[Date not given.]
The discourses of Christ were designed for and indirectly addressed to all believers. This discourse was immediately addressed to the apostles, when they were about to experience a great trial and to enter on the discharge of a great duty. It was designed therefore to comfort and to encourage them.
Here are three things presented for our consideration; the duty enjoined, to believe; the object of faith, believe in me; the truths concerning Christ which we are to believe.
I. What is it to believe? Faith includes two things, assent and trust. It includes, therefore, first, the submission of the reason to all Christ has revealed; and, secondly, trust in all that he has promised. Both of these are difficult duties. To receive as true what we cannot understand on the testimony of God is declared to be irrational. But two things are to be remarked, first, that faith is rational; and, secondly, that the testimony of God is informing. It gives light.
To trust is no less difficult. To trust that we shall be pardoned, saved, preserved, is hard for our unbelieving hearts.
II. The object of faith is Christ. That is, the things to which we are to assent are truths concerning Christ, and the things in which we are to trust are the promises of Christ. Christ is here distinguished from God. The faith which the apostles were required to exercise was faith in Christ. This is the only form in which we can exercise faith in God. If we believe not God as seen, how can we believe in him as not seen.
III. But what are we to believe concerning Christ and what are the promises that we are to trust?
First. We must believe that he is the way, i.e., that he brings us to God. There are three senses in which we are absent from God, or separated from him.
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By our ignorance. Christ brings us near to God as an object of knowledge. He is the Logos or Revealer. He is God; God in our nature, God in fashion as a man.
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By our guilt. Christ brings us near to God by reconciliation through his blood. He atones for our sins. We are enabled to draw near to God with hope of acceptance.
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By our pollution or enmity. Christ by revealing the knowledge of God and by reconciling us to him, removes our enmity. Believe that I am the way, that God in me is revealed to you, brought nigh to you, that he is reconciled, that you through me are brought to love him.
Secondly. We must believe that he is the truth. This means,
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That he is real; the true God. That he is the true prophet, priest and king.
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That in him is all truth, religious, moral and scientific.
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That in him is all excellence. For truth is goodness. Christ is the absolute good; a sea of excellence and glory.
Thirdly, that he is the life.
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The source of universal life.
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Of intellectual life.
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Of spiritual and eternal life. It is not we that live, but Christ that lives in us.
What promises are we to trust to? The promises of the Spirit.
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That his presence is permanent and internal.
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That he will reveal Christ.
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That he will be our Paraclete.
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