Psalm 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. I have taken the whole verse, but the words at which I catch are these: "Unless I had believed to see." Most people see to believe; but here is the true Gospel order. Oh that some now may believe to see I Note — I. A DOCTRINE STATED. Salvation is by faith. That is the great act by which man is saved. If he believes he is saved. II. DIFFICULTIES OF THE AWAKENED SOUL. 1. Want of feeling. 2. Sense of ill-desert. 3. Cannot see evidences in ourselves. But these will come if you believe first. They are the product, and not the cause, of faith. 4. Repentance not deep enough. 5. No great joy. 6. Sanctification and likeness to Christ so slight. III. DIRECTIONS TO MORE ADVANCED BELIEVERS. The whole course of the Christian life must be believing to see. In our enterprises for God. in our inward conflicts. In doctrinal perplexities. In times of prosperity our only safeguard is to believe beforehand. In our journey to heaven. ( C. H. Spurgeon.) Parallel Verses KJV: I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.WEB: I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of Yahweh in the land of the living. |
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