Romans--Faith Defined

Romans 1:8-13 is the second division of Paul’s foreword to the Roman saints. Faith, fellowship, and fruit are three outstanding subjects discussed. The first reveals Paul’s zeal as the apostle; the second reveals his mind as the teacher; and the third reveals his heart as the pastor. Faith, fellowship, and fruit are vitally connected (Phil. 1:3-7).

Paul mentioned his God (v. 8), his spirit (v. 9), and his prayers (v. 9). His God was the sovereign God of the universe. His spirit was his renewed spirit. His prayers constituted his special yearning for the Roman saints whom he had never seen. The apostle thanked God for the faith of the Roman believers. His intercession was thankful (v. 8). It was continual (v. 9). It was hopeful (vv. 10-13).

Paul’s yearning may be summarized as follows: The object of his hope was the Roman saints (vv. 10-12). He met with obstacles (v. 13). He was obligated to proclaim the message to the Roman saints. The love that Paul would lavish on the Roman saints was channeled in prayer (v. 9). The word “serve” in verse 9 is different from “servant” in verse 1. Servant designated him as a bond-slave of Christ; whereas, “serve” signified his service of priest. The thought of the common priesthood of all believers is brought to mind.

The spirit of all true service is expressed in Paul’s desire to impart some spiritual gift to the Roman believers that they might be established (v. 11). Spiritual gifts were given to God-called men for the purpose of blessing others (Eph. 4:11-16). There is a sense in which this is true of all believers. God does not give all believers the gifts he does to those he calls elders. However, He does bless His people that they may impart those blessings for the edification of others.

Mutual faith in verse 12 signifies fellowship. It does not mean that the mutual faith was on the same level with apostleship. The gifts given the apostles would cause mutual faith or fellowship among the saints of God. Love led Paul to make definite plans, and love sought a way to fulfill those plans. Love pursued its object in the will of God.

The faith of the Roman saints was well known (v. 8). In the original, faith precedes reference to the Roman believers—“faith of you.” Hence, faith rather than the saints is emphasized. The Roman saints were secondary.

Faith leads to fellowship. Paul desired fellowship with the Christians at Rome. Fellowship brings strength and encouragement to the people of God. Paul desired some fruit in the saints at Rome (v. 13). He reflected on the fruit he would gather from his visit to them, rather than fruit that they would derive from him.

Religionists often teach that faith has human origin. It is represented as that human trait which causes a person to place his money in a bank or his confidence in the government. Every person has natural faith. Religionists exhort people to transfer that faith to God, and they will be saved.

A writer of the past described prevalent faith in his day which remains current. He said that faith is exalted to the sky. The sad fact is that this exaltation of faith is the precursor to despair. Faith is considered a beneficent quality of the soul, without respect of the reality or unreality of its object. The moment faith is considered thus, it is destroyed.

Men often say, what difference does it make who does the work as long as it is done, and whether a disease is cured by Christian Science or by faith in Christ? They also ask, who can deny that faith in materialism is conducive to a calm and healthy life, thus preventing nervous faith? They further question, should we unsettle their faith by talking about sin, guilt, and judgment?

Although faith is commonly discussed, is that faith genuine? A popular statement is “place your faith in Jesus.” The majority of professing Christians make human faith a contributing factor to one’s salvation. They stress your faith and loyalty to Christ. People are often exhorted to transfer their belief in worldly objects to God. Thus, under the emotional stimulus of eloquent speakers or celebrities, millions transfer their loyalty from someone or something, join a religious institution, and are given a position in which to work. Men say it has proven to be a successful system, and who can argue with success?

God can and does argue with such false opinions. In that system, more emphasis is placed on method than on the Savior. More significance is attached to human contribution to salvation than to saving faith which is the gift of God.

Every professing Christian should examine his faith. II Corinthians 13:5 says, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test?” Faith is defined in the Scriptures. An aspect of the definition of faith, not the explicit definition, is recorded in Hebrews 11:1—“Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” That is only one aspect of faith’s explanation. For instance, the statement “God is love” in I John 4:8 does not describe all that God is. He is also omniscient, omnipresent, holy, righteous, just, etc. Likewise, one cannot conclude that Hebrews 11:1 is “the” definition of faith.

Faith must be considered from several points of view to be properly understood. (1) It is an act of believing. (2) It is the substance of that which is believed. (3) It is faithfulness of one who believes.

To understand true, saving faith, it must be explained. Most professing Christians are offended when asked to define their answers to Biblical questions. Educators are instructed to give their students opportunity to learn instead of occupying their time teaching. Students are exhorted to practice mental digestion, when they are given no food to digest. Likewise, in a spiritual sense, Christians are hungry to hear God’s word expounded, but they do not receive enough to digest. Originality is stressed, but one cannot be original in his discussion of a subject unless he knows the subject. Men who know little or nothing about the word of God criticize Biblical doctrines.

There are some things that saving faith is not. (1) It is not natural faith, which looks to the ability of natural men. (2) It is not historical faith, which is theoretical but not practical. (3) It is not temporary faith, which continues for only a time. (4) It is not faith occasioned by miracles instead of the Person who performs them.

God refuses to be regarded as a means of obtaining things. Men are often defrauded in that manner, but God sees man’s heart and cannot be deceived. God is not content to be an instrument in man’s hand or a servant at his beck and call. He is not satisfied to minister to the worldly need of those who do not care for Him. The pressing needs of mankind cause many to value God not for His own sake but because He is able to satisfy their need. Some followed the Lord for awhile only for the bread He provided. They had no regard for His Person; therefore, they soon ceased following Him (John 6:24-66).

Faith in God does not guarantee that He will give a person everything he desires. It does assure those who have Jesus Christ as Savior that they can have composure if they suffer the loss of all beside Him. Job lost all his earthly possessions and his family, and his wife turned her back on him. Nevertheless, he would not curse God. The three Hebrew children said God was able to save them from the burning, fiery furnace, but if not, they would continue to trust Him. Habakkuk suffered the loss of nearly everything (Hab. 3:17-19). There was no fruit in the orchard, no grain in the field, and no meat in the stalls; yet, he said he would joy in His Lord. Faith must reside in the Person Jesus Christ who performs miracles, not the miracles.

A simple definition of faith is recorded in Mark 9:14-24. The Lord Jesus descended with Peter, James, and John from the mount of transfiguration to the valley of satanic wickedness. The change was from the company of Moses and Elijah to lewd intercourse with unbelieving scribes. Nine of His disciples were questioned by the scribes. A father had brought his demon-possessed son to be delivered. The nine disciples had been unable to help.

The father manifested his love for his son. He was a true believer in Jesus Christ. His son was a source of joy to him, but he was also a source of deep sorrow and bitterness because of his demon-possession. Affliction is often the means of obtaining great blessing. The Lord chose to heal the son; hence, the father’s sorrow became the source of great joy and rejoicing.

The disciples could do nothing for the son. Jesus Christ was not present with them when the father brought his demon-possessed son. Christians are impotent without the Lord’s strength. In John 15:5, He said, “…apart from Me you can do nothing.” At that time, the Lord Jesus had not gone to the cross, risen from the dead, and ascended to the Father. The Holy Spirit had not descended to empower God’s people. Consequently, the Lord’s absence from the disciples deprived them of power and ability to help the afflicted son.

The father said to the Lord, “…if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!” (Mark 9:22). The “if” he used may be compared with that of the leper in Luke 5:12—“...Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.” The leper placed an “if” on the will of God; whereas, the father who was weak in the faith placed an “if” on the power of God. In verse 23, the Lord used the father’s own words in His reply to him—“if you can?” The Lord Jesus healed the demoniac.

The disciples asked why they were unable to cast the demon out of the son. The Lord answered them in verse 29—“This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.” Faith embraces Christ. Prayer embraces God’s sovereignty.

The Lord brought to light the father’s faith. Although faith may be weak, the Lord knows how to make faith manifest itself. Three things are predominant in Mark 9:14-29. (1) The disciples were dependent on the fellowship and help of Jesus Christ. (2) Faith and unbelief may be mixed in a saved person’s heart. (3) Jesus Christ exercises complete dominion over Satan.

More than mere abstract theology awaited the disciples at the foot of the mount. The nine disciples were questioned by the religious scribes about their failure. The Lord’s first question in verse 19 was not one of ignorance. It was designed to draw attention to Himself from the disciples. The great principle of Scripture is that men must first confess their inadequacy and then be brought to see the Lord’s sufficiency. Christians are not called to put God to the test by irresponsible prayer to satisfy human desire separate from the will of God. Presumptuous prayer cannot be based on an isolated statement of Scripture. Praying is foundational on abiding in Christ and His word abiding in the individual. Then, he may ask what he wills because his will is the will of God. John 15:7 says, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”

The father brought his son to the nine disciples, and they could not cure him (Matt. 17:16). They lacked power to do so because of Christ’s absence. The man did not stop with the disciples. His faith led him to Christ. Human instinct often leads persons in great need to individuals. Nevertheless, those who have faith, which is the gift of God, are driven on to Jesus Christ. This distinguishes true, saving faith from any other kind. When one is drawn by instinct to a preacher or some individual Christian and goes no further, his faith is hypocritical. The gift of faith does not stop short of Jesus Christ.

The father’s faith was unapparent, but the Lord brought it forth. The answer our Lord gave was not according to the quality of the asking but the will of the sovereign God. The faith of God’s elect is manifested by a sense of need of justification and sanctification. The father’s need was sanctification.

A person embraces Christ as Savior when he has been convicted by the indwelling Holy Spirit of sin, righteousness, and judgment. Conversion is the fruit of God-given faith. A converted individual goes to Christ in time of trial or need because of his sense of need, knowing he can do nothing apart from Jesus Christ, the source of all strength (Rom. 5:6-8).

Although the father’s faith was weak, he had enough faith to go to Christ. He did not ask that his faith be helped until it was worthy of meeting response from God. Had he asked in that manner, he would have indicated that he believed salvation was by merit. A person does not ask God to help his faith until it deserves either justification or sanctification. Justification and sanctification are both through God-given faith.

The father had a lunatic son, and he brought him to Christ, concealing nothing. True faith covers nothing in either justification or sanctification. It does not pretend unpossessed confidence. Faith is not a force that does something, but it is a channel through which something is received. Consequently, Paul emphasized the “faith” of the Roman Christians instead of the “Roman Christian’s” faith.

False religions make faith a god. The cult of Christian Science proves that human faith can accomplish many things apart from the truth of God. Christian Science is hypersubjectivism.

Assurance of salvation proceeds from the Object of faith, not one’s own faith. Strength of faith lies in the food upon which a Christian feeds. Weak faith may be in consternation, but it is not under condemnation.

Saving faith is faith rightly placed. Salvation does not depend on the well-being of one’s faith so long as his soul possesses the being of faith. A person may have saving faith without developing it. That is the reason for Peter’s exhortation to Christians to build upon that faith (I Per. 1:5-11). Saving faith is the gift of God. It is placed in the Person and Work of Jesus Christ. That faith will be manifested. It drives those who possess it to the feet of the Lord.

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The NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE—UPDATED EDITION is the source of all Scripture quotations in this message, unless otherwise noted.