Daily Devotionals

Spiritual Treasury For The Children of God

Devotional: November 3rd

What doth it profit, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him?- James 2:14.

Many of God’s dear children are often in doubt and perplexity, lest their faith should not be the faith of God’s elect; to which salvation is sure. This may arise through the weakness of their understanding in the word of truth; and because, as yet, faith doth not bring forth the fruits of joy and assurance. But sooner or later the Holy Ghost, in believing, will make this matter clear and satisfactory to their hearts. But the soundness and orthodoxy of our faith is least of all suspected by us while in a state of nature; for we all think, are very confident, have not the least doubt, we all say "we have faith," true faith; but this is a weed which grows wild in nature’s field; this is the faith which James here speaks of, which all the world rest in who know not the Son of God. All men have not faith, the faith of God’s elect. If we say we have faith, what doth it profit if it brings no glory to God, no good to men; it deceives the soul who has it. "Can faith save him?" O, what disputes and contentions hath this question raised! Some have even set St. James at variance against St. Paul, as though the former contended for salvation by works, against the latter. "Can faith save him?" A question equal to an assertion. It cannot. The supply of one word here puts the matter beyond all dispute. Can SUCH a faith save him? No; it is impossible. But dost thou, O Christian, think thy faith, though accompanied with good works, can save thee? Verily, no more than thy repentance or thy love; these are alike gifts of grace by Jesus Christ; given not to rival the Saviour in the heart, nor to share with him in the glory of salvation, but to honor him and comfort his members. We are not saved FOR faith, but through faith; yet faith is a precious grace of covenant-love; it endears a precious Saviour to the heart, and "works by love."

But ever know, faith doth not procure God’s love, obtain his favor, make atonement for sins, work out a righteousness to justify, nor merit the power of the Spirit to sanctify; all this is enjoyed in believing, but not procured by faith. Faith, like the Baptist’s voice, cries in the soul, "Behold the Lamb of God." It claims no share in fulfilling terms of peace, or obeying conditions of salvation. By faith we honor God’s word, look to his everlasting love, rely on Jesus, mourn over sin, abhor ourselves, and repent as in dust and ashes. Peace, love, joy, and all inward fruits, as well as outward obedience; a holy walk, fruitfulness in every good word and work, are produced by the Holy Spirit, from the life and vigour of faith. How doth it concern us daily to pray, "Lord, increase our faith!"- Luke 17:5.

If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. Exodus 20:25.

This chapter abounds with legal terror. Here, the glorious Jehovah is giving the law with thunderings and lightnings, and the sound of a trumpet. The mountain smoking. Poor sinners, trembling and fleeing, saying, “Let not God speak with us, lest we die.” Most awfully tremendous! Well might St. Paul call it, “the ministration of death and condemnation.” (2 Corinthians 3:7; 2 Corinthians 3:9.) But blessed, blessed be God, it contains precious gospel-grace to law-condemned sinners. Here, rejoice, and say, Let God speak, and we live. For here is an altar commanded. God is accessible to us. “An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me.” Here is gospel-grace. That beloved Son typified, who was made like unto us, and appeared in our earthly nature. Thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings and peace-offerings upon it. “Our God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:29.) Yet, “we have an altar.” (Hebrews 13:10.) Christ is both our altar, our burntsacrifice, our peace-offering, and our Priest. In him, God is ever accessible to us, and we ever accessible to him. We lay hold of the horns of this altar. This is our refuge from a fiery law and inexorable justice. There, says God, I will come unto thee, and bless thee. Blessed be our God and Father, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in Christ. (Ephesians 1:3.) If thou wilt make me an altar of stone, it shall not be hewn. See again the dear Mediator shadowed forth: “That stone which was cut out of the mountain without hands.” (Daniel 2:45.) O how sweet, to see our Beloved in every line of revelation! Well might he say, “Search the Scriptures: they testify of me.” (John 5:39.) “If thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it.” What can this mean? To forbid thy pride and arrogance. Though thou art a law-condemned sinner, yet pride and vanity work in thee. We are prone to think by our works, our art, our device, we are to add something of our own to this altar to render our souls acceptable to God. But this is to pollute the altar, Christ Jesus. This, the foolish, bewitched Galatians did. So some are said to crucify the Lord afresh. O beware of this spiritual pollution of the blessed altar, Christ. Know, we are perfectly and everlastingly accepted in him, without any work of our own. Believe this. Obey God; glorify him. Does the law convince of sin, and cut us off from all hope in ourselves? This blessed altar is of itself all-sufficient to fill us with all hope, joy, and peace. For this typifies, that new and living way which Christ hath consecrated for us, through the vail of his flesh, to draw nigh unto God. Hebrews 10:20.

I other priests disclaim,

And laws and off’rings too:

None but the bleeding Lamb

The mighty work can do:

He shall have all the praise, for he

Hath lov’d, and lived, and dy’d for me.