The Expository Files

 

By Faith the Walls Fell


In Heb. 11:30 the Holy Spirit reminds us of how the conquest of ancient Jericho took place. He says, “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days.” This event, recorded first in Joshua 6, illustrates that it is only active faith that brings the needed results. The people had to do more than merely believe in their heads that God would give them the city; they had to act in obedience on their belief. They had to meet God’s conditions by marching around the city as He had directed them to do. Still, they all recognized it was God’s power, not their own, which caused the walls to crumble!

Today, salvation from sin by faith requires God’s power, and again is conditioned upon our active faith. People were told to repent and be baptized in Jesus’ name for the forgiveness of sin (Acts 2:38). This obedience, though necessary, does not earn salvation anymore than marching around Jericho merited the falling down of the walls. It is simply the way people are told to act upon their faith in God to forgive. God ordained salvation by His grace and He ordained Israel’s victory by grace. In both cases, He required obedience. Both victory and salvation are by God’s grace and through His power and accomplished in His own appointed way.
 

By Jon W. Quinn
The Front Page
From Expository Files 13.2;  February 2006

 

 

 

https://www.bible.ca/