The Object of Effective Faith

Scripture from Genesis through Revelation clearly establishes the principle that “Faith is Only as Effective as is the Object of that Faith”. Faith is not merely wishful thinking as some would have us believe. Faith is confident trust that the object of one’s faith is able to perform in accordance with one’s expectations and one’s expectations are based on the acts and assurances of the object.

In Romans 4:17–21, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul, presents the object, the characteristics and the benefits of effective faith. This is that same faith through which is received the righteousness provided by God. In Romans 4:17 the object of effective faith is identified as “God”: “(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God…” Paul continues on to give unparallel qualifications of God the Object of Effective Faith as the One “…who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.” In the common ordinary language of today, this verse is telling us that effective faith has as its object, “God”, Who brings life out of death and Who makes something out of nothing.

 

The Characteristics of Effective Faith

 Through verses 18–21 Paul presents the characteristics of effective faith as (1) confident faith in verse 18, “Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be”; as (2) perceptive faith in verse 19, “And being not weak in faith, he considered not his own body now dead, when he was about an hundred years old, neither yet the deadness of Sara’s womb:”; and as (3) steadfast faith in verses 20 and 21, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; ²¹ And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.” In brief, confident faith is “hope based on God’s Word”, perceptive faith is “the ability to look beyond one’s immediate circumstances and focus on the promise” and steadfast faith is “the ability to give God the glory before the promise is realized based on God, who is able to perform all of which He has promised”.

 

The Benefits of Effective Faith

The benefits of effective faith are given in verses 22-24 as imputed righteousness, and effective witness, and in verses 25-5:1 as peace with God. Imputed righteousness as expressed in verse 22, “And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness”, is the righteousness of God that is placed on the believer’s account based on the “Finished Work of Christ”. Just as Abraham’s faith in the promise of God resulted in Abraham being accounted righteous, the faith one puts in the work of Christ results in the believer being credited with the righteousness of God. The Prophet Isaiah informs us that “…all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…” (Isa 64:6). Consequently, there is nothing man can do to become righteous on his own; righteousness is not gained by works. Therefore, the imputation of righteousness is a judicial act of God whereby the righteousness that man cannot achieve is placed on man’s account rendering man acceptable before God. This is a benefit that is only granted by grace through faith in the work of Christ – “the just shall live by faith”.

Romans 4:23-24, in presenting the benefit of “effective witness” states “Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; ²⁴But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead”. This is not just a historical illustration of how Abraham was granted righteousness but is an effective witness of the principle that righteousness is by faith in the promise of God. “The faith thus exercised brings the soul into vital union with God in Christ, and inevitably produces righteousness of life, that is, conformity to the will of God.”^[i] The Believer’s Bible Commentary commenting on verse 24 states the following.

“But it was written also for us. Our faith is likewise reckoned for righteousness when we believe on God, who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead. The only difference is this: Abraham believed that God would give life to the dead (that is, to his weak body and Sarah’s barren womb). We believe that God has given life to the dead by raising the Lord Jesus Christ. C. H. Mackintosh explains:

‘Abraham was called to believe in a promise, whereas we are privileged to believe in an accomplished fact. He was called to look forward to something which was to be done; we look back on something that is done, even an accomplished redemption, attested by the fact of a risen and glorified Savior at the right hand of the majesty in the heavens.’”^[ii]

Peace with God is received by the “finished work” of Christ in that our offenses (sin) needed to be dealt with in such a way that God would be satisfied. Romans 4:25-5:1 states “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” The fact of Christ’s resurrection secures our justification. Because the fact that He rose assures us that the price for sin has been paid, and God is infinitely satisfied with the substitutionary sacrificial work of the Savior. The result is that believers have the benefit of Peace with God.

So then, we see the object of effective faith as God; the characteristics of effective faith as confident, perceptive, and steadfast faith; and the benefits of effective faith as imputed righteousness, effective witness, and peace with God. Armed with this knowledge, how then are we as Christians to live?

 

^[i]Vine, W., Unger, M. F., & White, W. (1997, c1996). Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words (electronic ed.) (2:535). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

^[ii]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments (electronic ed.) (Ro 4:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.