BOOK - A measure of faith allotted to each of believers…
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March 10, 2013 |
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Let's think about the faith of two people: one is the faith of the criminal who was saved right before death by repenting on the cross next to Jesus' cross and the other is the faith of Apostle Paul who worked faithfully with all his life saying "I die daily" and entered New Jerusalem. How different they are!
In the Bible, Jesus praised a woman saying, "Your faith is great" (Matthew 15:28) and He rebuked His disciples for the littleness of their faith (Matthew 17:20). As shown in the verses, there are different measures of faith ranging from little to great. That's why Romans 12:3 says, "For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith."
Faith is a gift given by God, so spiritual faith is given to us according to how much we live in the Word of God. Just as we go up stairs one by one, spiritual faith increases day by day. When our faith becomes great enough to reach the measure of the stature that belongs to fullness of Christ, God is pleased with our faith.
What level do you think your faith belongs to? The measure of faith can be explained in several ways, but here in this edition we will explain about it based on Dr. Jaerock Lee's book The Measure of Faith. Let's check our faith.
Level 1
Faith to receive salvation
If you hear the gospel, open your heart, repent that you are a sinner, and receive the forgiveness of sins, then, God will send the Holy Spirit in your heart. The Spirit is God's gift and pledge given to those who have accepted Jesus Christ and gained the right to be God's children.
If you receive the Holy Spirit, then, your name will be recorded in the Book of Life as God's child, and you will receive the citizenship of the heavenly kingdom. For example, the criminal who was saved in Luke chapter 23 belongs to the 1st level of faith. (Luke 23:39-43)
Level 2
Faith to try to live by the Word
After you accept Jesus Christ and receive the gift of the Spirit, you attend worship services, listen to and learn the Word of God, and try to act according to it. But you have yet to realize the will and the heart of God in the Word and to act with the realization, so you may find yourself difficult to lead a Christian life.
That is why you have to try hard with prayer for yourself to act according to the Word of God. Here is a thing you keep in your hearts; you must not feel disheartened nor give up even if you can't sometimes practice the Word of God. When you try hard, the Spirit will help you and God will give you the grace and strength of God. And He will guide you to practice the Word.
Level 3
Faith to live by the Word
At this level, we can practice the Word from our hearts by realizing the will of God. So, it is natural for us to practice it in our daily life. Our Christian life becomes stabilized at this level.
When you have this kind of faith, you can stop committing the works of the flesh, which are sins committed with actions, and get rid of the things of the flesh which are the sins committed in hearts and sinful nature.
But even if you've reached the third level of faith you still have conflicts in your heart. You obey by realizing the will of God but you still have sinful nature. It causes two kinds of natures to conflict because you have sinful nature left. But as you cast off more and more sinful nature, it will be easier to act according to the Word of God.
If you reach the 60th percentile of the 3rd level of faith, you can be said that you are standing on the rock of faith (Matthew 7:24-25).
Even though you have stood on the rock of faith you have to fight a good fight of faith to accomplish the heart of the Lord as recorded in 2 Timothy 4:7. You have to cry out in prayer to pull out the roots of evilness in your heart and ask God with an earnest heart.
But many believers stay at the 3rd level of faith for a long time. What is the reason? This is because they stop in making efforts to get rid of sin and evil. To pass the level, you have to throw away spiritual arrogance that says "I have achieved sanctification to some degree" and overcome laziness.
Level 4
Faith to love God to the utmost degree
If you love God to the utmost degree, you come to cast off every form of evil and sins God hates and to accomplish sanctification of your hearts. At this level, the evidence of God's love for you will be shown always. To the extent that your heart resembles that of God, you can demonstrate greater ability and give greater glory to God.
Also, you will serve, lower yourself, and seek others' benefits. As such, trivial words or deeds in a daily life are also beautiful and of goodness. Not only can such a good fragrance move the hearts of people around you but also it can touch God's heart and God will be with you with answers and blessings.
Level 5
Faith to Please God
At this level, you will pass the level of obeying the Word with the utmost degree of love for God and reach the level of obeying it by realizing the deep heart and will of God and pleasing Him. Even if God tells you to do something impossible with human ability, you will say only 'Yes' and 'Amen' and obey with all your life if it is the will of God.
Also, you will be able to perform signs, wonders, and powerful works by piling up countless times of prayer. You also will work faithfully in all aspects and fulfill your duty. You will perform your duty more than what you can do and what you can gain. To gain such true children, God created men.
At this fifth level of faith, that is, the perfect faith, all thoughts and words can satisfy God's heart and please God all the time. So, you can receive answers from God whatever you ask and God even gives you what you just harbor in your heart. This is because He foreknows and prepares what you need beforehand and provides you with it.
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