Faith Must Have Something in Its Hands

When we gather at this Table, we are partaking of Christ and we are partaking with Christ. The thing that makes this an efficacious blessing is of course faith, but this faith does not work apart from what it was told to do. We were told to eat and drink, and so believing faith eats and drinks in faith. Believing faith does not jettison the bread and wine, and try to gin up the same results by means of naked faith. Naked faith is not what the Reformers meant by sola fide, faith alone.

When Moses was told to extend his rod over the Red Sea, he would not have been exhibited greater faith if he had left his rod in his tent. That would have been unbelief, not greater faith. When Peter got out of the boat to walk toward Jesus, he would not have been exhibiting greater faith if he stayed in the boat so that his faith could walk out toward Jesus. Faith always deals with the appointed objects. Superstition keeps the object, and neglects the faith which we were commanded to have, while super-spiritualism dispenses with the object, and tries to keep the faith going. But this is as unbelieving as the superstition. If God tells you to do something, how could it be super-faith if you refused to do it?

We gather here to eat bread and drink wine. We gather to do this with a particular demeanor, one which God calls us to throughout all Scripture. We are called to assemble in living, vibrant, robust, evangelical faith—a faith which does what it is told, the way it is told. And so, come, and welcome, to Jesus Christ.