What Is Meant by "Strange Fire"?

       The "strange fire" mentioned in Lev. 10:1, 2 is understood to mean that Nadab and Abihu, instead of taking fire into their censers from the brazen altar, took common fire which had not been consecrated, and thus were guilty of sacrilege. They had witnessed the descent of the miraculous fire from the cloud (see chapter 9:24), and they were under solemn obligation to use that fire which was specially appropriated to the altar service. But instead of doing so, they became careless, showing want of faith and lamentable irreverence, and their example, had it been permitted to pass unpunished, would have established an evil precedent. The fire that slew them issued from the most holy place, which is the accepted interpretation of the words, "from the Lord." Besides, the two young priests had already been commanded (or warned) not to do the thing they did (verse 2). They had undertaken to perform acts which belonged to the high priest alone, and even to intrude into the innermost sanctuary. See the warnings in Ex. 19:22 and Lev. 8:35.

• Strange Fire by Ray Stedman
• Leviticus 10: 1-11 - Strange Fire

Cleansing Fires

Cleansing Fires

Let thy gold be cast in the furnace.

Thy red gold, precious and bright;

Do not fear the hungry fire.

With its caverns of burning light:

And thy gold shall return more precious,

Free from every spot and stain;

For gold must be tried by fire,

And a heart must be tried by pain!

In the cruel fire of sorrow

Cast thy heart - do not faint or wail;

Let thy hand be firm and steady,

Do not let thy spirit quail;

But wait till the trial is over,

And take thy heart again,

For as gold is tried by fire,

So a heart must be tried by pain!

I shall know by the gleam and glitter

Of the golden chain you wear,

By your heart's calm strength in loving,

Of the fire they have had to bear.

Beat on, true heart, for ever

Shine bright, strong golden chain,

And bless the cleansing fire

And furnace of living pain!

Jesse Tree Ornaments - The Burning Bush

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." Exodus 3:2 (KJB)

Patterns for crafting a burning bush symbol for your Jesse tree.

Color suggestion for painting
the burning bush symbol.

       Burning Bush, that in which the Lord appeared to Moses at the foot of mount Horeb. Exodus 3:2 Such was the splendor of the Divine Majesty, that its effulgence dazzled his sight, and he was unable to behold it; and in token of his humanity, submission and reverence, "Moses his his face." So did Elijah in after-times. 1 Kings 19:12. Yea, the very angels cover their faces in the presence of God. Isaiah 6:2. When the Hebrew lawgiver, just before his death, pronounced his blessing upon the chosen tribes, he called to mind this remarkable event and supplicated in behalf of the posterity of Joseph, "the good will of him that dwelt in the bush," Deuteronomy 33:16. 

       These last words of Moses seem to indicate, that there was, in this memorable transaction, something of an allegorical or mystical import, though there are different opinions as to the particular thing that it was designed to shadow forth. Some have thought that Jehovah dwelling in the bush, in a blaze of fire, and the former not being consumed by it, might possibly be intended as an emblem of godliness which was exhibited in the fullness of the times, when "the WORD, who was with God, and was God, and by whom all things were created, was made flesh, and tabernacled (to tent) among men"--the brightness of the Father's glory, and in whom all the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily. 1 John 1:1-14 and Col. 1: 15-19; ch.2:9. And this was the truth, reality, and ultimate import of the Shechinah, there can be no reasonable doubt. But others consider that the particular thing intended to be taught the Hebrews by this phenomenon, namely, the bush of thorns or briars, burning yet not consumed, was to intimate to them that God was present with them in their great affliction and tribulations, and, by his providence, so ordering matters that their afflictions did not consume them; agreeably to the words of the prophet: "In all their afflictions he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them." Isaiah 63:9 "This fire, also," says bishop Patrick, "might be intended to show that God would there meet with the Israelites and give them his law in fire and lightning, and yet not consume them." Jones.

A baker's clay sample of the burning bush ornament.

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The Forest-Feller

        The human race are as trees in the vast forest of this world, various in their forms and character, and in their degrees of utility, strength, and beauty: but they are alike destined to fall under the ax of the undistinguishing and inexorable feller.

       They are then made use of according to their different qualities -- some are applied to the noblest purposes. The cedars of Lebanon are the temple of the Most High; while the vile and worthless are cast into the fire and perish.

People compared to trees in scripture? Here are just a few examples from The New King James Bible:

Psalm 92:12

 12

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree,

He shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon.

13

Those who are planted in the house of the Lord

Shall flourish in the courts of our God.

14

They shall still bear fruit in old age;

They shall be fresh and flourishing,

15

To declare that the Lord is upright;

He is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in Him.

Matthew 3:10

 10 And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.
 

Numbers 24:6

Like valleys that stretch out,

Like gardens by the riverside,

Like aloes planted by the Lord,

Like cedars beside the waters.

Psalm 1:3

Blessed is the man

Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

    Nor stands in the path of sinners,

    Nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

    And in His law he meditates day and night.

3

He shall be like a tree

    Planted by the rivers of water,

    That brings forth its fruit in its season,

    Whose leaf also shall not wither;

And whatever he does shall prosper. 

 

Psalm 52:8

8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.

Psalm 144:12 

¹² That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:

What Is the Baptism of Fire?

It has been variously interpreted to mean:

1. the baptism of the Holy Spirit
2. the fires of purgatory,
3. the everlasting fires of hell. 

Modern theologians take the view that the baptism of fire and that of the Holy Ghost are the same, and that it may be rendered "baptized with the Holy Ghost through the outward symbol of fire or "as with the cloven tongues of fire'' referring to the Pentecostal baptism.

Lot's wife, the woman who looked back...

       Fifteen words in the Old Testament tell the story of Lot's wife. This one brief, dramatic record has placed her among the well-known women of the world. The fifteen words are, "But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." (Gen. 19:26).
       In the New Testament there are three other words about Lot's wife. Jesus held her up as an example, saying, "Remember Lot's wife,'' (Luke 17:32). This is the second shortest verse in the Bible. It's terseness probably best explains its urgency. In a previous passage Jesus had been speaking of those in the days of Lot, who "did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded,'' but "out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.'' (Luke 17:28, 29).
       The impression is conveyed that Lot's wife was a woman who ate and drank and lived for the things of the world. We do have a scriptural record that her husband was a rich and influential man (Gen. 13:10, ii). We can easily assume that Lot's wife was a worldly, selfish woman, one who spent lavishly and entertained elaborately. Max Eastman, in his movingly realistic poem Lot's Wife says, "Herself, like Sodom's towers, shone blazingly.'' Here, we imagine, was a woman who wore many jewels and dressed in the richest and most gleaming fabrics.

The Flight of Lot and His Family from Sodom by Rubens.

       Rubens, in his "Flight of Lot,'' painted in 1625 and now in the Louvre, pictures Lot's wife, followed by her daughters; to her one of the angels is speaking a solemn warning. One of the daughters leads an ass loaded with splendid vessels of gold and silver, while the second bears a basket of grapes and other fruit's on her head. The wife clasps her hands and looks beseechingly in the face of the angel who warns her of her fate if she should be disobedient. The family procession, accompanied by a spirited little dog, steps forth from the handsome gates of Sodom. Above the towers of the city wails fly frightful demons preparatory to their work of destruction. The air seems full of imps, while an evil spirit, hovering above Lot's wife, glowers at the angel who is trying to save her from destruction.
       The fate of Lot's wife has inspired other painters, among them Gozzoli and Lucas Cranach. All depict a woman who had lived under the law, knew its penalties to be swift and immutable, and yet so loved the city on which God was raining fire from heaven that she willingly gave her life for one more look at it.
       Can we not conjecture that the fifteen-word Old Testament biography of Lot's wife was written for those who love the things of the world more than the things of the spirit, those who do not possess the pioneering courage to leave a life of ease and comfort and position for a life of sacrifice, hardship, and loneliness? Does not her biography also speak a message to those who are unwilling to flee from iniquity when all efforts to redeem iniquity have failed?
       Dr. William B. Riley, in his book on Wives of the Bible, makes the apt comment that "When we have read Lot's history we have uncovered Mrs. Lot's character; and when we have studied his affluence, we have seen her influence. . . . The character and conduct of children reflect the mother. The marriage of her daughters to Sodomitish men indicated low ethical ideals and low moral standards.'' Their later relations with their father were a blot on their mother's character (Gen. 19:32-35). Lot's earlier actions toward Abraham indicated the type of wife he had. When he and his uncle Abraham had become prosperous in herds and flocks, Abraham offered Lot a choice of territory. And what did he choose? He chose the most fertile plain of the Jordan. Though we have no record of his wife in this transaction, we again can visualize her as a woman sharing in his selfishness, without dissent, and prodding her husband to greater wealth at any cost to others.
       Goethe has said, "Tell me with whom thou dost company and I will tell thee what thou art.'' Our best way of describing Lot's wife is through her husband and her children and her disobedience to the warning of angels. The latter could have saved her, but she had nothing in common with angels.
       When her husband had first come into this fertile plain of Jordan, he had pitched his tent "toward Sodom,'' a phrase which indicates that Lot was not then a part of the wicked Sodom and Gomorrah. But again, is't it easy to imagine that his wife wanted a big stone house in keeping with her husband's great wealth? Was a tent on the outskirts enough? Wasn't she hopelessly bound up with all the materialities of Sodom?
       When she had to flee, she had to look back. In this she reminds us of a woman who, after leaving her burning house, rushes back for treasured material possessions and is burned with the possessions.
       Certainly Lot's wife bears none of the qualities of greatness that we find in the noble women in history- those, for example, who left England on the Mayflower and landed on a desolate coast in the dead of winter to carve new homes in the wilderness. These women, too, had to leave all behind, but they were willing to make the sacrifice in order that they and their families might have religious freedom.
       Even though Lot's wife was well out of Sodom with her daughters and husband before the destruction came, she could not be influenced either by the warnings of the angels or by the pleadings of her husband. And as she looked back, she was turned to a pillar of salt.
       Tradition has pointed out, however, that a mountain of salt, it the southern extremity of the Dead Sea, was the spot where the event took place. The text described it as a rain of "brimstone and fire from the Lord out of heaven - by which the whole district was overthrown.
       Geologists explain that at the south end of the Dead Sea is a burned-out region of oil and asphalt. A great stratum of rock salt lies underneath the Mountain of Sodom on the west shore of the sea. This stratum of salt, they say, is overlaid with a stratum of marl, mingled with free sulphur in a very pure state. Something kindled the gases which accumulate with oil and asphalt, and there was an explosion. Salt and sulphur were carried up into the heavens red hot. Literally it could have rained fire and brimstone. The cities and the whole plain and everything that grew out of the ground were utterly destroyed. This may explain the incrustation of Lot's wife with salt when she turned back.
       The differences of opinion regarding the story and the literal aspect of Lot's wife do not change the great truths of the account. She still stands as a permanent symbol of the woman who looks back and refuses to move forward, the woman who, faced toward salvation, still turns to look longingly on material things she has left behind.
       One thing is certain. The story of Lot's wife has not lost its savor in all the thousands of years since Old Testament writers recorded it.

Baptism by water and fire

Description of Illustration: Baptism title, Christians have two baptisms, one by water and the other by fire, Announce a Baptism in your church

“I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." Matthew 3:11 (ESV)

Tiny sized Baptism title

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Scriptures from Nehemiah: Chapters 1 and 2

"Those who survived the exile and are back in the province are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and its gates have been burned with fire." Nehemiah 1:3 (NIV)

Description of the illumination: five scriptures to accent a Bible study or sermon on Nehemiah, or journal perhaps, comes in purple, pale green

 

"When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven." Nehemiah 1:4 (NIV)

"but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.'' Nehemiah 1:9 (NIV)

"but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Nehemiah 2:3 (NIV)

"but I said to the king, "May the king live forever! Why should my face not look sad when the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire?" Nehemiah 2:5 (NIV)

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Illuminated Words, Letters & Text Index

Sample illuminated letters from the listing below.

All graphics/illustrations/clip art on this web journal are free to download and use for personal art projects, church related hard copy or webpages. Images are not to be redistributed in any other collections of clip art online. Please include a link back to this web journal if you use the materials for web articles. Link back to http://christianclipartreview.blogspot.com

1. Jesus, The Cross Bearer
2. "The LORD is my Shepherd" Title
   
3. A Transparent Celtic Knot on a Letter "D"
4. "Faith At The Cross" in Liturgical Colors
5. "Our Father" Matthew 6:9
   
6. Illuminated Scriptures from Micah's First and Second Chapters
7. Worship With Gladness
8. The Seventh Trumpet
   
9. 1 Peter 5:7
10. "Better Is One Day"
11. He is the First and the Last...
    
12. An Illuminated "The"
13. Illuminated Letters and Scripture From Revelation
    
14. Save The Lost
15. Pentecost Banner
16. Rebekah gives birth to 2 nations
    
17. The Illuminated Word, "Prayer" for Webpages
18. Blue and Green Illuminated "N"
    
19. An Illuminated "My"
20. "One with Christ in Glory"
21. John 3:16 and 17 with illuminated letters
    
22. Isaiah 30:15
23. A Rainbow of Covenant People
24. Illuminated Scriptures about Prayer
    
25. Jeremiah 31:3
26. Rejoice Butterfly
27. Lamentations 3:25-26
28. Illuminated Quotes by Jesus About Knowledge
    
29. "Baptism" title
30. Multi-Colored Stained Glass Cross
31. The Root of Jesse
    
32. "A Friend In Need"
33. I AM Statements of Jesus from the New Testament
34. Quotes/Poems by Robert Louis Stevenson
35. Psalm 100: 4-5 - illuminated letter "E"
    
36. "Run The Race"
37. The Alpha and Omega - illuminated letters in stained glass 
    

Illuminating Articles:

• Include Initial Letters in Your Next Publishing Project
• Te Deum laudamus - illuminated by Esther Faithful Fleet for The Victoria Press coming soon...

Questions and Answers About Words and Terms Used In The Bible: Illuminate your thinking . . . 

1. What Is the Origin of the Name "Jew"?
2. What is meant by "Saved, Yet As by Fire"?
3. What is meant by the "Elect"?
4. In What Sense Was Man Created in The Divine Likeness?
5. What is Meant by "Strange Fire?"
6. What Is a "Generation?"
7. What Was the Forbidden Fruit? 
8. What Were the "Marks of the Lord Jesus?  
9. How was the Brazen Serpent a type?
10. What is meant by the "Beast and His Mark?"
11. What Is the Baptism of Fire?
12. What is to be understood by being "Baptized for the Dead?"
13. What is meant be the "Prince of the Power of the Air?"
14. What are we to understand by the Battle of Armageddon, referred to in Revelation?"
15. What significance has the word "Abba" as when it precedes the word "Father?" 
16. What is the Meaning of "Selah?"
17. Where did the Jews get the name "Hebrews?"
18. What is the meaning of "Mizpah?"
    

Sample Illuminated Coloring Sheets from our Color The Bible Blog:

• Coloring Page of 2 Chronicles 16:9
• Joseph's Dream Coloring Page
• Coloring page of Proverbs 22:5
• Coloring page of 2 Peter 3:18
• The Crown of Life
• Psalm 150:6 Coloring Page
• Matthew 16:16 Coloring Page 

Last updated December 28th, 2021

Scriptures from The Book of Obadiah

"See I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised." Obadiah 1:2

Description of Illumination: red, black and ivory initials, plus scripture from Obadiah in bold black text on white backgrounds, all scriptures NIV

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"The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who like in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, "Who can bring me down to the ground?'" Obadiah 1:3

"Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD." Obadiah 1:4

"If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night - oh, what a disaster awaits you! - would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes?" Obadiah 1:5

"The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head." Obadiah 1:15

"The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; the house of Esau will be stubble, and they will set it on fire and consume it. There will be no survivors from the house of Esau." The LORD has spoken." Obadiah 1:18

"People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will posses the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead." Obadiah 1:19

Heart and Cross Fervor

Description of Illustration: text reads "Fervor" cross and heart on fire, hearts a fire, blazing love, three versions, one black and white design, two color

 

 

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Pentecost

The apostles and Mary rejoice at receiving the anointing of The Holy Spirit!

Description of Illustration: black and white illustration of the apostles and Mary, mother of Jesus, at Pentecost, the Holy Spirit lives inside us, tongues of flame

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• Tongues of Fire and the Fullness of God
• The Indwelling of the Holy Spirit is Abiding
• How is the Holy Spirit like a fire?

Jesse Tree Ornament - The Altar

"And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD by God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21 (KJB)

Patterns for the altar symbol used to represent Elijah on the Jesse tree.

painting suggestion for the altar

"And Elijah said unto the prophets of Baal, Choose you one bullock for yourselves, and dress it first; for ye are many; and call on the name of your gods, but put no fire under. And they took the bullock which was given them, and they dressed it, and called on the name of Baal from morning even until noon, saying, O Baal, hear us. But there was no voice, nor any that answered. And they leaped upon the altar which was made. And it came to pass at noon, that Elijah mocked them, and said, Cry aloud: for he is a god; either he is talking, or he is pursuing, or he is in a journey, or peradventure he sleepeth, and must be awaked.And they cried aloud, and cut themselves after their manner with knives and lancets, till the blood gushed out upon them. And it came to pass, when midday was past, and they prophesied until the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that there was neither voice, nor any to answer, nor any that regarded.And Elijah said unto all the people, Come near unto me. And all the people came near unto him. And he repaired the altar of the LORD that was broken down. And Elijah took twelve stones, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Jacob, unto whom the word of the LORD came, saying, Israel shall be thy name:  And with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD: and he made a trench about the altar, as great as would contain two measures of seed. And he put the wood in order, and cut the bullock in pieces, and laid him on the wood, and said, Fill four barrels with water, and pour it on the burnt sacrifice, and on the wood. And he said, Do it the second time. And they did it the second time. And he said, Do it the third time. And they did it the third time. And the water ran round about the altar; and he filled the trench also with water.  And it came to pass at the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, that Elijah the prophet came near, and said, LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant, and that I have done all these things at thy word.  Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench.  And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces: and they said, The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God." 1 Kings 18:25 - 39 (KJB)

Above is a painted baker's clay version of the altar symbol
representing the story of Elijah and The Prophets of Baal.

God Incinerates The Altar by Superbook.

Watch the Superbook for children!

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Sacred Heart Symbols

Description of Illustration: cross, Sacred Heart, thorns, bloody tears, fire, heart on fire for God comes in black and white and red and white, four Sacred Heart versions

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Up to Heaven In A Wirlwind!

"As they were walking along and talking, suddenly a
chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the
two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a wirlwind."
 2 Kings 2:11

Description of Illustration: a vintage illustration depicting a blazing chariot ride!, clouds in the sky, lightening in a storm, horses, children's Bible illustration from Germany

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Red Scriptures from The Book of Obadiah

"See I will make you small among the nations; you will be utterly despised." Obadiah 1:2

Description of Illumination: red, blue and ivory initials, plus scripture from Obadiah in bold ivory text on cherry red backgrounds, all scriptures NIV

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"The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who like in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, "Who can bring me down to the ground?'" Obadiah 1:3

"Though you soar like the eagle and make your nest among the stars, from there I will bring you down," declares the LORD." Obadiah 1:4

"If thieves came to you, if robbers in the night - oh, what a disaster awaits you! - would they not steal only as much as they wanted? If grape pickers came to you, would they not leave a few grapes?" Obadiah 1:5

"The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head." Obadiah 1:15

"The house of Jacob will be a fire and the house of Joseph a flame; the house of Esau will be stubble, and they will set it on fire and consume it. There will be no survivors from the house of Esau." The LORD has spoken." Obadiah 1:18

"People from the Negev will occupy the mountains of Esau, and people from the foothills will posses the land of the Philistines. They will occupy the fields of Ephraim and Samaria, and Benjamin will possess Gilead." Obadiah 1:19

Cherubim Chrismon Pattern

       A cherub (/ˈtʃɛrəb/; also pl. cherubim; Hebrew: כְּרוּב‎‎ kərūv, pl. כְּרוּבִים‎, kərūvîm; Latin cherub, pl. cherubin, cherubim; Syriac ܟܪܘܒܐ) is one of the unearthly beings who directly attend to God according to Abrahamic religions. The numerous depictions of cherubim assign to them many different roles; their original duty having been the protection of the Garden of Eden. Angelic status is not attributed to cherubim in the Old Testament (at least not explicitly); only in later sources such as De Coelesti Hierarchia are they identified as a hierarchical rank of angels. Read more...

Scripture References for Cherubim Chrismons:

• "After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life." Genesis 3:24 (NIV)
• "Make two cherubim of gold; make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat." Exodus 25:18 (HCSB)
• "So the people sent to Shiloh and brought from there the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, who is enthroned on the cherubim. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God." 1 Samuel 4:4 (ESV)
• "I looked, and I saw a windstorm coming out of the north--an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures. In appearance their form was human, but each of them had four faces and four wings." Ezekiel 1:4-6 (NIV)
• "Above the ark were the cherubim of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat. But we cannot discuss these things in detail now." Hebrews 9:5 (BSB)
• "For the cherubims spread forth their two wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubims covered the ark and the staves thereof above." 1 Kings 8:7 (KJB)

Symbols of The Christian Faith

"Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge
 of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure 
of the stature of the fullness  of Christ . . ." Ephesians 4: 13

See on the right, all glorious Hope doth stand,

And gives to heavenly Truth the plighted hand:

With Seraph's wings out-spread, Love stands between:

And binds their hearts with his celestial chain.

These are Faith's emblems; These its Parents three:

To produce Faith: Hope, Truth, and Love agree.

      Christian Faith is represented above, by a union of Truth, Hope, and Love. The hope of heaven is represented by the apostle Paul as the anchor of the soul, consequently Hope is usually depicted leaning on an anchor. She holds Truth by the hand, showing that they must be in close alliance. Truth holds in her hand the Holy Bible as a mirror, whereby sinful men can see the deformity of their hearts. With her right hand, she receives the overtures of Hope ; she tramples under her feet the mask of Hypocrisy; simple and unadorned, she rejects the cloak of dissimulation, and casts aside all concealment. Love holds the middle place, and strengthens the union subsisting between Hope and Truth. Divine Love is drawn with wings to represent her heavenly origin.

      Faith is both created and preserved by Hope, Truth, and Love. This Triad constitutes its efficient cause. Truth is indeed the mother of Faith. Hope assists in its creation, by its expectations and desires; Love nourishes and reconciles, and thus contributes to lay a foundation for Faith.

      True faith, as represented in the Scriptures, is always connected with a " good hope through grace." The truths of God's word form the only proper objects for its exercise. Without Love, there can be no good works ; and " without works faith is dead." Christian Faith, as described above, is distinguished from the faith of devils, who are said to " believe and tremble" because they have no hope; and from the faith of wicked men, who " love not the Lord Jesus Christ," and who are consequently " accursed;" and from the faith of the carnal professor, who has sold the truth and has pleasure in unrighteousness.

      The proper use of faith is to bring us to God, to enable us to obtain the promises contained in the word or truth of God. If Christ had not been moved by love, he would not have suffered ; if he had not suffered, we should have had no promise of pardon; if we had no promises, we should have no hope; if we have no hope, we shall have no saving faith in the mercy of God. Christ is set forth a refuge for sinners, he saves all who flee for refuge to the hope set before them; but those only who believe in him, flee to him. Faith then is an instrument of salvation; " by grace are ye saved through Faith."

      The sinner hears, and gives credence to the Faith of God: the terrors of the Almighty take fast hold upon him ; his sins weigh him down to the dust: but hark ! the voice of heavenly love is heard proclaiming: " Come unto me all ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." He looks upward, Hope springs up, he ventures on the Redeemer, " who justifies the ungodly ;" his faith has saved him. It is counted to him for righteousness, and being justified by it, he has peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ.

      A celebrated divine once gave his little child an illustration of the nature of Faith in the following manner. The child had a beautiful string of beads, with which she was much delighted. Her father spoke to her, saying, " Come, my child, throw those beautiful beads into the fire, and I will, in the course of a few days, give you something far more beautiful and valuable." The child looked up into the face of her father with astonishment : after looking for a time, and seeing he was in earnest, she cast her beautiful toys into the fire, and then burst into tears! Here was Faith. The child believed her father spoke the truth; she expected, or had a hope, he would fulfill his promises; and confiding in his Love, she was willing to obey him though it cost her tears.

"What Faith Can Do" worship song from Kutless from
the new worship album, "It Is Well" in stores and online
October 20th, 2009. http://www.kutless.com

Warm by the fire...

Description of Clip Art: kitty, cat, fireplace, stockings, Christmas, hearth, mantle, candles, rug, bricks, cozy fire, greyscale

Have a question about the illustration? Just type it in the comment box and I'll get back to you as soon as possible. I only publish content that is closely related to the subject folks.

What Is Meant by "Saved, Yet As by Fire"?

       The apostle in I Cor. 3:15 speaks of mistaken teachings and concludes that the man whose work was not of genuine character, who had been seeking worldly gain and popularity and not trying to win and build up souls, would lose the reward which would be given to the preacher who built on the foundation of Christ, "gold, silver, and precious stones." The unprofitable worker's work he likens to wood and stubble which would not stand the day of judgment. Even though his soul should be saved, he would miss the reward promised to the faithful worker, while his own work, being false, will not escape the destruction. 

• What does the phrase "saved as by fire" in 1 Corinthians 3:15 mean?
• Expound on the meaning of 1 Cor. 3:12-15?