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"Holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience." [1Timothy 3:9].

        Faith is more than a tenet, a creed, a doctrine of theology. Faith is a living, vital confidence founded in the revelation of divine truth.
        When we possess and hold the mystic secret of the faith, it does not refer to just "any faith," but of THE FAITH. The identifying article "the" is used in the Greek text, and specifically identifies it as a certain faith, that TRUTH which was kept hidden from the world until revealed at the appointed time, and which is secret to ordinary eyes, but is made known by divine revelation. It bespeaks of truth which is only understood by the illumination of the Holy Spirit.
         Romans 4:16 speaks of "the faith of Abraham," and if we possess this faith we would obviously do the works of Abraham.  As we also read, "If ye were Abraham's  children, ye would do the works of Abraham." [John 8:39]. To hold his vision, to have his faith, results in his way of living.
         If you have the "faith of the Baptists" you would live in accordance to their creed and doctrine. lf you have the "faith of the Pentecostals' you would follow their mode of living. And if you have the "faith of the Catholics" you would be following their religious system, form, and ceremony. But we are not speaking of these kinds of faith, i.e. system of beliefs, as good as they might be in their own share, and as much as God has used them in former days. But we now address ourselves to that specific faith, that which is GOD-IMPARTED, which indeed Abraham also possessed.  And "Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." [Galatians 3:7]. As Abraham received directly FROM GOD, so also we would receive directly FROM GOD, by the indwelling of the holy Spirit-- and as such would be counted as the children of Abraham, following God in like manner.
        "But before the faith came, we were kept under (guarded by) the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our school-master to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that the faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster." [Galatians 3:23-25].
         In all cases, in the Greek text, in this passage it is identified as THE FAITH. Abraham had received this faith, however much in a mystery capsule it was given to him, for "the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen THROUGH FAITH, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed." [Galatians 3:23-25].
         Long before the gospel-- or GOOD NEWS was announced, yes, even prior to the dispensation of the law which preceded the good news, God already spoke some of the MYSTERY OF THE FAITH into Abraham, and He lived by that faith. "Abraham BELIEVED GOD . . ." [Romans 4:3].
         But it wasn't time for the "mystery of the faith" to be revealed, and so God instituted the law, which served as a schoolmaster until . . . so note this word "schoolmaster" from a Greek word that literally means "a child-conductor." The child-conductor was that servant which simply guarded and kept the child between home and school, until they could safely commit the child into the hand of the teacher. So also, the law was given, to hold in restraint until Christ, The Teacher, The Faith, (Editor's note: The Revelator), should come, and then the lesser ministry was swallowed up into the greater.
         With The Christ came the gospel, and with the gospel came THE FAITH. "When HE, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth . . ." [John 16:13].  We repeat, it requires the illumination of the Spirit if we are to understand the mystery of the faith. And when we do receive this inflow, we need to possess it, to hold it in a pure conscience.
         Concerning "THE FAITH," Jesus said to His disciples, "Have faith in God." [Mark 11:22]. Or, as the margin gives, "HAVE THE FAITH OF GOD." So we have two thoughts, "faith IN God" denotes that He is the OBJECT of our faith, while "faith OF God" bespeaks of God being the Source thereof, and it is HIS faith placed into us, making it of divine quality.
         This is not have faith instilled in us through the traditions of men, having the elders pass on down from generation a system of beliefs. This is a God-given placement, imparted by His Spirit, quickening the word so that we have a solid foundation for our believing.
        "The law was given by Moses, grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." [John 1:17].  Moses did not impart THE FAITH, though he truly fulfilled all that he was called to do. He did set forth the various and sundry laws, the moral concepts and precepts which would hold in restraint the rebellion and self-will of man. But GRACE and TRUTH came by Jesus Christ. Indeed, grace, that boundless, unmerited favor of God uncovered the truth to give us a foundation for our faith.
         While Jesus walked among them, He was The Truth in their midst, howbeit they knew Him not, "for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." [ 1 Corinthians 2:8]. And only when the Spirit sovereignly gave illumination did they really know Him. Jesus said to Philip, "Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known Me?" [John 14:9]. And when Peter did say to Him, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God," Jesus made it clear, "Flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven." [Matthew 16:16-17]. Most saw Him only as a MAN, but when the Spirit opened their eyes, they were able to say with the centurion, "Truly this was the Son of God." [Matthew 27: 54].
         Jesus also knew that His sojourn among men, as a man, was of short duration, that He was soon to leave them, so He promised, "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter ( HE, as Jesus, had been their Comforter up to that time), that He may abide with you for ever (for the age; Even the Spirit of truth; . . . for He dwelleth with you and shall be in you." [John 14:16-17]. As the Son of Man He dwelt with them, but as the Spirit of Christ, the Anointing from the Father, He would be IN them! He would then bring all things to their remembrance, to comfort, encourage, challenge.  It would be a daily ministration of the vitality of THE FAITH, by His indwelling.
        "So then, faith is out of the source of that which is heard and that which is heard is through the agency of the Word concerning Christ." [Romans 10:17, Wuest].
         In our Lord Jesus Christ we have both the object of our faith, and the Source of our faith. Furthermore, "Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above) or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead). But saith it? THE WORD is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart; that is, the word of faith, which we preach." [Romans 10:6-8].
         So then, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God." HE speaks a word within, He imparts the illumination, the revelation of His will and purpose, and thus we have SUBSTANCE for our believing. Only HE can give THE FAITH!
         Paul then proceeds to give that powerful message, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. (BUT) how then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher (to cry or proclaim as a herald?) And how shall the preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!" [Romans 10:13-15].
        And so we are taken right back into the mystery of the faith again, and are beginning to see that while our Lord Jesus Christ is the object of our faith, we BELIEVE INTO HIM, yet we cannot believe into Him until we KNOW who He is, and there must be that which DECLARES HIM-- which means that He must bring forth a MESSENGER  COMPANY,  those who become a living manifestation of the message, conformed to His image, partakers of His divine nature, and they shall reveal Him.
         Furthermore, Paul pointed out that while the "sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. But they have not all obeyed the Gospel." For Isaiah saith, "Lord, who hath believed our report?" Because it still requires that the holy Spirit individually quicken to each one that which they see and hear, before they can personally believe. One might go forth and preach everywhere, but only in the measure that "THE LORD works with them, and confirms the WORD . . . " [Mark 16: 20], is it effective.
         One can go forth and preach "another gospel," setting forth their own precepts and doctrines, and convince certain men, and gain followers. We see this all the time. Men set forth their teachings and build their kingdoms. But when it is THE FAITH, it definitely requires that GOD HIMSELF participate in the action. It is INTO HIM that men must believe, and therefore He must reveal Himself to them by the spirit so that they can believe into Him. We, as "labourers together with God" can declare Him, to plant the seed, to water that which Is planted, but "GOD GIVETH THE INCREASE." [1 Corinthians 3:7].
        "Except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that build it." [Psalm 127:1].
         There will be those who will say to Him, "Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? and in Thy name have cast our devils? and in Thy name done many wonderful works?" [Matthew 7:22]. But they were not doing this WITH HIM, in harmony with His will, in His time, according to His law for the vision, they were doing it their way, just using His name in the program, and it had nothing to do with THE FAITH.
         When the ministry is in OBEDIENCE to His revealed will, and we are doing that which He commanded, we are working with Him, He is working with us, and the results are to His glory and praise. HE giveth the increase!
         There is a TRUE WORD, He is even now quickening that Word in the hearts of His apprehended firstfruits, they are believing into Him, they are becoming a part of THE FAITH. Indeed, "We have a more sure word of prophecy whereunto ye do well that ye take heed." [2 Peter 1:19]. This is not the following of cunningly devised fables, nor is it holding to the traditions of our elders, it is the direct receiving of revelation from the Father. He may use various means and men to be the carriers of that massage, but HE is the One who quickens it WITHIN, that we might possess THE FAITH. And is not this "the faith which was once delivered unto the saints?" [Jude 3 ].
         These are they "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the  edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens." [Hebrews 11:33-34].
         The Greek word for "faith" is "pistis" meaning: faithfulness, or steadfastness. It bespeaks of adhering to, cleaving to, believing without wavering. This requires a solid foundation for such a commitment. And so we read, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." [Hebrews 11:1]. We need to examine this word "substance" from the Greek "hupostasis" meaning: a setting under, substratum. Why can it be said that THE FAITH is the undergirding, substratum for all that is hoped for? Because possessing THE FAITH presupposes that we have received a revealed, anointed truth out of divine knowledge, illumined by the Spirit, so we have HEARD THE WORD OF THE LORD, and thus are able to believe INTO HIM for its fulfillment.
         We read on that "by faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark . . ." [Hebrews 11:6]. Usually we seem to mentally read it, "by faith Noah built an ark, " but there is a qualifying statement that we skipped over, "BEING WARNED OF GOD. " Noah had received a direct Word from God, this SURE WORD became the foundation for his faith, and the action that followed. Without a direct Word from God there would have been nothing to BELIEVE!  It is true, God's word to Noah was of things "not seen as yet" -- a time of destruction which they had never known, of the floods of waters which the natural mind could not comprehend. But there is no need to give over-emphasis to the unknownness of things to come, the true fact is that GOD SAID IT, he had a direct word from the Lord, and thus a solid foundation for this faith. He was committed to that Word, and so he acted thereon-- following DIVINE INSTRUCTION in building and preparing an ark.
         Without a "Divine declaration" we act  in foolishness, presumption. It is not THE FAITH if the thought springs out of the "carnal mind" and we set about to do it. The faith signifies that it is GOD-originated, God-quickened. We might have faith in our schemes and abilities, but such has nothing in common with the mystery of THE FAITH.
         Again we read, "By faith, Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which  he should go after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went." [Hebrews 11:8]. Many would read this, "By faith Abraham went . . ." and then wonder if they ever could have faith such as this, to go out into a new and strange place. But they overlook the vital, qualifying phrase "WHEN HE WAS CALLED .  . . " For the record states very clearly, "Now the Lord has said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, UNTO A LAND THAT I WILL SHEW THEE." [Genesis 12:1]. He had both the clear command of God to GO, and He had the promise that God would eventually show him the land where he was to dwell. On this definite word, God-imparted, he could base his faith and prove his steadfastness. It was not fantasy to "go out," it was God's Word. He was believing ON and IN the most solid foundation-- God's will and command. Inherent in the Word of the Lord, when quickened by the Spirit, is THE FAITH to believe and give obedience thereto. It is the responsibility of the One who speaks the Word, to impart it in such a way as to inspire faith therein, so that we believe it and obey it. That is why it is called THE FAITH, because it is THE GOD who inspires that faith, and gives His Word for its basis.
         Paul certainly realized all this, when he wrote, "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 Corinthians 2:4-5].
         Full well we realize the folly of trying to base our faith, find a footing for it, in the plausible oratory of man, the projection of carnal arguments, strong personality control. Man's wisdom is not to be the basis for our faith, for it should be IN THE POWER OF GOD.
         So Paul goes on, "But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory." [1 Corinthians 2:7]. This is no spur-of-the-moment scheme excitedly presented to a people to rally them around a cause. This is wisdom that was firmly decreed from the heart of God before the time of the ages began. And now the Spirit is uncovering, revealing His truth to His called ones. Hidden from human understanding, to man it remains a mystery, but to those who are INITIATED INTO THE WALK OF THE SPIRIT, these are truths which He is quickening to become the foundation for THE FAITH which will enable us to pursue an unwavering course. Anything short of this will not suffice as the storms wage in their fury. Everything that can be shaken will be shaken, "that those things which cannot be shaken may remain." [Hebrews 12:27]. But those who are receiving a revelation of the "hidden wisdom" are finding they possess THE FAITH which is equal to the challenge.
         Let the people rage, and the heathen imagine a vain thing, let them riot, let them take their crafty counsel against you-- it shall have no effect, for the gates of hell shall not prevail against that which GOD PLACES WITHIN. The truth which God imparts is rooted in the eternal counsel of God which was decreed for our glorification before the ages began.
        "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:  rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in THE FAITH, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ." [Colossians 2:6-8].
        "The Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from THE FAITH, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils." [1 Timothy 4:1]. For this latter phrase "doctrines of devils, " one translator, Bible scholar, brings out the fact: "Not that demons were the authors of them (though that may be true), but doctrines concerning demons." Unbalanced emphasis upon demons, giving power thereto, speaking of them excessively, etc. give strong indication that one is beginning to depart from THE FAITH. For THE FAITH is centered in God, His sovereign control, to see HIM in all that touches our lives. Rather than giving heed to "doctrines concerning devils," we do well to give our undivided attention to the Lord. To have an eye single unto Him at all times-- this enhances THE FAITH.
        "O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoid profane and vain babblings, and opposition of science false y so called: which some professing have erred concerning the faith." [1 Timothy 6:20-21].
         What has been committed to our trust? We have been made stewards of the mysteries of God-- and this definitely includes the mystery of the faith. It will also necessitate that we avoid "profane and vain babblings." Or, as one translation gives, "unhallowed and empty mouthings." What is an UNHALLOWED MOUTH? One that has not been sanctified, set apart by the Spirit to speak only the truth, declaring THE FAITH. We hear far too much "empty mouthing" these days-- and it does not build us up in the most holy faith, nor does it lend itself to profit. In due time it will cause one to MISS THE MARK, to err from the faith.
        "Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already;  and overthrow the faith of some." [2 Timothy 2:18]. Someone comes along, proclaiming a new and fuller revelation-- it has already come, it has already happened, no need to look ahead with HOPE, because it is here, we've got it, we claim it, we profess it, and we have it. And others who observe this, not seeing the fruits thereof, find that such teaching actually demolishes their faith.
         Not only can we find this error, in claiming the resurrection is already past, the same can be said today for those who claim that the Lord has already come, and we need look for Him no longer. You ask, where is He? they will say, He has come in His saints. You look at these so-called saints to see the manifestation of the Life of Christ, a redeemed body, an out-breathing of life, and you are sadly disappointed. True, He has already come in the form of the INDWELLING SPIRIT OF CHRIST, but this does not set aside the appearing of the Lord as the scriptures have clearly foretold. But with a mishandling of the Word; many would destroy the faith of some. O, may we keep that which is committed to our trust, until HE fulfills for us exactly what His Spirit has revealed to us personally. Let not other's claims overthrow your faith-- your vision comes from HIM, and HE alone will fulfill lt.
         "Holding fast the faithful word as we have been taught . . . for there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers . . . whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for fifthly lucre's sake . . . wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith." [Titus 1:9-11, 13].
         Unruly, not submissive to the Spirit nor their brethren, vain talkers and deceivers, they do it for one purpose-- MONEY. They will spin a yarn that brings in the largest offerings, and satisfy the itching ears just so long as it pays off. The crowd goes awhoring after them, and they will ask you, why aren't you receiving this? Ah, beloved, it is time we take a strong stand against this realm of perversion, that His people might become SOUND IN THE FAITH.
         It is a fact, we are engaged in the conflict of the ages, A SPIRITUAL WARFARE which shall bring this current evil age to an end, and usher in the new age of His kingdom. And the adversary is increasing his pressure against the saints, until, if it were possible, it would deceive the very elect. But we are admonished, "whom resist steadfast in THE FAITH." [1 Peter 5:9]. The enemy may go about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he can devour-- but they who know their God shall be strong-- not in themselves, but they stand fast  IN THE FAITH, they hold it in a pure conscience, and will not be swayed. Only by that which God places within us, can we stand. Full well He knows just what we need for every skirmish and part of the battle, and He will quicken that Word which will enable us to STAND FAST.
        "For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the FAITH OF GOD without effect?" [Romans 3:3]. Nothing can nullify the faith of God! It is a mystery to the world, how God can speak a Word deep within your being, and by it give you a solid foundation upon which to stand-- faithful, steadfast until HE has fulfilled all that He has spoken. Others may not believe, but that cannot alter what HE HATH SAID. We hold the faith in a pure conscience, to His glory and praise.

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