(Pastor Chen)
We will be teaching on the subject of faith in a series of lessons. But before we can properly understand faith, we need to have a basic understanding of the grace of God. I believe if we concentrate on the teaching of faith without giving the proper perspective of grace, we will turn the message of faith into work. Faith will become a struggle instead of a rest in the finished work of Calvary. Grace is mentioned in every Epistle of the New Testament except I John and III John, so we can see the importance of this subject.
Romans 5:2 says, "Through whom (Jesus) also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." From these Scriptures we can readily see that faith is simply a doorway, a channel, a medium, or a vehicle to the grace of God. Without the grace of God, faith is meaningless; faith has nothing to access or take hold of. Therefore, the understanding of grace is critical to the operation of faith. I remember when I first heard the message of faith, I knew the message was true and Scriptural. I listened to the four steps, seven steps, and all kinds of steps on faith, but I had a lot of struggle in its operation. I was working to make the faith work. And when I did receive from God (purely by His mercy), I felt that I had earned it. I am sure we all have been there. Instead of giving thanks and praises to God for His provisions, we go around with our chest puffed up and telling people, "My faith got me this and that." We have gloried in the vehicle instead of in the One who makes the vehicle work.
It was not until I understood the messages of grace that the faith messages began to make sense to me. The insights I received on grace helped me to properly operate in the principles of faith without struggling. For the next couple of lessons, I would like to share with you some of the principles I have received in the operation of faith. However, first of all, we need to understand what I called "the other side of faith."
What is grace? The first thing that comes across our mind I am sure would be the classic definition of "God's unmerited favor." In the book of Esther, we can see a beautiful picture of this unmerited favor. The plot of Haman to destroy all Jews was made known to Mordecai. Mordecai commanded Esther to go in to the king to make supplication to him and plead before him for her people. Esther told Mordecai that for any man or woman who goes into the inner court to the king, who has not been called, there is but one law: put all to death, except the one to whom the king holds out the golden scepter. It was not lawful for Esther to go to the inner court because she had not been called for. Ester had no access to the king.
Mordecai finally persuaded Esther to go before the king uninvited. Ester 5:2-3 tells us, "when the king saw Queen Esther standing in the court, that she found favor in his sight (unmerited), and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand (a type of Jesus). Then Esther went near and touched the top of the scepter (a type of faith). And the king said to her, "What do you wish, Queen Esther? What is your request? It shall be given to you up to half my kingdom!" Here we see a beautiful type of God's unmerited favor. We were lost and undone without hope and without God and on our way to hell. We had no access to God. But thank God He holds out the golden scepter of Jesus to us. Jesus stepped into our path and took our place and took on everything that we deserve. He then turned around and gave us His standing and everything that belongs to Him as an act of grace. We do not deserve it, and we cannot merit it. The only thing we can do is to receive it by faith. And when we do receive it, it is not because of our greatness, but the graciousness of Him. More to come in the next lesson.