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"But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to
one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom . . . . . knowledge . . . . . faith . . . . . healing
. . . . . miracles, etc." (I Cor. 12: 7-11).
You will find also by reading Gal. 3: 2-5 that the same faith which is associated with
justification is also connected with working miracles. It seems therefore that we must be
prepared to find that faith may mean:--
1.
That faith whereby the sinner believes unto salvation.
2.
A spiritual gift exercised during the Acts period and spoken of together with
miracles, tongues and other gifts of the Spirit.
3.
The fruit of the Spirit, which by being contrasted with the works of the flesh
indicates not so much a supernatural gift exercised only by those endued, but the
product of the new nature.
A.--I notice that all our references keep within the period of the Acts. Is there anything
parallel to these in the prison epistles?
B.--Oh yes, for read the following:-
"And what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe according
to the inworking of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ when He raised Him
from the dead" (Eph. 1: 19, 20).
"Buried with Him in the baptism, wherein also ye are risen with Him through the faith
of the inworking of God, Who hath raised Him from the dead" (Col. 2: 12).
While we have not "the gift of faith" as in I Cor. 12:, we certainly have an inwrought
faith directly connected with the power of the resurrection, which transcends all other
manifestations of the Spirit. That this faith may not be experienced and enjoyed as it
should be is sadly true, and because of this the apostle prayed, "that we might know". Let
us then pray along the lines marked out for us, and not vex ourselves because we do not
possess the "gift of faith". At the same time it should be a real concern that the fruit of
the faith should take the place of the works of the flesh.
A.--I think I now see the distinction between faith unto salvation and faith exercised
thereafter; it is all a matter of "right division".