A Living and A Dead Faith

In our Thursday Evening Bible Study we began a series looking through Gardiner Spring entitled, "The Distinguishing Traits of Christian Character." We have not moved very far in our study, having just finished part 2 of the first chapter. The opening chapters concern themselves not so much with the distinguishing traits of Christian character but rather those traits that so many often suppose means they are Christians. For example, visible morality, the art of living some semblance of a "good" life is often construed as verifying one's Christianity. However, as Mr. Spring wrote:

A merely moral man may be very scrupulous of duties he owes to his fellow man, while the infinitely important duties he owes to God are kept entirely out of sight.

Mr. Spring pointed out that the merely moral man may do well from a human perspective, but his heart, that is his true desires are governed more from selfishness rather than from devotion to God. Mr. Spring wrote:

The sum and soul of obedience to the divine law consists in love to God. But the people whom we describe, though they may has some knowledge of God and may confess His worthiness to be loved, love almost everything else more than He.

There then lies the test - how is my love to God? Or, do I find that I love everything else more than Him? That is a question to consider carefully for the church is filled with a multitude of "visibly moral" people. But, do they love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength? As noted by Mr. Spring, "There then is no true holiness in mere morality.” Let us examine our motives and hearts well that we be not deceived into contentment with mere morality. Holiness of life must flourish. This is the Biblical call:

1 Peter 1:14-16
14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, 15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; 16 because it is written, "YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY."

Failure to make a distinction between holiness and morality may mean the difference between heaven and hell. Again, as Mr. Spring noted:

A man may be very moral, but if the disposition of the heart with which the acts of morality are performed be not such as God requires and approves, though he may believe he is going to heaven, he is in the broad way to hell. Mere morality never aims at the heart and would never touch it if it should.

Lord, take aim at my heart and make me holy!

I close with this hymn by William Cowper subtitled "A Living and A Dead Faith":

The LORD receives his highest praise,
From humble minds and hearts sincere;
While all the loud professor says,
Offends the righteous Judge’s ear.

To walk as children of the day
To mark the precepts’ holy light
To wage the warfare, watch and pray,
Show who are pleasing in his sight.

Not words alone it cost the LORD,
To purchase pardon for his own;
Nor with a soul, by grace restored,
Return the Savior words alone.

With golden bells, the priestly vest,
And rich pomegranates bordered round,
The need of holiness expressed,
And called for fruit, as well as sound.

Easy, indeed, it were to reach
A mansion in the courts above,
If swelling words, and fluent speech
Might serve, instead of faith and love.

But none shall gain the blissful place,
Or GOD’S unclouded glory see;
Who talks of free and sovereign grace,
Unless that grace has made him free.

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Ed