DALE RATZLAFF
Faith is a little word that is given major emphasis in the New Testament. Most of us know the “faith verses” from memory such as, “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” 1 “Without faith it is impossible to please Him.” 2 “It shall be done to you according to your faith.” 3 Too often, however, familiarity with things even as important as faith breeds contempt. We often thank God that He has made it so easy to be saved and give the essence of faith little thought! Too often we equate faith with belief when the biblical definition of faith is belief and trust. But the elements of faith are still more complex: What is the amount of our faith? What is the object of our faith? How do we express our faith? And finally, how can we increase our faith?
A lack of faith hinders God’s power.
Throughout my ministry I have tried never to put a load of guilt on a person who prayed for healing but did not experience it by saying, “Well, if you just have enough faith, God would heal you.” Neither am I about to start doing this now. However, as Carolyn and I have been reading through the New Testament again for our morning and evening devotions and as we have had our own faith tested of late, we have had to come to grips with some of the statements of Jesus where it appears He came down hard on those who had but little faith.
Matthew 17:14–21 records the incident of the disciples of Jesus trying to heal the lunatic without success. When the father of this boy came to Jesus and reported these things, “Jesus answered and said: ‘You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.’” Later the disciples came to Jesus privately (don’t you love their courage!) and asked, “Why could we not drive it out? And He said to them, ‘Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.’” 4
After stilling the storm on the lake,5 Jesus said, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus reasons that if God can feed the birds and clothe the lilies which appear to have little value, “will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!” 6
When Jesus came to his home town, Scripture records, “And He did not do many miracles there because of their unbelief.” 7
Faith—any faith—obtains its value in the object of faith…Having faith in faith is pointless; the object of our faith must be in God Himself.
After the resurrection Jesus “appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.” 8
These are a few of the incidents where Jesus made it clear that the amount of faith a person has is at least one of the factors in whether or not we receive the promised blessing.
We summarize this section with the words of Jesus, “And Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea,” it will happen.’” 9
Jesus commends those who immediately believed and stated that their faith was a factor in their receiving the requested blessing.
“And a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years, came up behind Him and touched the fringe of His cloak; for she was saying to herself, ‘If I only touch His garment, I will get well.’ But Jesus turning and seeing her said, ‘Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.’ At once the woman was made well.10
Matthew records that a Canaanite woman came to Jesus and kept imploring him to heal her daughter. She would not take “No” for an answer but kept pleading. “Then Jesus said to her, ‘O woman, your faith is great; it shall be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed at once.” 11
When the centurion’s servant came to Jesus asking for his master’s son to be healed, he conveyed to Jesus the centurion’s message: “I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man placed under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes, and to my slave, ‘Do this!’ and he does it.” Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled at him, and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him, “I say to you, not even in Israel have I found such great faith.” 12 Yes, and the servant was healed that very hour.
God—and our understanding of Him—as the object of faith is without doubt the most important factor in the effectiveness of our faith.
The reason the disciples were filled with fear instead of the needed faith when experiencing the storm on the lake was that they still did not fully comprehend the full deity of Jesus. “…The men were amazed, and said, ‘What kind of a man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?’” 13
The blind beggar who heard that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” and he received his sight.14 He seemed to understand that Jesus was not only the “Jesus of Nazareth”, but was also the promised Messiah, the Son of David.
The woman who was healed of her infirmity believed Jesus to be the “sun of righteousness who will rise with healing in his wings.” 15 This belief in who Jesus is prompted her words, “if I just touch his garments, I will get well.” 16
It appears that even though the disciples on several occasions said they believed that Jesus was the son of God, their full understanding of who Jesus really was did not come until after the resurrection. Jesus was continually trying to teach his disciples who He was (and is), but their understanding was limited. In John 16 we have this conversation. The disciples said, “‘Now we know that You know all things, and have no need for anyone to question You; by this we believe that You came from God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe?’” 17
Faith—any faith—obtains its value in the object of faith. Unless, however, the object of our faith knows the end from the beginning, unless He is true, powerful, trustworthy, gracious, and full of mercy, then no matter how much we believe or trust, our faith is of little or no value. Having faith in faith is pointless; the object of our faith must be in God Himself.
Faith is expressed in action.
In the faith stories above as well as the many other biblical incidents that illustrate faith, it is clear that for faith to operate, faith must be expressed by some action. The paralytic’s faith was expressed by his friends’ digging a hole in the roof and lowering him right in front of Jesus.18 The woman’s faith was expressed by her touching his garment. At the edge of the river Jordan the priests expressed their faith by stepping into the water.19 At the wedding in Cana, Jesus’ mother told the servants, “Whatever He says to you, do it.” They expressed faith in filling the water pots with water and then taking a glass of this water/wine to the headwaiter. Abraham expressed his faith by believing that God had the power to fulfill His own promise and give him a son in his old age, and thus Abraham accepted his new name, “Father of a multitude”, before Isaac was even conceived.
How can we increase our faith?
Now we come to where the rubber meets the road. If the amount of our faith is low, it will hinder us from receiving the fullness of God’s promises. If our concept of God is wrong or if we place our faith in the wrong object, it is clear our faith will be of little or no value. If we refuse to act, then faith does not even come into play. Now we must ask, how can we increase our faith?
If our concept of God is wrong or if we place our faith in the wrong object, it is clear our faith will be of little or no value.
I want to make it clear that I am struggling in this area myself. Without going into detail, Carolyn and I have, for the last two years, faced major faith tests. James says that we are to “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” 20 I will frankly admit that the last two years have not been “all joy.” Yet, our testing has done several good things. It has drawn Carolyn and me closer together. It has drawn both of us closer to God even though we have unanswered questions. It has given us more empathy for others who are suffering. And it has caused us to search Scripture to find comfort and ways to increase our faith.
It could well be that the very testing of our faith is God’s appointed means for increasing our faith. We have seen this to be true in the past, and by faith we can now see God working. There are doubtless many ways that God works all things together for good to increase our faith and usefulness in ministry.21
I want now to share with you both a confession and insight that God has deeply impressed upon me in recent weeks. This involves my view of Scripture. Hang in here with me as I pull several strands together. This insight has come to me from my own study of Scripture, prayer and contemplation of the following events:
First, when I wrote Adventist to Christian and later recorded it on CD, I remembered how, in the early 1980’s, I tried to prepare my Adventist congregation for the massive plagiarism in the writings of Ellen White that Pastor Walter Rea had discovered and was soon to be released in the publication of The White Lie. My method was to change (lower) the prevailing concept of inspiration to include (1) massive plagiarism, (2) errors in historical facts (3) self-contradictions, (4) contradictions with Scripture, and (5) contradictions with known science. I was encouraged to prepare my parishioners this way by several Adventist scholars, conference officials, and a person at the Ellen G. White Estate.
Second, some months ago, I wrote an article for Proclamation! entitled, “You Can Trust the Bible.” Writing this article caused me to rethink my view on the infallibility of Scripture. Previously, I had been quite willing to admit to many errors in Scripture. In my study, however, I read several books including, Scripture and Truth, edited by D.A. Carson and John D. Woodbridge. I was forced to come to grips with the clear teaching of Scripture on the topic of inspiration.
Third, as I mentioned in a previous article in Proclamation!, a number of Adventists—many of them well educated—in trying to evade the clear statements of Paul in Romans, 2 Corinthians and Galatians on the topic of the law and covenants have stated that Paul disagreed with Jesus, and one should not take his statements at face value. One Adventist even rejected his writings completely.
Fourth, and most recently, I listened to Jud Lake’s presentation on “The Critics of Ellen White”. In his presentation he made it quite clear that he felt one of the main problems with the critics of Ellen White was they were holding Ellen White to a too high view of inspiration. In some of the other presentations made at the same conference the view was presented that what Ellen White said was true and inspired of God. However, her explanations of why she said what she did were not inspired; Ellen White just reached out in her own surroundings and culture for her “why” to go with God’s “what”. At the same time it was stated that Ellen White was inspired on the same level as the Bible writers but for a different purpose.
If this claim is true, however, then the Bible’s “what” should be separated from the Bible’s “why”. This conclusion simply will not fly. Just go to your Bible concordance or Bible computer program and look up all the important uses of “because”. You will find that the Bible’s “whys” are just as important as the “whats” in real, inspired, and authoritative writing.
Over the years since leaving Adventism I have been troubled to see the Adventist’s declining view of inspiration. In my Adventist college and seminary days I was not taught verbal inspiration or the inerrancy of Scripture. I was taught a strong—one might even say high—view of “thought” inspiration. My Adventist concept was that the inspired writer was given a divine thought, and the inspired writer used his own vocabulary to accurately express the divine thought in appropriate human language. This method of inspiration, I was taught, applied to Ellen White as well as to the Bible writers. However, it is now well known that that the writings of Ellen White contain: (1) massive plagiarism, (2) errors in historical facts, (3) numerous self-contradictions, (4) many contradictions with Scripture, (5) anti-gospel statements, and (6) contradictions with accepted scientific facts. With the coming of the internet the church no longer is able to sweep these facts under the denominational rug where they will be out of sight. Anyone seeking to know the truth about the writings of Ellen White may now do so with a few clicks of the mouse on Google.
Admittedly, there are many factors that make up the elements of faith. It is my conviction that one of them is our view of Scripture. I believe a high view of inspiration and Scripture engenders a strong, dynamic and growing faith. A low view of Scripture undermines faith.
In addition to the problems in the writings of Ellen White, several of the fundamental teachings of Adventism have also been shown to be in error. Using sound principles of hermeneutics one cannot, for example, demonstrate from a contextual study of Scripture that “the Seventh-day Adventist church is the remnant church of Bible prophecy”, that Sunday worship is or will be “the mark of the beast”, that “the seventh-day Sabbath is the seal (or the ‘sign of the seal’) of God,” or that the investigative judgment is biblical or started on October 22, 1844.22 These facts—and they are facts—are met by two reactions: a continual lowering of the Adventists’ concept of inspiration to allow for these anomalies, and a reinterpretation of these doctrines so that they can still be held as “truth”.
Now I will weave together my various strands of thought on this topic of inspiration. God is convicting me that my previously held concept of inspiration was too low, not too high, as stated by the Ellen White apologists. If I am to experience a growing faith, then my concept of God must be that which is clearly revealed in Scripture—yes, in Jesus Christ Himself, who is “the radiance of His glory and the exact representation of His nature, and upholds all things by the word of His power.” 23 I must go to His statements about Scripture and faith and line my understanding of inspiration up with them, even if I cannot explain every surface problem. I must, with the Apostle Paul say, “let God be found true though every man be found a liar.” 24 If I am to put my faith into action—”But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” 25—then I must know that God cannot lie26 and Scripture cannot be broken.27 If I am to avoid the foolishness and the lack of faith demonstrated by the disciples, then I “must believe all that the prophets have spoken.” 28 If I am to risk my life and future in following God, then I must be persuaded beyond the shadow of doubt that He “is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us.” 29 If I am to give heed to the very words of God, then I must know that His every word “is a lamp unto my path”, 30 “is tested,” 31 and the “sum of God’s words is truth.” 32 If I am to step out in growing faith in following my Lord, accepting the whole of Scripture, then I must accept what many deny: I must believe in the historicity of Jonah including the story of the whale.33 I must accept that Daniel was written by none other than the prophet Daniel.34 If I am to live a life of faith, and even joy, while facing suffering and trial, then I must know for sure35 that I now have eternal life.36 I must be free from the worry of facing an uncertain future judgment.37 I must know that even if I die, I will live.38 I must know that when I die and leave this old body I will go home to be with the Lord.39 If I am to believe all that the Lord has spoken, then I must believe the gospel as presented by the Apostle Paul, for he “received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” 40
Admittedly, there are many factors that make up the elements of faith. It is my conviction that one of them is our view of Scripture. I believe a high view of inspiration and Scripture engenders a strong, dynamic and growing faith. A low view of Scripture undermines faith. During the days of the reformers such as Luther and Calvin, who held quite high views of Scripture and inspiration,41 the church flourished in Europe. Then the era of the liberal theologians came in, undermined the concept of inspiration and the authority of the Word of God, and in so doing destroyed the faith of millions. Today, Europe has, for the most part, forgotten God and is being overrun by Moslems. They no longer have a moral anchor to determine right from wrong, a moral compass to point the way, or the spiritual power to stand up against Islam. What was once a flourishing center of Christianity is now a breeding ground for “another gospel”. Why? There are probably many reasons, but it is sure that one of the underlying causes was that the church accepted the views of liberal theologians, lowered their concept of inspiration, and consequently lowered their view of Scripture. One understands why Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?” 42
I confess that I have not always held to a high view of inspiration. Since changing my view I can testify that it seems, at least to me, that my faith is increasing,43 even though it is being severely tested. It is my prayer and determination to base the rest of my ministry and life here on this earth and my eternal future on the revealed, written Word of God, interpreting this sacred book using sound principles of hermeneutics, asking for and expecting guidance from the Holy Sprit and power from My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to obey its teachings.
Yes, we are saved by faith—an ever growing belief and trust in the God of Scripture who died for our sins, who rose from the dead for our justification, and who freely gives us the Holy Spirit as a seal and guarantee of our eternal inheritance.
Lord, increase our faith. †
Endnotes
- Eph. 2:8.
- Heb. 11:6.
- Mt. 9:29.
- Mt. 17:20.
- Mk. 4:35–41.
- Mt. 6:25–34.
- Mt. 13:58.
- Mk. 16:14.
- Mt. 21:21.
- Mt. 9:20–22.
- Mt. 15:22–28.
- Lk. 7:7–9.
- Mt. 8:27.
- Luke 18:38.
- Mal. 4:2, Obtain Mark Martin’s excellent sermon on Mark 5:25–34. www.CalvaryPhx.com or (888)970-3030.
- Mk. 5:28.
- Jn. 16:30, 31.
- Mt. 2:1–5.
- Josh 3:13–17.
- Jam. 1:2–4.
- Rom. 8:26–30.
- I have spoken with many Adventist pastors, several Adventist scholars, more than one Conference administrator and one General Conference person in a high position who have admitted to me that this statement is true.
- Heb. 1:3.
- Rom. 3:3.
- Mt. 6:33.
- Tit. 1:1.
- Jn. 10:35.
- Lk. 24:25.
- Eph. 3:20.
- Ps. 119:4.
- Pr. 30:5.
- Ps. 119:160.
- Mt. 12:39.
- Mt. 24:15.
- 1 Jn. 5:13.
- Jn. 6:47.
- Jn. 5:24.
- Jn 11:25.
- 2 Cor. 5:1–9; Ph. 1:21–23.
- Gal. 1:11, 12.
- D.A. Carson & John D. Woodbridge, Editors, Scripture and Truth, p. 227–234.
- Lk. 18:8.
- I recognize that there is no way to intrinsically measure one’s own faith.
- Did Paul Misunderstand Jesus? - October 24, 2024
- Why do you persist in publishing against Adventism and the Sabbath? - September 26, 2024
- We Can Trust the Bible - September 19, 2024