Faith - Law of The New Covenant - Charles Capps
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Sibil SamuelFaith - Law of The New Covenant - Charles Capps
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Powered by AIThe document suggests that for faith to be genuine and effective, it must be intimately aligned with the Word of God. This is because true faith, described as 'Bible faith,' emerges from the Word, meaning it is deeply rooted in Scripture. Faith that does not originate from God's Word is deemed as lacking authenticity. The document emphasizes that hearing and meditating on Scripture is crucial for developing this kind of faith, as it instills God's truths into the believer's heart, thus enabling the believer to act on those truths with assurance and effectiveness. Therefore, genuine faith does not dwell in mental agreement alone but finds its place in the heart, where the Word has indelibly made its mark .
The "law of faith" functions as the governing principle within the New Covenant, replacing the law of works from the Old Covenant. The document portrays it as the method by which believers access righteousness, justification, and the promises of God, not through deeds but through belief in Jesus Christ and His sacrificial act. The law of faith operates by the power of the spoken Word, suggesting that faith becomes active and effective as believers proclaim God's promises and truths. This active faith serves to transpose a believer's condition from unrighteousness to righteousness, marking the law of faith as a dynamic and transformative force in the life of the believer .
The document links faith to the creation narrative by illustrating that just as God created the world through His words (Genesis 1:1; John 1:1-3), humans can shape their world through their words by exercising faith. The Word, which was with God and was God, became flesh in Jesus (John 1:14), suggesting that faith is not merely abstract but is manifested through the spoken word, imitating the divine creation process. This underscores the power of words as vehicles of faith, enabling believers to participate in divine acts of creation by speaking God's words .
The metaphor of an airplane's lift and thrust provides a vivid analogy for understanding how faith operates. Just as an airplane requires thrust to create lift and overcome gravity, faith requires speaking God's Word to generate the 'thrust' necessary to rise above life's circumstances. This analogy illustrates that while the laws of nature (such as gravity) and spiritual opposition cannot be removed, they can be overcome by applying the principles of faith. To experience spiritual 'lift,' believers must consistently speak and believe God's Word, which acts like thrust, ensuring their faith is active and capable of overcoming challenges. This metaphor also highlights the necessity of sustained action—continuous confession and belief are needed for ongoing victory .
The relationship between faith and God's promises is described as one of activation and realization. The document asserts that faith is the 'title deed' to the blessings and promises God has already given to believers, meaning that faith acts as the assurance and evidence of things not seen. The promises of God, while secured in the Word, require believers to enact them through faith, likened to sowing a seed in one's heart. By meditating on and confessing these promises, believers activate their faith, which in turn releases the divine energy necessary to experience the fulfillment of those promises practically in their lives .
The document describes the transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant in terms of human righteousness as a shift from a reliance on adherence to laws to achieve righteousness to receiving righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. The Old Covenant required following the law for righteousness, acting as a 'schoolmaster' to lead people to Christ. However, with the New Covenant, righteousness is no longer based on human efforts or law-keeping but is accessed through faith, demonstrating that righteous standing before God is a gift obtained through belief in the redemptive power of Christ's sacrifice. This transition marks a move from legalism to grace-enabled righteousness .
The spoken word plays a crucial role in activating faith as it serves as the mechanism through which faith is expressed and manifested. The document states that faith is created and transmitted by speaking God's Word, which deposits divine energy into the heart of the believer. This confessional act is likened to the thrust that allows an airplane to achieve lift and overcome the law of gravity. Just as thrust and lift are necessary for flight, speaking God's Word is essential to generate the faith needed to overcome life's challenges and invoke God's promises .
The phrase "faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen" is significant as it encapsulates the essence of faith as both a present reality and a future assurance. In the document's context, this definition underscores faith as the concrete foundation (substance) and convincing proof (evidence) of God's promises and unseen realities. It goes beyond mere intellectual assent by framing faith as the active reality of what God has promised, allowing believers to claim ownership of God's promises through the assurance and conviction faith provides. This stance reiterates that faith is not passive but proactive, requiring believers to acknowledge and act upon unseen spiritual truths as though they are already manifested .
The New Covenant redefines the understanding of law by emphasizing faith rather than works. Under the Old Covenant, obedience to the law was required for righteousness, whereas the New Covenant presents faith as the pathway to righteousness and justification without the deeds of the law. Paul argues that faith is the law of the New Covenant, established through belief in Jesus Christ's redemptive work, making righteousness accessible to all who believe, not through their own efforts but by receiving it through faith. This faith 'establishes' rather than voids the law, as it fulfills the law's ultimate purpose, which was to lead people to Christ and justify them by faith .
The heart is pivotal in the application of faith, as the document highlights that faith operates and believes 'unto righteousness' within the heart, not just the mind. The emphasis on the heart underscores the necessity of internal conviction over mere intellectual assent. Faith manifests effectively when it is deeply rooted in heartfelt belief, implying that the heart is where God's Word must be sown and nurtured. This transforms the believer's internal reality, enabling genuine trust and reliance on God's promises. The document further illustrates that while mental assent may recognize spiritual truths, it is the heart that ultimately acts upon these truths, bringing about actual life changes .
