In relation to Original Sin and it’s affects on humanity a comparison between doubt and faith reveals many facts concerning the will of man. The will of man is a part of man that chooses and decides. Doubt is a negative part of the will that can hinder continuity with a life in Christ. Faith is a positive part of the will that enables continuity with a life in Christ. Doubt unlike faith is one the least spoken subjects in the Bible yet one of the greatest hindrances to receiving Christ. Why? Both doubt and faith are acts of the human will.
· Doubt is an uncertain contempt of the human will and can reject the truth concerning Christ
· Faith is a consent of the human will and will accept (with certainty) the truth concerning Christ
The entire Bible points to the fact that man is a fallen being. His inclination willfully rejects truth as men rejected Christ as the promised Messiah. Christ Himself stated, “That men loved darkness and hated light”. As God in the flesh... He knew the fallen condition of mans heart from birth. Peter stated, “That in the last days men would be scoffers and willingly ignorant”. Scoffers are willfully in contempt to the law of God. They naturally reject truth and are uncertain about promises concerning Christ.
· 2 Peter 3:3-5…Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant
Other human inclinations that stem from the will of a natural man are self interest, personal position, and rebellion. All these come from the negative side of what man is.
The Holy Spirit came to deal with this negative side of life. The Spirit convinces the world of sin and unrighteousness. The truth of the word of God and the Holy Spirit both affect the will of man enough to help him change his mind and turn to Christ for the forgiveness of sins and holiness of heart. Truth reveals who Christ is, and what Christ does within the heart of man. The Spirits witness places a desire to do right in the soul of man. When truth is recognized it helps man to get away from what he is. This type of enlightenment sways the human will. Acceptance of Christ is mans consent "when he believes". Certainty is man's attitude "after" he trust's Christ for the forgiveness of sins and recieves the clean heart.
After man believes, his communion with God produces a life of obedience. Faith enables man to make right choices and godly decisions. Faith willfully accepts the truth of the Word of God concerning Christ. Unlike doubts uncertainty, faiths consent of will becomes a conscious and obedient life in the presence of God. Faith based and built upon the Word of God gets beyond believing and grows with knowledge. A shallow knowledge of the Word of God can also mean a shallow faith. Faith becomes full assurance when experienced throughout the course of life. Doubt has no place in a man who has a full assurance of faith. Abraham was fully persuaded and staggered not at the promises of God. The will of Abraham strong in faith was in total subjection to God.
· Rom 4:20-24…He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; and being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform. And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness. Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; But for us also
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