Is There a Measure of Faith? I'd Like to Know Where My Faith Is at!
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May 13, 2012 |
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Q) Not long ago, I heard shocking news from my friend who has been leading a diligent Christian life. It was that faith has different measures. In addition, salvation depends on faith, and answers, blessings, and the eternal heavenly dwelling place will be different according to our faith. Is it true there are great faith and little faith?
A) Romans 12:3 says, "But to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."
Jesus complimented a woman saying, "Your faith is great" in Matthew 15:28. And He reprimanded His disciples for their littleness of faith as written in Matthew 17:20. That is, faith has different measures like great faith and little faith. There are also spiritual faith God acknowledges and fleshly faith with which people can't be saved.
1. The measure of faith according to growth of spiritual faith
1 John 2:12-14 explains about the levels of spiritual faith likening them to the faith of little children, children, young men, and fathers.
'The faith of little children' refers to faith of those who have just accepted Jesus Christ as said in 1 John 2:12. Namely, it is faith of people who gained the right to become God's children by receiving the Holy Spirit as a gift.
'The faith of children' means faith of new believers as written in 1 John 2:14. They attend the church services, learn God's Word, and experienced His grace, but they don't completely live in the Word of God.
Just as young men do everything enthusiastically, people with 'the faith of young men' keep the Word of God to a great extent so they don't become frustrated even in trials and afflictions. They are able to achieve victories in the battle against the enemy devil and Satan. (1 John 2:13)
'The faith of fathers' is a mature level of faith (1 John 2:13). People with the faith of fathers try hard to achieve the heart of the Lord by realizing the Word of God and praying fervently, and they take care of other believers with the heart of fathers.
2. The measure of faith measured at the Great White Throne Judgment
In Ezekiel 47:3-5, a man went out with a line in his hand and he measured the water. Here, 'water' spiritually symbolizes the Word of God. This passage carries the meaning that the Lord will measure our faith and make strict judgment on each of us at the Great White Throne Judgment.
"When the man went out toward the east with a line in his hand, he measured a thousand cubits, and he led me through the water, water reaching the ankles. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the knees. Again he measured a thousand and led me through the water, water reaching the loins. Again he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not ford, for the water had risen, enough water to swim in, a river that could not be forded."
'Water reaching the ankles' represents the faith of little children, which is the first level of faith. 'Water reaching the knees' is the faith of children, the second level of faith. 'Water reaching the loins' represents the faith of young men and is the third level of faith. 'Water becoming a river I couldn't ford' is the faith of fathers. It represents the mature levels of faith at the fourth and fifth levels of faith.
3. The measure of faith measured by testing the quality of each man's work by fire
First Corinthians 3:12-13 reads, "Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work." Here, 'foundation' refers to Jesus Christ and 'each man's work' symbolizes the faith and deeds of faith of each man.
Faith of straw stands for dead faith just like straw which is dry and hollow and is burned by fire in a moment. It symbolizes fleshly faith with which people cannot be saved. Faith of hay stands for the first level of faith at which people are forgiven of their sins and become God's children by accepting Jesus Christ. Faith of wood refers to the second level of faith with which people strive to act according to the Word of God.
Just as precious stones remain in fire, even if the shapes change the gem does not. Men with this third level of faith faith like precious stones, are able to keep and practice the Word of God. People with faith of silver, a metal that is less precious than gold but isn't burned by fire, are at the level of faith of having unconditional love for God that is foremost above everything. With this faith their souls prosper and they enjoy good health. At this level they have achieved the fourth level of faith.
Faith of gold refers to the fifth level of faith with which you never sway even in fiery trials. This faith pleases God, bears 100% spiritual fruit, and works faithfully in all God's household. When we possess such a perfect faith and pile up fiery prayer, we can manifest signs written in Mark 16:17-18 just as Jesus said, "These signs will accompany those who have believed." And we can lead many souls to the way of salvation and give great glory to God.
Matthew 11:12 reads, "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent men take it by force." It means that we can win the battle against the enemy devil and Satan that instigate us to sin to the extent that we cast away sins and achieve the heart of the Lord and we can enter a better dwelling place in Heaven to the extent that we act according to the truth. By doing so, we can enter the best dwelling place in Heaven, New Jerusalem, that is also where God's throne is located.
Men with the first level of faith will go to Paradise, the lowest heavenly dwelling place. Those with the second level will enter the first heavenly kingdom; the third level will enter the second heavenly kingdom; the fourth level, which is the level of sanctification without sins, is the dwelling place in the third heavenly kingdom; the fourth level, that pleases God, is New Jerusalem. (Reference: The Measure of Faith authored by Dr. Jaerock Lee).
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