Faith, saving faith, is to be taught. The definition of this faith in Jesus Christ may be described in few words: It is the act of the soul by which the whole man is given over to the guardianship and control of Jesus Christ. He abides in Christ and Christ abides in the soul by faith as supreme. The believer commits his soul and body to God and with assurance may say, Christ is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. All who will do this will be saved unto life eternal. There will be an assurance that the soul is washed in the blood of Christ and clothed with His righteousness and precious in the sight of Jesus. Our thoughts and our hopes are on the second advent of our Lord. That is the day when the Judge of all the earth will reward the trust of His people.--MS 6. {2MCP 531.1}
Other Definitions.--Through faith we receive the grace of God, but faith is not our Saviour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ and appropriate His merits.--DA175 {2MCP 531.2}
Faith is trusting God--believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own,
it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, have been pointed out as secrets of life's success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these principles.--Ed 253 ( {2MCP 531.3}
Simple in Operation.--Faith is simple in its operation and powerful in its results. Many professed Christians, who have a knowledge of the Sacred Word and believe its truth, fail in the childlike trust that is essential to the religion of Jesus. They do not reach out with that peculiar touch that brings the virtue of healing to the soul.-- Redemption: The Miracles of Christ, 97 (6BC 1074.) {2MCP 532.1}
Humility Is Not Faith.--Humility, meekness, and obedience are not faith; but they are the effects, or fruit, of faith.--5T 438 {2MCP 532.2}
Faith Gives Self-reliance.--These things [the account of Paul's trust in God] were not written merely that we might read and wonder, but that the same faith which wrought in God's servants of old might work in us. In no less marked a manner than He wrought then will He work now wherever there are hearts of faith to be channels of His power. {2MCP 532.3}
Let the self-distrustful, whose lack of self-reliance leads them to shrink from care and responsibility, be taught reliance upon God. Thus many a one who otherwise would be but a cipher in the world, perhaps only a helpless burden, will be able to say with the apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).--Ed 256{2MCP 532.4}
Faith Needed Every Step of the Way.--Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater affairs of life. In all our daily interests and occupations the sustaining strength of God becomes real to us through an abiding trust.--Ed 255 {2MCP 532.5}
Teach Faith.--How to exercise faith should be made very plain. To every promise of God there are conditions. If we are willing to do His will, all His strength is ours. Whatever gift He promises is in the promise itself. "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). As surely as the oak is in the acorn, so surely is the gift of God in His promise. If we receive the promise, we have the gift.--Ed 253{2MCP 533.1}
Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2 - Ellen G. White, page 531
Other Definitions.--Through faith we receive the grace of God, but faith is not our Saviour. It earns nothing. It is the hand by which we lay hold upon Christ and appropriate His merits.--DA175 {2MCP 531.2}
Faith is trusting God--believing that He loves us and knows best what is for our good. Thus, instead of our own,
it leads us to choose His way. In place of our ignorance, it accepts His wisdom; in place of our weakness, His strength; in place of our sinfulness, His righteousness. Our lives, ourselves, are already His; faith acknowledges His ownership and accepts its blessing. Truth, uprightness, purity, have been pointed out as secrets of life's success. It is faith that puts us in possession of these principles.--Ed 253 ( {2MCP 531.3}
Simple in Operation.--Faith is simple in its operation and powerful in its results. Many professed Christians, who have a knowledge of the Sacred Word and believe its truth, fail in the childlike trust that is essential to the religion of Jesus. They do not reach out with that peculiar touch that brings the virtue of healing to the soul.-- Redemption: The Miracles of Christ, 97 (6BC 1074.) {2MCP 532.1}
Humility Is Not Faith.--Humility, meekness, and obedience are not faith; but they are the effects, or fruit, of faith.--5T 438 {2MCP 532.2}
Faith Gives Self-reliance.--These things [the account of Paul's trust in God] were not written merely that we might read and wonder, but that the same faith which wrought in God's servants of old might work in us. In no less marked a manner than He wrought then will He work now wherever there are hearts of faith to be channels of His power. {2MCP 532.3}
Let the self-distrustful, whose lack of self-reliance leads them to shrink from care and responsibility, be taught reliance upon God. Thus many a one who otherwise would be but a cipher in the world, perhaps only a helpless burden, will be able to say with the apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).--Ed 256{2MCP 532.4}
Faith Needed Every Step of the Way.--Faith is needed in the smaller no less than in the greater affairs of life. In all our daily interests and occupations the sustaining strength of God becomes real to us through an abiding trust.--Ed 255 {2MCP 532.5}
Teach Faith.--How to exercise faith should be made very plain. To every promise of God there are conditions. If we are willing to do His will, all His strength is ours. Whatever gift He promises is in the promise itself. "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11). As surely as the oak is in the acorn, so surely is the gift of God in His promise. If we receive the promise, we have the gift.--Ed 253{2MCP 533.1}
Mind, Character, and Personality Volume 2 - Ellen G. White, page 531
