Jerry Shugart
Well-known member
What a person believes about anything depends on the "evidence" that is set before him about any particular subject. Another thing we must consider is the “reliability” of such evidence.
With these two things in mind let us look at what the Scriptures reveal about Biblical faith:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb.11:1).
True believers have the evidence of things not seen and that evidence stands in the power of God:
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor.2:4-5).
We also know that the gospel comes in power and in assurance and in the Holy Spirit:
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance" (1 Thess.1:5).
This "evidence" is supernatural evidence and the Lord gives us an understanding that we know the Lord:
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 Jn.5:20).
Again, a true believer's faith is built on evidence, supernatural evidence. True faith is reliable because it stands in the power of the Lord and He has given us an understanding that we may know Him. No matter how hard a person might try to will himself to stop believing he will find that it is impossible.
It would be easier for a person to imagine that he doesn't even exist than it would be for him to stop believing the supernatural evidence which comes in the gospel. And that is why we read the following from the pen of the Apostle John:
"The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever" (2 Jn.1-2).
With these two things in mind let us look at what the Scriptures reveal about Biblical faith:
"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" (Heb.11:1).
True believers have the evidence of things not seen and that evidence stands in the power of God:
"And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God" (1 Cor.2:4-5).
We also know that the gospel comes in power and in assurance and in the Holy Spirit:
"For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance" (1 Thess.1:5).
This "evidence" is supernatural evidence and the Lord gives us an understanding that we know the Lord:
"And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life" (1 Jn.5:20).
Again, a true believer's faith is built on evidence, supernatural evidence. True faith is reliable because it stands in the power of the Lord and He has given us an understanding that we may know Him. No matter how hard a person might try to will himself to stop believing he will find that it is impossible.
It would be easier for a person to imagine that he doesn't even exist than it would be for him to stop believing the supernatural evidence which comes in the gospel. And that is why we read the following from the pen of the Apostle John:
"The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever" (2 Jn.1-2).