Feeling Versus Faith

From: Earnest Words for Earnest Souls By: H M Hooke

From: Gospel Light: Volume 1 (1911)

• 6 min. read • grade level: 6

A very large number of persons in this nineteenth century, not satisfied with our good old Bible, which is the word of God, are preaching a new Bible, which is not the word of God; and I grieve to say that thousands are always talking about it, and are trusting to it.

The name of this new Bible is feeling. Now the sad thing about these dear people who have such an attachment to this new Bible is, that they are very angry if you speak against it; and, worse still, they do not believe what God says in His word, because He says it, but because they feel it; consequently, if they do not feel it they do not believe it, and thus prove that they attach much more importance to their variable feelings, than they do to the unchangeable word of God.

I will suppose a case for the sake of illustration. I meet an infidel, and he asks me, “How do you know that what is written in the so-called word of God is true?” I reply, “Because I feel it is.” When he immediately answers, “Then I do not believe it is true, because I do not feel it is.” Do you not see that we have neither of us any scripture to stand upon, and that one is just as much right as the other?

So many have told me, when I have asked them if they were saved, and how they knew it, that they were saved because they felt it. Such people are invariably distressed with doubts when they do not feel they are saved. Others again have said that they did not know they were saved, because they did not feel it.

The constant use of the two words feel and feeling in connection with salvation has made me look them up in Cruden’s Concordance. He gives the word feel as occurring seven times, and the word feeling twice in the whole of the Scriptures. (Gen. 27:12, 21¹²My father peradventure will feel me, and I shall seem to him as a deceiver; and I shall bring a curse upon me, and not a blessing. (Genesis 27:12)
²¹And Isaac said unto Jacob, Come near, I pray thee, that I may feel thee, my son, whether thou be my very son Esau or not. (Genesis 27:21); Judges 16:26²⁶And Samson said unto the lad that held him by the hand, Suffer me that I may feel the pillars whereupon the house standeth, that I may lean upon them. (Judges 16:26); Job 20:20²⁰Surely he shall not feel quietness in his belly, he shall not save of that which he desired. (Job 20:20); Psalm 58:9⁹Before your pots can feel the thorns, he shall take them away as with a whirlwind, both living, and in his wrath. (Psalm 58:9); Eccles. 8:5⁵Whoso keepeth the commandment shall feel no evil thing: and a wise man's heart discerneth both time and judgment. (Ecclesiastes 8:5); Acts 17:27²⁷That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:27); Eph. 4:19¹⁹Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (Ephesians 4:19); Heb. 4:15¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15).) Of the nine times that these two words are used, it is not once about forgiveness, salvation, adoption, sealing by the Spirit, preservation of the believer, or the glory soon to be revealed.

This continual search for feeling that you are forgiven, saved, that you have the Holy Ghost, and are a child of God, is the greatest dishonor to God, as it is allowing a feeling to usurp the place of the word of God, and of faith in that Word.

Whilst the words feel and feeling only occur nine times in the Bible, the words faith, believe, believest, believed, believeth, and believing are mentioned between five and six hundred times. Then give to the winds thy frames, fears, and feelings, and know that God loves to be trusted, and delights to honor faith.

You ask perhaps, “What is faith?” It is taking God at His word, and believing what He says because He says it.

Again you ask, “How is this faith to be had?” It is not natural to the human heart, “it is the gift of God.” God says, “Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom. 10:17¹⁷So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17).)

Everything you can see and feel has written upon it, “Fading away, change and decay;” that only is real and abiding that can neither be seen nor felt. “Look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2 Cor. 4:18¹⁸While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18).)

In the Scriptures we shall find faith connected with Christ, eternal blessings, and the walk of a believer through this world. Let us look at a few Scriptures where it is so used.

“YE BELIEVE IN GOD, BELIEVE also in Me.” (John 14:1¹Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. (John 14:1).)

“Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now you see Him not, yet BELIEVING, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:8⁸Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (1 Peter 1:8).)

“Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of FAITH?” (Gal. 3:2²This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? (Galatians 3:2).)

“After that ye BELIEVED, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise.” (Eph. 1:13¹³In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, (Ephesians 1:13).)

“Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that BELIEVETH on Me hath everlasting life.” (John 6:47⁴⁷Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 6:47).)

“These things have I written unto you that BELIEVE on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13¹³These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13).)

“For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph. 2:8, 9⁸For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8‑9).) “And He said to the woman, Thy FAITH hath saved thee; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50⁵⁰And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. (Luke 7:50).)

“Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that BELIEVE are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.” (Acts 13;38, 39.)

“Therefore being justified by FAITH, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Rom. 5:1¹Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1).)

“To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by FAITH that is in me.” (Acts 26:18¹⁸To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me. (Acts 26:18).)

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our FAITH. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:4, 5⁴For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. ⁵Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? (1 John 5:4‑5).)

“Whosoever BELIEVETH that Jesus is the Christ is born of God.” (1 John 5:1¹Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1).) “As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that BELIEVE on His name.” (John 1:12¹²But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12).)

“For ye are all the children of God by FAITH in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:26²⁶For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:26).)

“Who are kept by the power of God through FAITH unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:5⁵Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:5).)

“For we walk by FAITH, not by sight.” (2 Cor. 5:7⁷(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) (2 Corinthians 5:7).)

“But without FAITH it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him.” (Heb. 11:6⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. (Hebrews 11:6).)

I have now given you a fair sample of the way God presents the subject of faith in His word. It is connected with God, Christ, and the Holy Spirit; with everlasting life, salvation, and forgiveness; with justification, peace, and sanctification; with the new birth, victory over the world, preservation, and walk. The words feel and feeling are not thus mentioned once. May God deliver you from morbid feelings, and bring you back to simple faith in Himself and His word. Dr. Lyon Playfair (a celebrated scientist) said to the Prince of Wales, when showing him some scientific experiments, “Does your Highness believe in scientific truth?” “I do,” replied the Prince. “Will your Highness then thrust your hand into this crucible of molten lead?” “Does the doctor tell me to do this?” “I do,” replied the doctor; and the Prince did so, and drew his hand out unhurt, the reason being that the intense heat draws out the moisture from the hand, which for the moment protects the flesh from the molten lead; were the lead less hot it would burn, because it would fail to draw out the moisture.

This is surely what God wants, to be taken at His word despite appearances.

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