John 14:1-4 Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.… I. WHAT IS IT TO BELIEVE? Faith includes two things. 1. The submission of the reason to all Christ has revealed. 2. The trust of the heart in all He has promised. Both of these are difficult duties. To receive as true what we cannot understand, on God's testimony is declared to be irrational. But remember that faith is rational, and that the testimony of God is informing. To trust that we shall be pardoned, saved, preserved, is equally difficult for unbelieving hearts. II. THE OBJECT OF FAITH IS CHRIST — i.e., the things to which we are to assent are truths concerning Christ, and these things in which we are to trust are His promises. This is the only form in which we can exercise faith in God. If we believe not God, as seen, how can we believe in Him as not seen. III. WHAT ARE WE TO BELIEVE CONCERNING CHRIST AND WHAT ARE THE PROMISES WHICH WE ARE TO TRUST? 1. We must believe that He is the Way, i.e., that He brings us to God. We are separated from God — (1) By our ignorance. Christ brings us near to God as an object of knowledge. He is the Loges or Revealer. He is God in our nature. (2) By our guilt. Christ brings us near to God by reconciliation through His blood. He atones for our sins. Through Him we are able to draw near to God with hope of acceptance. (3) By our enmity. Christ, by revealing the knowledge of God, and reconciling us to Him, removes our enmity. 2. That He is the Truth, i.e. — (1) That He is real; the true God; true Prophet, Priest, King. (2) That in Him is all truth and excellence. 3. That He is the Life — the source of universal, intellectual, spiritual and eternal life. It is not we that live, but Christ that lives in us. IV. WHAT PROMISES ARE WE TO TRUST TO? The promises of the Spirit. 1. That His presence is permanent and internal. 2. That He will reveal Christ. 3. That He will be our Paraclete. (C. Hodge, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.WEB: "Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me. |
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