NOTES OUT OF THE CATECHISM CLASSES Of Rev. J. Fraanje Using The Catechism Book SPECIMENS OF DIVINE TRUTHS

Of Faith Lesson 33 Part I

The last question in our previous lesson was: How then doth faith operate in this matter? And the answer was: As a hand or instrument, whereby we receive the merits of Christ.

The lesson this afternoon begins immediately on this subject by asking: How many kinds of faith are there?

It appears that all faith cannot be considered to be true faith because what is the answer?

Four kinds: historical, temporary, miraculous and a saving faith. We shall first recite the questions in their order and then speak briefly of each one.

What is a historical faith?

Answer: A bare assent to known truth.

Is this not a good faith?

Answer: Yes, it is necessary, but not sufficient. James 2:19, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou dost well; the devils also believe and tremble.”

What is a temporary faith?

Answer: An assent to and profession of the truth for a time and with some external satisfaction. This is shown to be true from the parable of the sower to which we shall give more attention just a little later.

What is the faith of miracles?

Answer: A strong persuasion that a miracle will be performed by or on us.

Are not these three kinds of faith of a saving nature?

No, I Cor. 12:2, “Though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing. (All kinds other than true saving faith are meant here.)

In how many things does saving faith consist?

Answer: In three: knowledge, assent and trust. An implied faith without knowledge is not sufficient. It is written, “This is life eternal that they might know thee.” John 17:3.

Even if men have intimate trust and great faith, without knowledge of God and Christ, it is not true faith.

In the parable of the sower the differences are made apparent: There was but one sower, and he had but one kind of seed with him but what is it that made the difference? The different kinds of ground upon which he sowed. Some of the seed fell by the way side. The Lord’s explanation of this to the disciples was, “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.”

Temporary faith is likened to the seed that fell upon stoney places. They sprouted immediately but because they had no deepness of earth to sprout roots, they withered away quickly. Man, by nature, had a stoney heart that is unsusceptable to the Divine seed. Even if the seed falls in such a heart, between the rocks of conscience, throughout which there are crevices and cracks, it may become troubled under the preaching of the Word or other means but it passes swiftly away.

The Lord Jesus said, “And anon with joy receiveth it.” That is just the opposite of that in true saving faith, because there sadness and dejection comes in first, then, in time, joy.

What is necessary then? That all the stones be taken out of the field and it be made into a fertile land. Then it is capable of receiving seed that can bring forth fruit.

Miraculous faith is even less saving. There are many accounts of miracles in God’s Word that were not unto salvation for the person upon whom the miracles happened. Who can name some of them?

Answer: The nine lepers whom Jesus had cured but had not returned to give thanks.

That is one; who can give another?

Answer: Of the man in Bethesda who had an infirmity for 38 years.

That is also an example of a person upon whom a miracle was performed, but who had not saving faith. The Lord said to him when He healed him, “Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

There are people, even in our time, upon whom or through whom miracles are performed, but, even so, they remain unconverted.

It happened this way with a woman in Zeeland. She appeared to be a nice religious person who faithfully attended church services but was unconverted. She had always been a healthy woman and had borne fourteen children. But one day she became completely insane without any previous indication something was wrong. It was a fearful situation; she wanted to murder her 5 month old child by butchering it. She had been so badly and suddenly seized upon by this thing that she did nothing but yell and shout. Naturally, the doctor was brought in immediately. He ordered her to be put into an institution because there seemed nothing he could do for her.

Her husband and children had to agree. But one child felt so terrible about their mother leaving and asked the doctor if they might try confining her to a small room to be cared for by her husband and sons and if it remained the same after one week, she would be brought to the institution.

Permission was given for this. Their minister and an elder were soon there to visit this family. As soon as they entered the little room in which this woman was, she seemed to become possessed of the devil. She acted very wild and called out, “Away with you. You are all deceivers.”

The minister spoke to the elder saying, “Shall we pray?”

The woman screamed, “No, do not pray, I do not want it, away with you.” She pulled hair from her head.

Then the minister said, “It appears this woman is completely possessed of the devil. Let us go away. She will soon attack us.”

But the elder said, “No, we shall not go away yet, you must offer prayer, dominie, otherwise the devil will laugh and say, ‘Look at this will you? I am the winner; they have hurried away.’ You must sit down calmly and her husband and I will stand by her to make sure she does you no harm.”

In the meantime the woman was fearfully wild, but the minister began to pray and what do you supposed happened?

He no sooner had said a few words and the woman slumped down as though she had died. The minister said, “Amen”, the woman opened her eyes and was better; considerably better. She remained weak for a little while but was no longer sick. The Lord was willing to do this miracle upon the petition of His child and servant, but the woman, even so, was not converted at that time. It was miraculous faith applied to her.

This has actually happened in Zeeland.

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