Formally Psalm 17:15
This is one that gives me some trouble Rev. Baker. Abraham’s faith brings about obedience and this is rewarded by God. It immediately brings me to the question. ‘Does my faith bring forth the obedience that testifies to that faith?’ Now this causes me to look at myself and lose faith altogether. Jesus said to His disciples “If you have faith…you shall say on to this mountain… and it will obey…” Is Jesus saying that we can have faith that makes mountains obey, when I can’t even obey? On this condition; Speak to the mountain, and believe in your heart, without doubting that the things that you say will come to pass.

Believe without doubting? You may as well have told me to keep the whole law without a flaw. Who is there that does not doubt? You show me the Man who does not doubt in His heart and I will show you God in the flesh. Or is this the point of the “IF” condition you wrote of? Is the faith itself not our faith? If there is a faith that can have power over a mountain to make it obey can this faith do the same for me?

Paul spoke of a faith that should come, like faith itself was a person in Gal 3:24-25 that is Christ in the flesh. In Col. Paul speaks of things being a shadow of things to come but the substance is of Christ. Is the faith that should come Christ Himself? Heb 11; talks of faith as the substance of things hoped for (But all through Heb. what was spoken as being hoped for was Jesus) Faith is the evidence of things not seen. (But now we see Him…) Is Jesus this faith? Jesus was the substance of what was hoped for Jesus is the evidence for things not seen. So that Jesus Himself is our faith, Author and finisher? Paul says Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

I know that faith is spoken of in different ways in the scriptures but is the main use Christ himself given. The faith of Jesus that obeyed the father even onto death. And we are given this faith with His obedience (Christ). And we are those who are dead but made to hear his voice and live. It is He who speaks to the mountain, the grave yard, as it were, on the mount of Olives where He was speaking.

I don’t know if I am on solid Lutheran ground here and am open to instruction from the word of God. Thanks Rev. Baker

In the last post when I said “”If” condition” I meant “If” distinction you wrote of.

Some great questions Steve. Let’s begin with what Dr. Nagel of Concordia Seminary St. Louis said when interviewed on radio about the definition of the word “faith.” He said that the word faith is really a synonym for “Jesus.” Try it. Eph. says that we are saved by grace through JESUS, not of works lest anyone should boast.”

You indicate that I wrote you ought to “believe without doubting” for your assurance. I looked at the sermon analysis and could not find that. I believe you concluded it from your first paragraph where you ask whether your faith brings forth the obedience that testifies to that faith which causes you to look at yourself and lose faith altogether.

However, the obedience that testifies to your faith is something that God alone can read. It is not evident to you. First of all, Matthew 25 makes clear that when God reminds his sheep of all the works that they have done, they are as surprised as anyone. Second, I would ask you Steve to take out a blank piece of paper and begin to write all the fruit of the Holy Spirit you did last week.

The sheet should remain blank because it is not possible for us to discern a fruit of the Holy Spirit from a good work. A good work is simply outward obedience to any command of God which even an atheist can do. A fruit of the Holy Spirit is the same outward good work but done with the sinless motivation of love for Jesus. I cannot discern that at all.

On the radio program last night on AM 850 KFUO I mentioned that the theme for 2006 is to tell people what they believe but do not yet know. Our newly created heart of faith is perfect in that faith but our head gets us all confused. That’s why you are correct that no Christian can boast of perfect faith. The old Adam is simply too powerful.

But the assurance of my salvation is not dependent on my “perfect” faith but on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ which benefits were given to me as a gift in the waters of baptism. Thanks again for your perceptive questions.

Dear Rev. Baker,

My apologies, for giving the wrong impression. Being lucid is still something I need to work on. When I wrote:

“Believe without doubting? You may as well have told me to keep the whole law without a flaw”

The “You” was not you but Jesus words to His disciples and I was just using a vicarious dialectic. Speaking from my own personal struggle (Life long) with understanding faith, and what my thoughts were when Jesus spoke those words to His disciples, as if I was right there hearing and responding.

I admit I turned the direction on this Faith itself and what it is.

You answered the paradox well. That it was the faith itself that God Justifies and it was by faith that Abraham offered his son, or rather was made willing to, because he knew that the promise was through Isaac. He, Abraham, had the assurance (Faith being the assurance, or guarantee) that God would raise him up.

I know I went out of context for a selfish purpose, to help get an answer on what faith is. I come out of a Charismatic background. I was a Charismatic Pastor. Though I am no longer for these theological reasons, though still ordained. I wanted to answer the question of faith as used by “Faith teachers” that use Mark 11:22-24 in a heretical way. I was looking to see if what I was seeing in these words could be confirmed. You brought up

“Dr. Nagel of Concordia Seminary St. Louis said when interviewed on radio about the definition of the word “faith.” He said that the word faith is really a synonym for “Jesus.”

This was like fire in my heart. Thank you so much for taking the time to respond.
I will listen to your last broadcast.

The passage from Mark 11:22-24 can really be misunderstood if one imagines that the word “faith” refers to my belief in my faith. That’s how false teachers from the Word/Faith movement explain it. They teach that if YOUR FAITH is as strong as the faith of Jesus, then you can do whatever you decide to know…as long as YOUR FAITH in YOUR OWN FAITH is strong.

What rubbish. Jesus is clear in verse 22 that the faith we are to have is not in our own faith but in God. The object of all Christian faith refers to the promises of God in connection to the cross of Christ.

Therefore, I cannot move a mountain because nowhere in the Bible does God promise to do that for me. The only way that I can believe that anything will come to pass is if God Himself has promised it; not if I want it!

Therefore, where there is a promise from God, then I can do things greater than moving a mountain. For example, we believe, teach and confess infant baptism. When we baptize an infant in the name of the holy Trinity, we are sure that what God promises He fulfills. The infant is now His child and according to Acts 2 has not only received the forgiveness of sins but also the gift of the Holy Spirit. The action of baptizing an infant is far more tremendous than the insignificant action of trying to move a mountain.

In summary, if you have faith; that is believe a promise from God’s holy Word, then when you ask for Him to fulfill that promise, you ought never include, “If it be Your will.” For His promise is sure and He will fulfill what He promises.