Living Faith by Samuel Ward
Faith is an essential part of 'Biblical Christianity''.To rightly understand it's part in 'God's Saving Work' and His Sanctifying Work(Faith has a significant part in 'Living For Christ')-"faith is the doorway to the power of God,first to save us, then to strengthen us." It is 'By Faith' that lost sinners lay hold of Eternal Life.'Blessed is the man whose sin is covered.' Psalm 3:2.To those who have not exercised faith in The Lord Jesus Christ, to those who are burdened with a guilty conscience-what is your first work to move Godward-"to do the work of God is to believe on Him that the Father has sealed and sent to be the Savior." As salvation is offered to you, and you've come to the realization of your need for The Savior ,but you are struggling with unbelief-"pray for the ability, to believe." 'Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief.' The way to pass from death to life eternal is through faith in Jesus Christ.
When someone has come to Christ for life ,how do they grow in their 'Walk With God'-"Faith is to be put to use, this is the chief mystery of our spiritual life." How are believers to joyfully live in this sin cursed fallen world? 'The just shall live by faith'.
Faith in The Lord is the answer to man's greatest need.How can a sinful man,like me,be reconciled to a Holy God? Sin must be dealt with or misery and destruction will be my lot for all eternity.Once 'Saving Faith' is exercised in 'The Living Savior' ,my greatest need has been addressed.As Bunyan so eloquently illustrates in 'The Pilgrim's Progress-sins burden falls off my back.What greater blessing than having your biggest burden removed.-"consider how wonderful it is that your debts have been cancelled, and that the wrath of God has been satisfied." To live by faith is to continually use it,not to judge my life and circumstances by my senses but to have the promises of God and 'the world to come' to be brought into sharper focus- "the principal benefit and beauty of faith is in its use...".
Faith is an anchor to our souls in the midst of the fierce storms that we all encounter in this life.The flesh balks at the trials of this life(it only wants comfort and ease)but believers can not only endure life's trials but overcome them by the exercise of faith in our Creator and Sustainer.
The Puritan's lived in trying times,as we do, each generation has its peculiar difficulties, this Pocket Puritan book on Faith by Samuel Ward will be a great encouragement to those in the midst of trying times.