For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith,
Salvation by faith and the work of the Spirit
Faith is not opposed to the spirit, but is the child of it.
Through the Spirit we wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
I. Declare the Christian’s hope.
1. Its singularity. Not founded on parentage, outward rites and ceremonies, moral virtues and spiritual excellencies; but upon Christ.
2. Its speciality. In grace alone--looking entirely to the free mercy of God. Nothing by merit. Nobody has any claim upon God. He blesses us because He is good, not because we are; He saves us because He is gracious, not because He sees any grace inherent in us.
3. Its ground. It is founded upon right--a solid base for hope. We expect to be saved by an act of justice as well as by a deed of mercy. By faith the righteousness of Christ becomes ours, so that we have a right to salvation (Romans 4:23-25; Romans 5:1-2; Romans 8:1-4; Romans 8:32-34).
4. Its substance. A triumphant death, a glorious eternity.
5. The posture which our hope takes up. Waiting. All is done; we have but to wait for the reward. To the garment which covers us we dare not think of adding a single thread. To the acceptance in which we stand before God, we cannot hope to add a single jewel. Why attempt it? Has not Jesus said, “It is finished?” Waiting implies continuance. Our faith is not for to-day and to-morrow only, but for eternity.
II. The relation of this matter to the Holy Spirit. No division in the purposes and works of the three sacred Persons in the Trinity. Their will is one. That which glorifies Jesus cannot dishonour the Holy Spirit.
1. The faith which brings this righteousness is never exercised by any but those who are born of the Spirit. The new heart which the Spirit creates is the only soil in which faith will grow.
2. Faith for righteousness is based on the testimony of the Holy Spirit.
3. Simple faith is always the work of the Spirit.
4. When a man has believed, he obtains a great increase to his faith in Jesus by the work of the Spirit.
5. It is by the Spirit that we continue to exercise faith.
III. Concluding inferences.
1. Whoever has this hope of righteousness by faith has the Spirit of God. He that believeth hath the witness in himself. He that believeth in Him is not condemned.
2. Wherever there is any other hope, or hope based upon anything else but this, the Spirit of God is not present. The Spirit will not bear witness to man’s home-born presumptuous hopes, but only to the finished work of Jesus. (C. H. Spurgeon.)
Difference between faith and hope
There is so great affinity between faith and hope, that the one cannot be separate from the other. Notwithstanding, there is a difference between them, which is gathered of their several offices, diversity of working, and of their ends.
1. They differ in respect of their subject, that is, of the ground wherein they rest. For faith resteth in the understanding, hope in the will; but the one is to the other, as the two cherubim on the mercy-seat.
2. They differ in respect of their office, i.e. of their working. Faith tells what is to be done, teaches, prescribes, directs; hope stirs up the mind that it may be strong, bold, courageous, that it may suffer and endure adversity, waiting for better things.
3. They differ as touching their object, that is, the special matter whereunto they look. Faith has for her object the truth, teaching us to cleave surely thereto, and looking upon the word and promise of the thing that is promised; hope has for her object the goodness of God, and looks upon the thing which is promised in the word, that is, upon such matters as faith teaches us to hope for.
4. They differ in order. Faith is the beginning of life, before all tribulation; hope proceeds from tribulation.
5. They differ by the diversity of working. Faith is a teacher and a judge, fighting against errors and heresies, judging spirits and doctrines; hope is, as it were, the general or captain of the field, fighting against tribulation, the cross, impatience, heaviness of spirit, weakness, desperation, and blasphemy, and it waits for good things even in the midst of all evils. Therefore, when I am instructed by faith in the Word of God, and lay hold of Christ, believing in Him with my whole heart, then am I righteous by this knowledge. When I am so justified by faith, or by this knowledge, by and by cometh the devil, the father of wiles, and laboureth to extinguish my faith by wiles and subtleties; that is to say, by lies, errors, and heresies. Moreover, because he is a murderer, he goeth about also to oppress it by violence. Here hope wrestling, layeth hold on the thing revealed by faith, and overcometh the devil that warreth against faith; and after this victory followeth peace and joy in the Holy Ghost. (Luther.)
Faith and hope complementary of each other
In civil government, prudence and fortitude do differ, and yet these two virtues are so joined together, that they cannot easily be severed. Now, fortitude is a constancy of mind, which is not discouraged in adversity, but endureth valiantly, and waiteth for better things. But if fortitude be not guided by prudence, it is but temerity and rashness. On the other side, if fortitude be not joined with prudence, that prudence is but vain and unprofitable. Therefore, like as, in policy, prudence is but vain without fortitude; even so in divinity, faith without hope is nothing; for hope endureth adversity and is constant therein, and in the end overcometh all evils. And on the other side, like as fortitude without prudence is rashness, even so hope without faith is a presumption in spirit, and a tempting of God: for it hath no knowledge of Christ and.of the truth which faith teacheth, and therefore it is but a blind rashness and arrogancy. Wherefore, a godly man, before all things, must have a right understanding instructed by faith, according to the which the mind may be guided in afflictions, that it may hope for those good things which faith hath revealed and taught. To be short, faith is conceived by teaching; for thereby the mind is instructed what the truth is. Hope is conceived by exhortation; for by exhortation hope is stirred up in afflictions, which confirmeth him that is already justified by faith, that he be not overcome by adversities, but that he may be able more strongly to resist them. (Luther.)
Hope with faith
The heir must believe his title to an estate in reversion before he can hope for it: faith believes its title to glory, and then hope waits for it. Did not faith feed the lamp of hope with oil, it would soon die. (Ambrose.)
The believer’s treasure
1. The riches of a believer are not so much in possession as in expectation and hope.
2. None have right to heaven here, or shall enjoy it hereafter, who are wholly unrighteous.
3. No personal righteousness of our own can entitle us to this blessed hope and heavenly inheritance; but only the righteousness of Christ.
4. It is only the inward, efficacious teaching of God’s Spirit, that can sufficiently instruct us in the knowledge of this imputed righteousness by faith, and make us with security and confidence venture our eternal well-being and hope of heaven upon it. (James Fergusson.)
Faith and morality
When faith is finished a good life is made perfect in our kind: let, therefore, no man expect events for which he hath no promise; nor call for God’s fidelity without his own faithfulness; nor snatch at a promise without performing the condition; nor think faith to be a hand to apprehend Christ, and to do nothing else; for that will but deceive us, and turn religion into words, holiness into hypocrisy, the promises of God into a snare, the truth of God into a lie. When God gives us better promises, He intends that we should pay Him a better obedience; when He forgives us what is past, He intends that we should sin no more; when He offers us His graces, He would have us make use of them; when He causes us to distrust ourselves His meaning is that we should rely on Him; when He enables us to do what He commands us, He commands us to do all that we can. (Jeremy Taylor.)
Faith the only basis of righteousness and hope
Our religion is spiritual faith, which speaks after this fashion: “Believe in God; believe in Jesus Christ; believe in your own soul; believe in redemption from sin, from guilt, and from punishment; and believe in the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting.” This is our religion. Infidelity comes and unfolds its little couch and lays it on the ground, and says to my soul, “Rest there.” But I have tried, and cannot. The bed is too short for my soul to stretch itself upon it. It only reaches from the cradle there to the grave yonder, while my soul has desires that wander through eternity. No, thank God, here is room: God is, Christ is, thy soul is, redemption is, pardon is, liberty from sin is, and the glorious life eternal is! Stretch thy soul upon that couch and rest for ever. (Thomas Jones.)
Faith and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ
I. Consider faith in Christ.
1. Explain the nature of it.
(1) This includes in it an assent to the truth of Christ’s being appointed of God, to be a Mediator betwixt Him and the sinful children of men.
(2) An hearty acceptance of Him to be our Saviour, as He is proposed to us in the gospel. The apostle tells us that with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, so as to be justified, to be entitled to life (Romans 10:10). Justifying faith is not seated only in the head, but in the heart.
(3) True and saving faith in Christ imports a dependence upon Him.
2. It is our duty to believe in Christ.
(1) The evidences of God’s appointment of Jesus to be Mediator betwixt Him and men are sufficient to convince all attentive unprejudiced persons, upon whom the light of the gospel shines. The exact accomplishment of the many ancient prophecies recorded in the Old Testament, relating to the Messiah, in our Lord Jesus; the miracles wrought by Him in the presence of enemies, as well as friends, who could not deny the reality of them; and His resurrection from the dead on the third day.
(2) As it is “a faithful saying,” so it is “worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.”
(3) We all need Christ and His salvation, therefore it behoves us greatly to accept of Him.
(4) Christ Jesus is an all-sufficient Saviour, therefore we ought to believe in Him, to depend upon Him.
(5) We are expressly required in the Word of God to believe in Christ Jesus. A heart of unbelief is emphatically styled an evil heart; it rebels against the word of the living God, and departs from Him (Hebrews 3:12). Having showed that it is our duty to believe in Jesus Christ, give me leave to subjoin a few remarks.
1. Though it be our duty to believe in the Lord Jesus, and this should be pressed upon our consciences, yet we need the aids of Divine grace to enable us to discharge this duty; therefore we should ask them of God.
2. It is not only the duty of persons, when they are first awakened to a sense of sin, to believe in Jesus Christ; those also who have received Him should be daily exercising faith in Him.
II. Consider hope in Christ.
1. Let us consider what it is true Christians hope for in the Lord Jesus.
(1) True Christians hope that the Lord Jesus will keep “that which they have committed unto Him against the great day.”
(2) They hope that He will “present them faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.”
(3) True Christians hope through the Lord Jesus to be admitted to dwell for ever with Him in His Father’s house.
2. Let us inquire into the reasons of this their hope in Christ.
(1) God’s appointment of the Lord Jesus to the work of mediation encourages the hope of believers in Him.
(2) The dignity of Christ’s Person encourages believers to hope in Him. We are expressly told in His Word that He hath “laid help upon One that is mighty” (Psalms 89:19).
(3) The resurrection, ascension, and intercession of Christ encourage the hope of believers in Him.
(4) The compassion of Christ is a reason of believers’ hope in Him. Though He be “a great High Priest,” and “is passed into the heavens,” yet He is not such a One “as cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities” (Hebrews 4:14-16).
(5) The promises of God in Christ Jesus greatly support the hope of believers in Him; they have a promise of very ancient date to bear up their hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2).
Concluding reflections:
1. We may hence learn that true Christians should be ready always to answer every man that asketh them a reason of the hope that is in them. Seeing it is so reasonable, so well grounded, they should never be ashamed of it, nor suffer themselves to be moved from it by the vain cavils of men.
2. Is our hope in Christ Jesus? Then it should be our great care to “glorify His name, and to adorn His doctrine in all things.” And in order hereto let us live answerably to our hope in Him.
3. It behoves us to be very solicitous that we do not take up with such a hope as shall make us ashamed. The salvation proposed by Jesus Christ to His disciples is inexpressibly great; and it should be our great concern that our expectations of it be not disappointed. “Not every one that says unto Christ, “Lord, Lord,” that pretends respect for Him, “shall enter into the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 7:21). “The hope of the hypocrite shall perish.” (S. Price.)
The Spirit inclining us to seek after righteousness
In these words observe--
1. The end, scope, and blessedness of a Christian in the word “hope.”
2. The firm ground of it--“The righteousness of faith.”
3. The carriage of Christians--“We wait.”
4. The inward moving cause of waiting for this hope in this way--
“Through the Spirit.” They are taught by Him, inclined by Him, so to do.
1. The blessedness of a Christian is implied in the word “hope.” For hope is taken two ways in Scripture--for the thing hoped for, and for the affection or act of him that hopeth. Here it is taken in the first sense, for the thing hoped for. As also Titus 2:13, “Looking for the blessed hope.” So Colossians 1:5, “For the hope which is laid up for us in heaven.”
2. The ground and foundation of this hope, “The righteousness of faith.” What it is I will show you by and by. Only here it is opposed, partly to the covenant of works, which could not give life; partly to the legal observances; for it presently followeth, “Neither circumcision, nor uncircumcision,” etc. But by no means is it opposed to evangelical obedience; for the whole New Testament obedience is comprised in this term, “The righteousness of faith; “ as appeareth by the apostle’s explication in the next verse, “But faith, which works by love.”
3. The duty of a Christian--“We wait.” All true Christians wait for the mercy of God and life everlasting. And he calleth in waiting, because a believer hath not so much in possession as in expectation. And this waiting is not a devout sloth, but implieth diligence in the use of all means whereby we may obtain this hope.
4. The inward efficient cause--“Through the Spirit.” We are taught by the Spirit, inclined by the Spirit so to do. That by the Spirit all true Christians are inclined to pursue after the hope built upon the righteousness of faith.
I. What is the righteousness of faith? We told you before it is opposed either to the law of works or the ceremonial observances of the law of Moses. But more particularly it may be determined--
(1) Either with respect to the object of faith; or
(2) to the act or grace of faith itself;
(3) with respect to the rule and warrant of faith, which is the gospel or new covenant. We return to God, as our chief good and sovereign Lord, that we may love, serve, and obey Him, and be happy in His love. Faith respects Christ as Redeemer and Mediator, who hath opened the way for our return by His merit and satisfaction, or reconciliation wrought between us and God, and given us a heart to return by the renewing grace of His Spirit.
II. What is the hope built upon it, or the things hoped for by virtue of this righteousness? and they are pardon and life.
1. Certainly pardon of sins is intended in the righteousness of faith, as appeareth by that of the apostle (Romans 4:6-8).
2. There is also in it salvation, or eternal life (Titus 3:7). These two benefits give us the greatest support and comfort against all kind of troubles.
III. What is the work of the Spirit in this business in urging believers to wait for the hope of righteousness by faith? The work of the Spirit doth either concern the duties of the new covenant or the privileges of the new covenant, or what is common to them both. I begin with the latter.
1. What is common to them both. He doth convince us- of the truth of the gospel, both of means and end; that there is such a hope, and the righteousness of faith is the only way to obtain it. Now this he doth externally and internally.
(1) Externally, and by way of objective evidence. All the certainty that we have of the gospel is by the Spirit (Acts 5:32; John 15:26-27).
(2) Internally, enlightening their minds and inclining their hearts to embrace the truth; which maketh the former testimony effectual (Ephesians 1:17). To the sight of anything these things are necessary--an object, a medium, and a faculty. As in outward sight, an object that may be seen; a convenient light to represent it and make the object perspicuous; an organ or faculty of seeing in the eye. Unless there be an object, you bid a man see nothing. Unless there be a medium, a due light to represent it, as in a fog, or at midnight, the sharpest sight can see nothing. Unless there be a faculty, neither the object nor medium will avail; a blind man cannot see anything at noonday. Now here is an object, the way of salvation by Christ; a convenient light, it is represented in the gospel; and the faculty is prepared, for the eyes of the mind are opened by the Spirit, that we may see both way and end, the necessity of holiness, and the reality of future glory and blessedness.
2. The work of the Spirit as to the duties of the new covenant. He doth not only convince us of the reality and the necessity of Christ’s obedience and our holiness, but by His powerful operation frameth and inclineth our hearts to the duties required of us. Faith itself is wrought in us by this holy Spirit, for it is “the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8); and so is repentance and obedience: Hebrews 8:10, “I will write My laws upon their hearts, and put them into their minds.” Moses’ law was written on tables of stone, as a rule without them; but Christ’s law on the heart and mind, as drawing and inclining them to obey it. The renewing grace of the Spirit of God doth prepare us and fit us, and His exciting grace doth quicken us, that we may do what is pleasing in His sight.
3. The work of the Spirit as to the privileges of the new covenant, which are pardon and life.
(1) As to pardon, He is the Comforter. He cometh into our hearts as the pledge of our atonement; we receive it when we receive the Spirit (Romans 5:11); and His sanctifying work is the sure evidence that God is at peace with us (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
(2) As to life, He assureth us of it.
(a) He prepareth us and fitteth us for it (2 Corinthians 5:5).
(b) He assureth us of it (2 Corinthians 1:22).
(c) He comforteth us and raiseth, our longing after this blessed estate, for the beginnings we have here are called also the first-fruits (Romans 8:23). The beginnings are sweet; what will the completion be? Application:
1. Here you see your scope, what you should look for and hope for--the forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among the sanctified.
2. Here you see your work, and what you should now seek after--“The righteousness of faith.”
3. Here you see your help, and what will enable you to obtain--“Through the Spirit.” Oh! let these things be more in your thoughts.
(1) For your happiness, or the great privileges which you should most value and hope for.
(i) The forgiveness of sins. The sin be forgiven you can never have found peace within yourselves, but still God will be matter of fear and terror to you.
(ii) By waiting on the duties of the gospel, this comfort is more and more settled in the heart.
(2) For eternal life. Having spoke to your hope and scope, let me, secondly, now speak to your work, what you must seek after, and that is, “The righteousness of faith.”
To enforce this consider--
1. There is no appearing before God without some righteousness of one sort or another. Why? Because it is an holy and just God before whom we appear; and “shall not the Judge of all the earth do right” (Genesis 18:25); and 1 Samuel 6:20, “Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God?” If not now in the time of His patience, how, then, in the time of His recompense? His holiness inclineth Him to hate sin, and His justice to punish it. “Thy law is exceeding pure” (Psalms 19:14). The gospel abateth nothing of the purity of it. Now when we appear before an holy God, and must he judged by an holy law, surely we must have holiness and righteousness answerable, or how can we stand in the judgment?
2. No ether righteousness will serve the turn but the righteousness of faith; and therefore, till we submit to the new covenant, we are in a woeful case. Now the righteousness of the new covenant is supreme or subordinate; the supreme by way of merit and satisfaction, the subordinate by way of application and qualification on our parts.
(1) The supreme is the righteousness or obedience of Christ, which can alone deliver us from hell: Job 33:24, “Deliver him from going down to the pit, for I have found a ransom.” There is no deliverance from eternal destruction, which our sins deserve, but only by the ransom which He hath paid. Till His justice be satisfied by Christ, no good can come unto us.
(2) The subordinate righteousness, which qualifieth us, and giveth us an interest, is faith, repentance, and new obedience; all which are hugely necessary, convenient, and gracious terms. (T. Manton, D. D.)
The hope of righteousness reasonable
How foolish and ignorant we should esteem an artificer, who, having taken a piece of iron, should melt and mould, file and polish it, and then imagine that it has become gold! It shines, it is true; but is its brilliancy a proof that it is no longer iron? And does not God require pure and refined gold; that is to say, a perfect righteousness and a perfect holiness? (Malan.)
Righteousness by faith
As the graft is kept in union with the stock by means of the clay which has been applied by the gardener, so is the believer united to Christ by faith, which is the gift of God. The clay cement keeps the parts together, but has no virtue in itself: so faith is the means of union to Christ; it shows that the husbandman has been there. When the clay is removed in an ordinary tree, the graft is found united to the stock: so, when faith is swallowed up in sight, then the perfect union of Christ and His people is seen. (J. H. Balfour.)