Feeling Versus Faith

 •  7 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.
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 he 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)).
“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)).
“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, 3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And 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 "(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)).
“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" Peter 1:5).
“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 Play fair (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.
H. M. H.
Time is short. Life is uncertain. Eternity is at hand. “The Judge standeth before the door." Think of your soul: how great its value! how awful its danger! Think of your sins: how numerous! how great! how aggravated! But all may yet be forgiven. “God is love." Christ has died, and is risen again.
His blood cleanses from all sin. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE POWER OF THE BLOOD OF CHRIST.