Or, “apart from faith,” or, “apart from faithfulness” (see on v. 1). Whereas the Creator is infinite, His creatures are irrevocably finite, and there are, accordingly, things which they must take by faith. Indeed, to take God at His word is the most exalted exercise of which the human mind is capable. Indeed, he must take God at His word if he is to fill perfectly the place designed for him in a perfect universe, for a realization of the love of God culminates in faith. In the divine-human person of the Saviour, Godlike love and human faith met together for the first time.

That is, professes allegiance to Him.

 Belief that God really exists is the ultimate foundation of the Christian faith. Through nature, through His Word, and through His providential leading God has provided men with all the evidence of His existence that intelligent beings need and can make use of (cf. Rom. 1:20). The writer here rules out such distorted concepts of God as those held by pantheists.

 Here, the writer rules out concepts of God such as those of Deism and universalism. It makes a difference whether men respond to God’s love and comply with His revealed will. “He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world” (Acts 17:31), a day when He “will render to every man according to his deeds” (Rom. 2:6). The awful prospect of someday standing before the great Judge of the universe is undeniably a powerful incentive to right living. To be sure, great fear of the fires of hell will never save any man, but it may be a factor—a potent factor—in shaking him out of his lethargy. The infinite love of God as revealed in Christ Jesus provides man with the ultimate and only effective incentive to salvation.

Or, “seek him out,” “search for him.” To “seek” God is to endeavor to understand more fully His infinite character and His will for men. The writer does not imply that God has deliberately made it difficult for men to find Him, but stresses the need of an earnest desire to understand God and to become like Him both in mind and in character.

That is, impossible to measure up to His requirements.

There is no room in a perfect universe for a created being who lacks faith in the Ruler of the universe. The only alternative to faith in God is fear and resentment, and ultimately, despair.