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Faith
by C. and J. Lee
The three grades of faith show themselves typically in Adam, Abraham, and Solomon, the son
of David.
Abraham preserved the faith by his toil, and his
occupations and experiences were much different from those of Adam and David.
David was an insignificant shepherd when God through Samuel anointed him as king over the
many children of Abraham. Saul, in spite of this, retained the throne for forty years. David's
conflicts in his endeavor to reach the goal of faith became, therefore, both difficult and
extended; but like a planted tree he grew up towards Abraham's desired goal. At last we see
all the gates of the enemies opened by his sword. This was the second time Abraham's seed
took the power, the kingdom, and the glory away from the enemies. Notice how the goal
expands and is enlarged as the revelation becomes more extended. Now we do not wait
within the narrow bounds of Adam or Abraham, but the most glorious product of faith takes
shape in a higher design and in words which describe its glory.
David first conquered all the enemies of the kingdom, after which God said to him, "Solomon
thy son, he shall build my house and my courts: for I have chosen him to be my son, and I
will be his father." (1Ch. 28:6)
God endowed Solomon with unsurpassed wisdom and appointed him as an architect to
construct the building. But the design, according to which it was to be built, God gave his
father David, for the reason that he, by his perseverance, warring ability and faithfulness
toward God, made it possible to bring forth by faith the material for the temple, which
constituted a pattern of the most holy temple and kingly city. The principal interest of David
was concentrated in this development, and he gave his son the valuable materials required,
together with the pattern according to which it was to be shaped. He said, "All this the Lord
made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this
pattern." (1Ch. 28:19) When the temple was put together, it was shown how excellently, yes,
incomparably the design was executed, also that the giver thereof harbored intentions of a
much more glorious result, which, without this prefiguring or typical work, would have been
impossible to understand.
All of the component parts of the building were manufactured in different lands and prepared
by many kinds of workmen according to the various specified parts of the temple; but they
fitted so nicely together when they were moved to the place of construction and placed in the
building that they fairly clung together like a branch to a tree. We marvel at this singular
building, concerning which it is written, "And the house, when it was in building, was built of
stone made ready before it was brought thither: so that there was neither hammer nor ax
nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building." (1Ki 6:7)
Here we not only see faith, but also the result thereof - the perfected temple-form in dead
material. On two of the active participants were crowns placed — David was crowned on
account of effecting the victory of righteousness, but on Solomon was placed the glorious
crown, because he perfected the righteous and peaceful result which was produced as a
consequence of faith. Adam, on the contrary, had no Knowledge of the Word or of the
experience which brought forth these crowns. Not even Noah knew of this, even though he
was crowned with life when his contemporaries became the booty of death.
Paul says:
"I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth
there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall
give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his
appearing." (2Ti. 4:7, 8)
Here we notice first, that his struggle in the faith came as a result of the part of God's Word
which at his time demanded a development in practical life; second, that the righteous Judge
shall crown the individual on account of the works this Word has brought forth through him,
and which Word has caused him struggle and pain.
If we compare here with (BELOW: Jam. 1:12; Rev. 2:10; 1Ti. 4:7, 8, and 1Pe. 5:4), we shall find three grades of faith reflected in the three crowns.
The foundation for faith is no longer a perishable kingly scepter as it was for
Solomon, or the extension of a temporal life, but the glory of a new world which showed
itself in and by the resurrection of Christ from the dead. The apostles always laid great stress
on this as the first condition for the attainment of the crown of life as well as for that of the
crown of glory.
Therefore Paul says,
"If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. . . . Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished." (1Co. 15: 14-18 BELOW)
He proved by five hundred witnesses that Christ was resurrected,
that the Word of faith had thereby assumed the imperishable form, and that the victory of
Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Rev 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.
1Ti 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
1Co 15:14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
1Co 15:15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1Co 15:17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
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