“And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour” (Matt. 8:13).
Here is the example of a man of whom Jesus said had “great faith” (Matt. 8:10). His faith led to the miraculous healing of his servant by Jesus. While there are no miraculous healings today (cf. 1 Cor. 13:8-10) now that the New Testament is completely revealed and confirmed, there is still something to be said about having a great faith. Consider three things from the principle of “as you have believed, so be it unto you.”
1. The Strength of Faith. This centurion’s faith was like that of the faithful of old. Paul wrote of Abraham’s faith, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Rom. 4:20-21). Jesus was looking in Israel to find such faith and stated that he had not found so great a faith in them (cf. Matt. 8:10). Paul stated of those in his day that not all have faith (cf. 2 Thess. 3:2). Some who have faith are weak in the faith (cf. Rom. 14:1). Consider what Jesus said to the centurion that as he believed so it would be to him. What would happen today of spiritual growth if it all started with faith, which indeed it does (cf. 2 Peter 1:5)? It takes the foundation of faith to be able to add the virtues that are needed.
2. The Source of Faith. The centurion’s faith was not a mere religious quality but a faith tied to the Lord. The centurion was so convinced that Jesus could provide that he simply would rely on the very spoken word of Jesus as power enough to bring about the needed result (cf. Matt. 8:8-9). He would understand fully the passage “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). Seeing today that the written word of God is the foundation for a strong personal faith, how much confidence is there among people that there is great power in the word? While Biblical faith for today is toward our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 20:21), such does not take place without a deep respect and close attachment to the New Testament of Jesus Christ. Jesus said of his own words “they are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63). His word will judge in the last day (cf. John 12:48). One is proud and knows nothing if he rejects the word spoken by Jesus and the doctrine that is according to godliness (cf. 1 Tim. 6:3-4). Where the New Testament has not gone, there are no Christians much less strong ones.
3. The Success of Faith. While the servant was healed due to the authority and power of Christ, there was no success of the healing according to Jesus if the centurion did not have faith. The success would come “as thou hast believed” (Matt. 8:13). Eternal salvation for the child of God is tied to a victorious faith (cf. 1 John 5:4, 13). It is faith that works by love that avails (cf. Gal. 5:6). It is the just who live by faith (cf. Rom. 1:17). Biblical faith as a shield is successful in its result to “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16). Those who receive the crown of righteousness are to keep the faith (cf. 2 Tim. 4:7-8). The Lord promises the eternal home of heaven to those who die in faith (cf. Heb. 11:13-16). Therefore, let faith underpin one’s life of walking with God now and living with God when this life is over.
Jimmy Clark