He descended into the depths of the second death for us. His complete faith in and total dependence on His Father was a key to the gift of salvation that He has for all of us as our Saviour. As we read in Romans 12:3
“.….according as God hast dealt to every man the measure of faith.”
- “Faith is God’s gift: Faith earns nothing for us; it is the gift of God, which we may receive and cherish by making Christ our personal Saviour. We may refuse the gift, and talk doubts, and become unhappy by cherishing unbelief. But this will grow into an unpassable barrier, shutting us away from the Spirit of God and closing our hearts to His light and love.” EGW (ST May 19, 1898)
- Note the following EGW quote advising us that genuine faith comes only when the faith of Jesus is in the heart:
“Genuine faith in Jesus leads to denial of self; but however high the profession may be, if self is exalted and indulged, the faith of Jesus is not in the heart. The true Christian manifests by a life of daily consecration that he is bought with a price, and is not his own. He realizes that an infinite sacrifice has been made for him, and that his life is of inestimable value, through the merits of Jesus’ blood, intercession, and righteousness. But while he comprehends the exalted privileges of the sons of God, his soul is filled with humility. There is no boasting of holiness from the lips of those who walk in the shadow of Calvary's cross. They feel that it was their sin which caused the agony that broke the heart of the Son of God, and their comeliness is turned to corruption. Those who live nearest to Jesus, feel most deeply their own unworthiness, and their only hope is in the merits of a crucified and risen Saviour. Like Moses, they have had a view of the awful majesty of holiness, and they see their own insufficiency in contrast with the purity and exalted loveliness of Jesus. EGW (RH March 6, 1888 par. 3-4)
- The following is a powerful quote from AT Jones relating to the faith of Jesus and our life in Christ:
“By the righteousness of Christ, we are justified. That righteousness of Christ was wrought, in this world and in human flesh, by the faith of Jesus Christ. By the obedience of Christ, we are made righteous. That obedience of Christ, in this world and in human nature, was accomplished by the faith of Jesus. And that which the faith of Jesus has wrought for us in our flesh which he took, is received by us in our flesh, which we have, through faith in Jesus. Accordingly, “the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” And this life by the faith of the Son of God, is received by us through faith in the Son of God. MEDM March 20, 1907, p. 89.9
Ephesians 3:12. “In whom [Jesus] we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him.” And this boldness and access with confidence which is by the faith of Him, is received by us through faith in Jesus. MEDM March 20, 1907, p. 90.1
We see then that “the faith of Jesus” has been brought to the world, and he has made it a free gift to men, the fulfillment of all the promises of God, righteousness, justification, sanctification, eternal life, and boldness and access with confidence; and that all this that is accomplished for us and is brought to us by “the faith of Jesus” is received by us through “faith in Jesus;” that is by simply believing in Him. MEDM March 20, 1907, p. 90.2
Yet it must not for a moment be thought that even all this is given to us by the faith of Jesus, apart from Himself. No: He gives us Himself, and all this in Himself and with Himself. And He Himself is received by us through faith in Him. But when He gives to us Himself, He gives to us all that is in Him and of Him. And one of the things that is of Him is this very “faith of Him.” Therefore it is true in this as in all the rest, that by faith in Him, we actually receive the faith of Him. And this faith of Jesus in us, will accomplish in us, in the flesh for Him what it accomplished in Him in the flesh for us. MEDM March 20, 1907, p. 90.3
And this is the wonderful blessedness that is proclaimed to all men in the words of the Third Angel’s Message. “Here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.” MEDM March 20, 1907, p. 90.4
- Waggoner also emphasizes the faith of Jesus as an essential part of the gift of salvation given to mankind which is the measure of faith, we all need:
““The Measure of faith.”-The apostle tells us that “God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Note that he does not say a measure of faith, but the measure of faith, indicating that there is but one measure. All men receive the same measure of faith. What is that measure? Two or three texts will show it clearly. “By grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Ephesians 2:8. The measure of faith, therefore, is the measure of the gift of God’s grace. Now we read that “unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7. Therefore, the measure of the gift of faith is the measure of the gift of Christ, who is given without reserve to every man. The faith which the saints have is “the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.” PTUK September 27, 1894, page 609.3
…For I say, through the grace given to me, unto every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” Romans 12:3. That is, the measure of faith which God has dealt to men, is the only means by which they may be kept from being intoxicated with selfish pride. But that measure is the measure of the gift of Christ. He who keeps the faith thus dealt to him, has Christ dwelling in him in His fulness, so that he is “filled with all the fulness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19. It is impossible for a natural man to do any work and not be proud of it, at least in his own heart. But he who keeps the faith of Jesus, has the same power to enable him to think soberly, by which Christ, the Son of the Highest, dwelt in the flesh as a man, veiling His heavenly glory. PTUK September 27, 1894, page 609.4
In closing, may we as our hearts and minds dwell on Christ and Him crucified, truly believe that in His gift of salvation to us, He has given us everything we need including “the faith of Jesus” and by our faith in Jesus claim it as our own: a complete moment by moment surrender to the Father’s will—not my will but Thy will be done!
Blessings,
John Campbell