Rest in Christ by Faith

Charles Spurgeon wrote, "My faith rests not upon what I am or shall be or feel or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing for me. Hallelujah!" 

Do you rest in Christ? We know that we are sinners and Christ died for our sins. We are not trusting in self-righteousness. Faith is resting in the righteousness of Christ alone. He is our righteousness.

Spurgeon taught that faith is "in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing." That's our faith resting in Christ. We are saved "looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

Do you rest with confidence and assurance in Christ? It is trusting in Christ and not in ourselves. It is knowing Christ as our Surety (Hebrews 7:22). He is our guarantee of eternal salvation. 

You can testify with Spurgeon, "My faith rests not upon what I am or shall be or feel or know, but in what Christ is, in what He has done, and in what He is now doing for me. Hallelujah!" 

Do you rest in Christ alone? Then, you may confess, "I am a sinner for whom Christ died." You are focused upon Christ crucified for your sins. No self-righteousness do you claim. You know by faith, that Christ died for your sins. He is risen from the dead as your living Lord.

Jesus the Great Stone

In Daniel 2:31-35 Christ is pictured as the great stone (Isa. 28:16). This symbol came through a dream interpreted by the prophet Daniel. His interpretation is confirmed throughout the New Testament. Jesus is described as the chief cornerstone for his church, and a stone of stumbling for those who reject him as the Messiah and Lord (Acts 4:11; Ro. 9:33; Eph. 2:20). He is the great stone, because his kingdom includes people out of all nations (Rev. 5:9).

Jesus is a stone "cut out without hands" (Dan. 2:34). It was a common practice in those days to cut stones for building construction. However, to be cut out without hands refers to God's work and not man. Jesus came into this world, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. God was in Christ reconciling the world unto himself.

Jesus is the stone that struck the image, representing the kingdoms of this world, and broke it into pieces. He crushed the image and it "became like chaff from the summer threshing floors; and the wind carried them away so no trace of them was found" (Dan. 2:35). This is a prophecy fulfilled in the second coming and the battle of Armageddon.

Jesus is the stone that "became a great mountain and filled the whole earth" (Daniel 2:35). That's when the kingdoms of this world are destroyed. Then, the kingdom of our God and Christ will reign over all the earth. And of his kingdom there shall be no end. So, his kingdom "filled the whole earth."

See the Invisible God

Jesus said, "God is Spirit ..." (John 4:24). That means we cannot see God with our eyes, because he is invisible to us. However, we can see God and walk with him by faith. 

Moses was an example of faith that sees God who is invisible. "By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing him who is invisible" (Hebrews 11:27). He fulfilled his destiny, because of faith that endured, seeing him who is invisible. 

Seeing the invisible God is like seeing the wind move. We see what the wind is doing and where it is moving. So faith is able to see what God is doing and where he is moving. Faith sees "that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men" (Daniel 4:17). Faith sees the Most High God ruling and reigning in life. Faith enables us to see what God is doing in our lives.

Faith sees not by natural vision through our eyes, but with understanding from the word of God (Romans 10:17). We walk with God daily by faith. We remember that faith is "the evidence of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1). We are walking by faith, "as seeing him who is invisible."

Those who have faith in God see him ruling over all. "For of him and through him and to him are all things, to whom be glory forever" (Romans 11:36). Faith sees God according to the truth of the word of God. Believers see God at work in all things to his glory forever.

If We Confess Our Sins

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"(1 John 1:9). Believe the promise. God will forgive and cleanse you. God wants to forgive you. That's the reason Jesus died for all your sins. Thank God that you are cleansed through Jesus Christ. 

Why do some people refuse to confess their sin to God and receive cleansing through Christ? There are at least two reasons. First, they don't know the good news in Christ. Secondly, they don't really believe the good news. The believer's confession of sin brings immediate cleansing through Christ. You can have a clean conscience today.

God cleanses your conscience. It tells us when we have done wrong. God made us that way not to make us feel guilty all the time. Conscience calls us to confession. God wants to forgive you and cleanse your conscience. Confession of sin is simply agreeing with God that we have done wrong. God wants us to have a clean conscience. 

Christ died for all of your sins. When we confess sin to God, we are forgiven and cleansed. The Bible teaches that God cleanses us upon confession of our sin. We are made clean before God through Jesus Christ. "The blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin"(1 John 1:7). 

Christ Redeemed Us

"Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree'), that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (Galatians 3:13-14).

Redeemed means to pay a price to set someone free. That's what Christ did at the cross for every believer. He paid the price to set us free from the curse of sin and death. If you are redeemed from the curse of sin, you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 16:30-31). You are redeemed to be free from the curse.

Jesus died "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles." Jesus fulfilled the covenant God made with Abraham to be a blessing to all nations (Genesis 12:1-3). God blessed Abraham in all things (Genesis 24:1). You are blessed in all things through faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). You are redeemed and blessed in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Those who reject the gospel of Christ are under the curse because of sin. The word "cursed" means "cut off and marked for destruction." The words blessed and cursed are covenant terms. According to the covenant of law, sin brings the curse (James 2:10). According to the covenant of grace, the redeemed are blessed in Christ (Ephesians 1:3). In Christ, you are blessed to be redeemed from the curse of sin.

When God Works in Us

The Protestant Reformer, Martin Luther said, "When God works in us, the will being changed and sweetly breathed upon by the Spirit of God, desires and acts, not from compulsion, but responsively."

For it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). In our sinful nature, we are not willing to trust Christ (Romans 3:9-11). Our will is corrupted by sin. Upon hearing the gospel of Christ, God works in us, "not from compulsion, but responsively" (Ephesians 1:13). 

God never does violence to our will (Hebrews 3:15). He does not coerce nor force us against our will. As Luther said, "the will being changed and sweetly breathed upon by the Spirit of God, desires and acts." You were willing to come to Christ by faith.

God changes our hearts through the gospel of Christ. The word heart is often used in the Bible to describe your inward person, which is your mind, will, and emotions. To be born of the Spirit means you were transformed in mind, will, and emotions.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of unbelief (John 16:7-11). He never forces us to believe in Christ, but enables us to trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. That's how the goodness of God works in us. The goodness of God leads you to repentance (Romans 2:4).

Grace Is God's Gift

Grace is the gift of God, and not of your works (Ephesians 2:8-9). God's grace is given to you through faith in Christ. Grace saves you to the glory of God in Christ. Grace is unmerited favor given to you as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace is God's gift in Christ for you through the everlasting covenant (Hebrews 13:20-21). The Lord Jesus Christ changes your heart, that is your mind, will and emotions. "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:10). Christ makes you a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). 

Grace is God's gift working in you. God is "working in you what is well pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ" (Hebrews 13:21). The Spirit of grace works in you to do God's will. The apostle Paul testified, "I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10).

Grace is God's gift you receive by faith that endures, abides, and perseveres. Your faith is tried and tested. It is found to be true, because the source is true. You are "looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Grace enables you to testify,"I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me"(Galatians 2:20).