Acts 3:16-17 And his name through faith in his name has made this man strong, whom you see and know: yes… Faith in the name of Jesus is faith in Himself. The result of its exercise here was a manifest continuance of what Jesus "began to do" in the way of healing, and on the same condition. I. FAITH MOVED PETER TO SEEK THE POOR MAN'S GOOD. Faith had united the apostle to the Saviour, and brought him into sympathy with His benevolent designs. The love of "Christ still constrains those who enjoy it by faith" with like results. II. FAITH ENABLED PETER TO PRONOUNCE THE MAN'S CURE. Peter believed the promise, "The works that I do shall ye do also"; that Jesus, though out of sight, was able and willing to cure the cripple; and, acting under a gracious impulse which that faith secured, he bade the man be whole. It was faith that made this conduct consistent; but without faith it would have been an act of presumption, and even of blasphemy. When God is taken at His word and fully trusted, there is exercised a confidence which enables its possessor to defy all adverse power. This is the faith which overcomes. III. FAITH FURNISHED AN EVIDENCE OF CHRISTIANITY WHICH EVEN ITS ADVERSARIES WERE OBLIGED TO ADMIT. The cripple had been seen and known, and his cure had taken place in the presence of all. The faith exercised, being invisible, might have been talked of long without becoming the means of any one's full persuasion; but here was an outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace. What could be said against such an evidence? And what can be said at this day against the evidence presented in conversions and holy lives? But to some even this evidence is as nothing. They love not the Lord; they have no sympathy with His gracious purposes; and they lack that spiritual discernment which can come only in connection with the faith which is the evidence of things not seen. (W. Hudson.) Parallel Verses KJV: And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. |
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