Here’s another good word for faith: dependence. Theologians describe three aspects of faith as understanding a truth, agreeing with that truth, but the crucial last component is depending upon that truth. May I ask you–do you literally depend upon Christ and Him alone for your soul’s salvation from sin, death, and hell? That is the crux of the matter. Here is how one of the Olney Hymns expresses the nature of dependence on the Lord. Note this as well: God’s supplied grace is not a fatalistic inevitability, but neither do we dictate His stream of grace upon our terms.
LXII. DEPENDENCE.
To keep the lamp alive,
With oil we fill the bowl;
‘Tis water makes the willow thrive,
And grace that feeds the soul.
The Lord’s unsparing hand
Supplies the living stream;
It is not at our own command,
But still derived from him.
Beware of Peter’s word,
Nor confidently say,
“I never will deny thee, Lord,”
But, “Grant I never may!”
Man’s wisdom is to seek
His strength in God alone;
And e’en an angel would be weak,
Who trusted in his own.
Retreat beneath his wings,
And in his grace confide;
This more exalts the King of kings
Than all your works beside.
In Jesus is our store,
Grace issues from his throne;
Whoever says, “I want no more,”
Confesses he has none.
