FAITH AS A RULE OF LIFE

I am a big fan of the writings of William Huntington. I am also one who believes that the Christian today is being wrongly put under the Mosaic Law, not for salvation but for sanctification, righteousness and for a rule of life. I think all these uses of the law are illegitamate and diminish the value and preciousness of the work of Christ; who is our righteousness. Below is a condensed version-(edited by me) of the article by William Huntington, "A RULE AND A RIDDLE; OR, AN EVERLASTING TASK FOR BLIND WATCHMEN AND OLD WOMEN"

The short title is "A Rule and A Riddle". I like to call it, "Faith as a Rule of Life".

I would love to hear your thoughts.


WILLIAM HUNTINGTON(1745-1813)

We are to tread in the steps of the faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised, Romans 4:9-12.
“The promise that he should be the heir of the world, was not to him, or to his seed, through the law," Rom. 6:12, 13, and yet affirms, that as many as are of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.
And this promised blessing, and heirship, was given to Abraham, and to his seed-four hundred and thirty years before the law was given.
What rule did these pilgrims in the faith walk by? Who obtained so good a report (or so good a testimony) from God?
---We are told that Abel offered to God, and obtained witness that he was righteous by faith-then faith was his rule of worship. Heb 11:4, 12:24
---Enoch walked with God by faith-then faith was his rule of walk. Heb 11:5
---Noah condemned the world by faith-then faith was his rule of judgment. Heb 11:7
---"By faith Abraham, when he was called, went out not knowing whither he went"-then faith was the rule by which he took his journey, though he knew not whither, and his obedience was the obedience of faith. Heb 11:8-17
But if he had been living under the law as his only rule of life, he would have known where he was going, and he would not have gone in ignorance, and his obedience would have been the obedience of the law instead of faith.
---But Paul will have it that all Abraham's children are in the same condition that their father, Abraham was-for they walk by faith, not by sight. Rom 4:12-16
---But if the letter of the law is the only rule that the believer is to walk and live by, then he walks by sight, not by faith. Gal 3:2, 3:5, 5:18 2 Cor 5:7
---He looks at the things that are seen, not at the things which are unseen. Heb 11:1, 7
---It is by faith that Moses saw him who is invisible, and by faith we must look at the things that are not seen, which are eternal. Heb 11:27

Paul lays it out in the New Testament: (and other passages).
---"He that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him;" Heb 11:6
Then faith must be the rule of his coming.
---"We have access, by faith into this grace wherein we stand," Rom. 5:2
Then faith is the rule of our approach to God.
---"The just [man] shall live by his faith," Hab. 2:4
Then faith is the just man's rule of life.
---"We walk by faith, not by sight," 2 Cor. 5:7
Then faith is our rule of walk.
---"Thou standest by faith," says Paul, Rom. 11:20
Then faith is the rule of a believer's standing.
---"Whatever ye shall ask believing, ye shall receive," says Christ. Matt 21:22
Then faith is the rule of that branch of worship.
---"By faith Enoch had this testimony, that he pleased God; but without faith it is impossible to please him," Heb. 11:5, 6
Then faith is a rule that God approves of, and is pleased with.
---"Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” Rom 14:23
Then faith is a perfect rule of holiness.
---"He that believes is justified from all things, from which he could not by the law of Moses". Acts 13:39
Then faith is our rule of righteousness.
---It is by faith that we overcome the world. To lay hold on eternal life, is to fight the good fight of faith, according to Paul; "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" 1 Jo 5:41, Tim 6:12, 2 Tim 4:7
Then faith was the rule of his warfare, and the rule of his race; and it was the grace of God that made Paul obedient to that rule.
---"We have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith," Rom. 1:5,
That is, by Christ we have received grace to save our souls, and apostleship to be of use to the church, not as a reward of our obedience, but to furnish us with power, to make us obedient to the faith, among all nations for his name, Rom. 1:5
Then faith is the rule of apostolic obedience; for it cannot be called receiving grace for obedience to the faith, if faith be not the gracious man's rule of obedience.
---Paul counts all things but dung that he may win Christ, and he found in him; not having his own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, and tells us to" walk by the same rule, and mind the same thing," Phil 3:8
---If you take this rule of Paul's to be his pressing forward, or any of his attainments, it is answered, by faith he pressed forward, and by faith he attained; for else his pressing and attaining had been nothing but sin; for whatsoever is not of faith, according to Paul's doctrine, is sin. 1 Tim 4:6
---By faith Christ dwells in our hearts, and by faith we dwell in him; and in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature, which is Christ formed within us: "and as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them and mercy, and upon the Israel of God," Gal. 6:15, 16.
---Faith is the rule of life according to the revealed will of God in Christ Jesus; "and this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life, and I will raise him up at the last day," John, 6:40.
---Thus faith appears to be the believer's rule of life; according to the will of God in Christ Jesus; and the letter of the law is the bond-children's rule of life-"he that doth these things shall live in them."
---Let him do according to this rule and he shall live.
---The law is not the rule of believing, but of doing; "the law is not of faith, but of works, and the man that doth them shall live in them," Gal. 3:12.
---If to see the Son, and believe on him, entitles us to everlasting life according to God's will. John 6:40
Then faith must be the rule of that life; and one would think that, if he that liveth and believeth shall never die, faith must be a safe rule to live by.
---It is by faith that we apprehend Christ. Phill 3:12-13
---It is by faith we lay hold of him, as the hope set before us, Heb. 6:18.
---It is by Christ that we believe in God, 1 Peter 1:21, and "we receive the promise of the Spirit through faith," Gal. 3:14.
---By this rule we come to a saving knowledge of the Trinity; for the eye of faith is a light by which we see what is the fellowship of the mystery, Eph. 3:9.
---Without the assurance of understanding, there will be no true acknowledgment of the mystery of God [the Holy Ghost], and of the Father, and of Christ, Col. 2:2.

Romans 2:26 Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision?

Romans 3:21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

Romans 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, [was] not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Romans 8:4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Romans 9:31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.

Romans 10:4 For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.

Romans 10:5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, that the man which doeth those things shall live by them.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness [come] by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Galatians 3:21 [Is] the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.

Philippians 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: