“The work of Christ for us is the object of faith; the Spirit’s work in us is that which produces this faith: it is out of the former, not out of the latter, that our peace and justification come.
Faith is not our saviour.
It was not faith that was born at Bethlehem and died on Golgotha for us.
It was not faith that loved us, and gave itself for us.
It was not faith that bore our sins in its own body on the tree.
It was not faith that died and rose again for our sins.
Faith is one thing, the Saviour is another.
Faith is one thing, and the cross is another.
Faith is not Christ, nor the cross of Christ.
Faith is not the blood, nor the sacrifice.
Faith is not the altar, nor the laver, nor the mercy-seat, nor the incense.
Faith does not work, but accepts a work done ages ago.
Faith does not wash, but leads us to the fountain opened for sin and for uncleanness.
Faith does not create; it merely links us to that new thing which was created when the ‘everlasting righteousness’ was brought in (Dan. 9:24).
And as faith goes on, so it continues; always the beggar’s outstretched hand, never the rich man’s gold; always the cable, never the anchor; the knocker, not the door, or the palace, or the table; the handmaid, not the mistress; the lattice which lets in the light, not the sun.
Without worthiness in itself, faith knits us to the infinite worthiness of Him in whom the Father delights; and so knitting us, presents us perfect in the perfection of another.
Though faith is not the foundation laid in Zion, it brings us to that foundation, and keeps us there, ‘grounded and settled’ (Col. 1:23), that we may not be moved away from the hope of the gospel.
Though faith is not ‘the gospel,’ the ‘glad tidings,’ it receives these good news as God’s eternal verities, and bids the soul rejoice in them.
Though faith is not the burnt-offering, it stands still and gazes on the ascending flame, which assures us that the wrath which should have consumed the sinner has fallen upon the Substitute.”
–Horatius Bonar, The Everlasting Righteousness; or, How Shall a Man be Just with God? (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 1873/2020), 86-89.
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