A Life of Faith vs. A Life of Feeling
March 5, 2025
David Cloud, Way of Life Literature, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org
The Christian life is a life of faith, not a life of feeling. God’s Word does not promise that if you are saved and living for Christ you will always be happy. Many have shipwrecked by pursuing feelings, depending on feelings. They have expected certain types of feelings, and when the feelings didn’t come, they floundered, they went astray. They gravitate to contemporary worship. They drink. They take drugs. But that only makes things worse.
Six Lessons on Faith vs. a Life of Feeling
In 52 years, I have experienced about everything the Christian life has to offer: victory, defeat, righteousness, sin, encouragement, discouragement, disappointment, joy, sorrow, tribulation, puzzlement, doubt, fear, and courage. As a young Christian I was exceedingly puzzled about my Christian life. Why don’t I have more happiness? Am I not saved?
1. Nothing in the Christian life is based on feeling. We are never told to feel a certain way or to try to feel a certain way or to expect to feel a certain way.
- Repentance is not a feeling (Ac. 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent”). Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of life. It is a change of mind about God (renunciation of the me life); it is a change of mind about salvation (renunciation of false gods, false christs, false religion). Consider 2 Co. 7:10-11. The “sorrow” here is to be “sorry” about things. It is not primarily an emotion.
- Saving faith is not a feeling. Saving faith is to call upon Christ (“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” Ro. 10:13); it is to come to Christ (“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Mt. 11:28); it is to receive Christ (“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” Joh. 1:12).
- The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a feeling (Eph. 5:18). It is a surrender to His leading. Yielding to Him; obeying Him.
- Growing in grace is not a feeling (1 Pe. 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; 2 Pe. 1:5-7, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity”)
2. Feelings are an aspect of the soul.
- Man is a tripartite being with body, soul, and spirit (1 Th. 5:23).
- The soul is particularly associated with man’s feelings. The soul can experience romantic love (“his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel,” Ge. 34:3), friendship (“the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David,” 1 Sa. 18:1). The soul can be discouraged (Nu. 21:4), “anguished” (Ge. 42:21), “dried out” (Nu. 11:6), “grieved” (Ju. 10:16; Job 30:25), “bitter” (1 Sa. 1:10), “cast down” (Ps. 43:5).
- The soul is weak and easily becomes troubled and discouraged in this world. “My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law” (Ps. 119:109).
- I believe the soul is affected by one’s background: your family life; how you were raised; what type of of sins you committed. I believe certain types of drugs damage the soul (e.g., marijuana, LSD, psilocybin).
3. Feelings vary according to individuals.
- I think of my grandkids. For example, one young girl gets excited about everything. She gets excited about a pile of dirt. Her younger brother gets excited about almost nothing.
4. Feelings vary according to circumstances. Consider sorrow:
- There is sorrow because of sin and our fallen condition. We live in “a body of death” (Ro. 7:24). We are subject to “the bondage of corruption” (Ro. 8:21). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jo. 1:8). We have the “old man” (“that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,” Eph. 4:22). We have “the flesh” (Ro. 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof”).
- There is sorrow because we live in a fallen world (Ro. 8:22-23, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body”).
- There is sorrow because of affliction. The psalmist described great trials of affliction. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?” (Ps. 42:5, 11; 43:5); “my soul cleaveth unto the dust” (Ps. 119:25); “I am become like a bottle in the smoke” (Ps. 119:83); “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate” (Ps. 143:4).
- There is sorrow because of manifold trials (1 Pe. 1:3-7, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith ...”).
- There is sorrow because of persecution (2 Co. 7:5-6, “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears”).
- There is sorrow because of sickness (Php. 2:27, “Epaphroditus ,,, was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow”).
- There is sorrow with those who are sorrowing (Ro. 12:15, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep”).
- There is sorrow in dealing with sin and error (2 Co. 2:3-4, ”And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears”).
- There is sorrow for the unsaved (Ro. 9:2-3, “I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh”).
- There is sorrow in chastening (Heb. 12:11, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous...”).
5. Christian joy is more than a feeling
- You can be sorrowful yet rejoicing (“as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing,” 2 Co. 6:10).
- Biblical rejoicing is not the same as a happy emotion. Biblically speaking, “rejoice” is a bigger, more comprehensive word than “happy.” The world thinks of rejoicing only in terms of emotional happiness, but biblical rejoicing isn’t exactly that. It is rejoicing in the sense of having confidence in Christ and resting in God’s promises and knowing that I am safe in His hands and blessed by Him regardless of what is going on in my earthly life. One’s emotional state can fluctuate even while rejoicing in the Lord. There can be sorrow in the flesh, even when there is rejoicing in the Spirit. There can be sorrow because of circumstances, even while there is rejoicing in Christ and in God’s wonderful promises.
- The joy of salvation comes by faith in the promises of God (“joy of faith,” Php. 1:25; “yet believing, ye rejoice with joy,” 1 Pe. 1:8)
6. Feelings cannot be controlled, but they can be dealt with properly by the knowledge of God’s Word.
- “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Ps. 42:5, 11).
- Living by faith is living by God’s Word (Ro. 11:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”). Must be immersed in God’s Word. Must be a serious Bible student. Must memorize and meditate on God’s Word.
- Living by faith is living persistently. Just keep on keeping on. “If ye CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (Joh. 8:31). “And they CONTINUED stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Ac. 2:42). “CONTINUE in the faith” (Ac. 14:22). “Having therefore obtained help of God, I CONTINUE unto this day” (Ac. 26:22). “CONTINUE in his goodness” (Ro. 11:22). “CONTINUE in the faith grounded and settled” (Col. 1:23). “CONTINUE in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Ti. 2:15). “But CONTINUE thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of” (2 Ti. 3:14). If you fall down, get back up (Pr. 24:16, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth again...”). If you step out of the light, confess your sin and get back in the light (1 Jo. 1:5-10). If the flesh rises up, get back in the Spirit. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Ga. 5:16-17).
Never stop; never quit; refuse even to think about it. Have the faith of Peter, “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (Joh. 6:67-69).
Six Lessons on Faith vs. a Life of Feeling
In 52 years, I have experienced about everything the Christian life has to offer: victory, defeat, righteousness, sin, encouragement, discouragement, disappointment, joy, sorrow, tribulation, puzzlement, doubt, fear, and courage. As a young Christian I was exceedingly puzzled about my Christian life. Why don’t I have more happiness? Am I not saved?
1. Nothing in the Christian life is based on feeling. We are never told to feel a certain way or to try to feel a certain way or to expect to feel a certain way.
- Repentance is not a feeling (Ac. 17:30, “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent”). Repentance is a change of mind that results in a change of life. It is a change of mind about God (renunciation of the me life); it is a change of mind about salvation (renunciation of false gods, false christs, false religion). Consider 2 Co. 7:10-11. The “sorrow” here is to be “sorry” about things. It is not primarily an emotion.
- Saving faith is not a feeling. Saving faith is to call upon Christ (“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved,” Ro. 10:13); it is to come to Christ (“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest,” Mt. 11:28); it is to receive Christ (“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name,” Joh. 1:12).
- The filling of the Holy Spirit is not a feeling (Eph. 5:18). It is a surrender to His leading. Yielding to Him; obeying Him.
- Growing in grace is not a feeling (1 Pe. 2:2, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby; 2 Pe. 1:5-7, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity”)
2. Feelings are an aspect of the soul.
- Man is a tripartite being with body, soul, and spirit (1 Th. 5:23).
- The soul is particularly associated with man’s feelings. The soul can experience romantic love (“his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel,” Ge. 34:3), friendship (“the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David,” 1 Sa. 18:1). The soul can be discouraged (Nu. 21:4), “anguished” (Ge. 42:21), “dried out” (Nu. 11:6), “grieved” (Ju. 10:16; Job 30:25), “bitter” (1 Sa. 1:10), “cast down” (Ps. 43:5).
- The soul is weak and easily becomes troubled and discouraged in this world. “My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law” (Ps. 119:109).
- I believe the soul is affected by one’s background: your family life; how you were raised; what type of of sins you committed. I believe certain types of drugs damage the soul (e.g., marijuana, LSD, psilocybin).
3. Feelings vary according to individuals.
- I think of my grandkids. For example, one young girl gets excited about everything. She gets excited about a pile of dirt. Her younger brother gets excited about almost nothing.
4. Feelings vary according to circumstances. Consider sorrow:
- There is sorrow because of sin and our fallen condition. We live in “a body of death” (Ro. 7:24). We are subject to “the bondage of corruption” (Ro. 8:21). “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 Jo. 1:8). We have the “old man” (“that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man,” Eph. 4:22). We have “the flesh” (Ro. 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof”).
- There is sorrow because we live in a fallen world (Ro. 8:22-23, “For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body”).
- There is sorrow because of affliction. The psalmist described great trials of affliction. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me?” (Ps. 42:5, 11; 43:5); “my soul cleaveth unto the dust” (Ps. 119:25); “I am become like a bottle in the smoke” (Ps. 119:83); “Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate” (Ps. 143:4).
- There is sorrow because of manifold trials (1 Pe. 1:3-7, “Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith ...”).
- There is sorrow because of persecution (2 Co. 7:5-6, “For, when we were come into Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears”).
- There is sorrow because of sickness (Php. 2:27, “Epaphroditus ,,, was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow”).
- There is sorrow with those who are sorrowing (Ro. 12:15, “Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep”).
- There is sorrow in dealing with sin and error (2 Co. 2:3-4, ”And I wrote this same unto you, lest, when I came, I should have sorrow from them of whom I ought to rejoice; having confidence in you all, that my joy is the joy of you all. For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears”).
- There is sorrow for the unsaved (Ro. 9:2-3, “I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh”).
- There is sorrow in chastening (Heb. 12:11, “Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous...”).
5. Christian joy is more than a feeling
- You can be sorrowful yet rejoicing (“as sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing,” 2 Co. 6:10).
- Biblical rejoicing is not the same as a happy emotion. Biblically speaking, “rejoice” is a bigger, more comprehensive word than “happy.” The world thinks of rejoicing only in terms of emotional happiness, but biblical rejoicing isn’t exactly that. It is rejoicing in the sense of having confidence in Christ and resting in God’s promises and knowing that I am safe in His hands and blessed by Him regardless of what is going on in my earthly life. One’s emotional state can fluctuate even while rejoicing in the Lord. There can be sorrow in the flesh, even when there is rejoicing in the Spirit. There can be sorrow because of circumstances, even while there is rejoicing in Christ and in God’s wonderful promises.
- The joy of salvation comes by faith in the promises of God (“joy of faith,” Php. 1:25; “yet believing, ye rejoice with joy,” 1 Pe. 1:8)
6. Feelings cannot be controlled, but they can be dealt with properly by the knowledge of God’s Word.
- “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance” (Ps. 42:5, 11).
- Living by faith is living by God’s Word (Ro. 11:17, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”). Must be immersed in God’s Word. Must be a serious Bible student. Must memorize and meditate on God’s Word.
- Living by faith is living persistently. Just keep on keeping on. “If ye CONTINUE in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed” (Joh. 8:31). “And they CONTINUED stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Ac. 2:42). “CONTINUE in the faith” (Ac. 14:22). “Having therefore obtained help of God, I CONTINUE unto this day” (Ac. 26:22). “CONTINUE in his goodness” (Ro. 11:22). “CONTINUE in the faith grounded and settled” (Col. 1:23). “CONTINUE in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety” (1 Ti. 2:15). “But CONTINUE thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of” (2 Ti. 3:14). If you fall down, get back up (Pr. 24:16, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth again...”). If you step out of the light, confess your sin and get back in the light (1 Jo. 1:5-10). If the flesh rises up, get back in the Spirit. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would” (Ga. 5:16-17).
Never stop; never quit; refuse even to think about it. Have the faith of Peter, “Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life. And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God” (Joh. 6:67-69).
- Receive these reports by email
- www.wayoflife.org
______________________
Sharing Policy: Much of our material is available for free, such as the hundreds of articles at the Way of Life web site. Other items we sell to help fund our expensive literature and foreign church planting ministries. Way of Life's content falls into two categories: sharable and non-sharable. Things that we encourage you to share include the audio sermons, O Timothy magazine, FBIS articles, and the free eVideos and free eBooks. You are welcome to make copies of these at your own expense and share them with friends and family. You may also post parts of reports and/or entire reports to websites, blogs, etc as long as you give proper credit (citation). A link to the original report is very much appreciated as the reports are frequently updated and/or expanded. Things we do not want copied and distributed are "Store" items like the Fundamental Baptist Digital Library, print editions of our books, electronic editions of the books that we sell, the videos that we sell, etc. The items have taken years to produce at enormous expense in time and money, and we use the income from sales to help fund the ministry. We trust that your Christian honesty will preserve the integrity of this policy. "For the scripture saith, Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn. And, The labourer is worthy of his reward" (1 Timothy 5:18). Questions? support@wayoflife.org
Goal:Distributed by Way of Life Literature Inc., the Fundamental Baptist Information Service is an e-mail posting for Bible-believing Christians. Established in 1974, Way of Life Literature is a fundamental Baptist preaching and publishing ministry based in Bethel Baptist Church, London, Ontario, of which Wilbert Unger is the founding Pastor. Brother Cloud lives in South Asia where he has been a church planting missionary since 1979. Our primary goal with the FBIS is to provide material to assist preachers in the edification and protection of the churches.
Offering: Offerings are welcome if you care to make one. If you have been helped and/or blessed by our material offerings can be mailed or made online with with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or Paypal. For information see: www.wayoflife.org/about/makeanoffering.html.
