"Already True"

Faith does not make things true. It rather ushers us into the apprehension and access of truths that are already true.


Before we existed, the Lord Jesus Christ had died for our sins, risen again, and ascended to Heaven as Savior and Lord. When we believed in Him, we entered into the reality that had been awaiting our awakening for nearly 2,000 years.


In similar manner, our ongoing discovery of the dynamic presence of our Lord does not originate the truth of who we are in Him. Instead, we are made aware of the spiritual environment of being in Christ, and of Christ being in us. This understanding and affirmation leads to countless fruits of the Holy Spirit being produced in our thoughts, attitudes, words, and deeds. Certainly these expressions are fresh and new, and would not have existed had we not believed the Word of God. Again, however, the tree that produced these fruits was planted in our hearts when we believed, and our faith in its existence within us is a primary nurturing that results in the harvest of godliness.


"His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (II Peter 1:3).


Note the past tense of the Apostle Peter's declaration. The source and supply of "life and godliness" was given to us at a time previous to this moment, namely, when we believed in the Lord Jesus and received the Holy Spirit. Therefore, everything we will ever need for the issues of character and its outward expression already exists in us in the person of the indwelling Spirit of Christ. Faith simply opens our eyes to the truth, encouraging our hearts and motivating us to submit ourselves to the presently existing reality that is then expressed in "glory and virtue."


Walking with God involves as much affirmation as asking. If His Word declares truths to already be true, we do well to agree with our Lord regardless of appearance, emotion, or outward evidence. Perhaps we might ask to be made aware of already possessed "things that pertain to life and godliness," even as the Apostle Paul prayed for the Ephesians believers...


"Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, case not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to usward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places."
(Ephesians 1:15-20)