The Faith of the Son of God
The secret to our faith is the faith of Christ, which springs in our hearts and trusts in our trials.
A.B. Simpson emphasizes the essence of faith as the faith of Christ that resides in our hearts, enabling us to trust during trials. He encourages believers to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, which allows us to rest upon God's promises rather than struggle to claim them. Simpson illustrates that true prayer is infused with the Spirit of Christ, transforming our petitions into songs of victory, as exemplified by Paul and Silas in prison. This spirit of faith not only empowers us to overcome but also inspires a heart of praise amidst challenges.
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Let us learn the secret of our faith. It is the faith of Christ, springing in our hearts and trusting in our trials. So shall we always sing, 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 (Galatians 2:20). If we keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2), we shall discover that instead of struggling to appropriate the promises of God, we shall lie down upon them in blessed repose, and be borne up by them with the faith which is no more our own than the than the promises upon which it rests. Each new need will find us leaning again on Him for the grace to trust and to overcome. Further, we see here the true spirit of prayer.
It is the Spirit of Christ in us.
In the midst of the congregation will I praise thee (Psalm 22:22). Christ still sings these praises in the trusting heart and lifts our prayers into songs of victory! This is the true spirit of prayer. Paul and Silas in the prison at Philippi turned prayer into praise, night into day-the night of sorrow into the morning of joy. When Jesus, the spirit of faith is in us, He will also become the spirit of praise.
Sermon Outline
- The Faith of Christ points: - Springing in our hearts - Trusting in our trials
- Looking unto Jesus points: - The author and finisher of our faith - Discovering rest in God's promises
- The Spirit of Prayer points: - The Spirit of Christ in us - Lifting prayers into songs of victory
Key Quotes
“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 (Galatians 2:20).” — A.B. Simpson
“If we keep looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2),” — A.B. Simpson
“Christ still sings these praises in the trusting heart and lifts our prayers into songs of victory!” — A.B. Simpson
Application Points
- We can trust in God's promises and rest in them, rather than struggling to appropriate them.
- The Spirit of faith in us can become the spirit of praise, lifting our prayers into songs of victory.
- By looking unto Jesus, we can discover the true spirit of prayer and experience joy in our trials.