Living By Faith
The term "Living by Faith", has been diluted in the hearts and minds of a large number of people, in today's world. It seems as if folks are content with just believing that Jesus Christ lived, died, and rose again, and will return one day to execute judgement on his and their enemies. As if this is enough to get them a spot in the most coveted retirement place of all. Heaven.
This type of faith is a lie perpetuated by the Devil and his followers, to lead those who are seeking to be saved by God's grace, astray, as soon as they hear the Word of God spoken. The true cup of faith, brought to us by Jesus, contains quite a bit more substance than that.
In the Holy Bible, Hebrews 11:1 teaches, "Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Verse 2 of that chapter tells us that the elders of faith obtained a good report by faith. This chapter goes on to explain that faith is how we understand, the worlds were framed by the Word of God.
Hebrews continues to explain how those elders, spoken of in verse 2, obtained favor with God through their faith. Some of them received what they believed for while living, and some after because, though the promise was to them, it was not on them.
The true faith of God in Jesus, requires action on the part of the believer in every case. As the elders, that were mentioned in Hebrews, moved in obedience to God, we as believers, must also move in obedience to God.
The Author of Our Faith
As believers we are taught by God that Jesus Christ is the author and finisher of our faith, found in Hebrews 12:2. That scripture reads, "Looking to Jesus to author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God".
Jesus not only created what we should believe and follow, but also walked it out in a body of flesh, and completed it, so we could learn how.
It is when we allow ourselves to become entangled in the affairs of this world to the point of disobedience to the words of Christ, that we cast away our faith, and thereby sin.
When we believe God, and practice what Jesus teaches, we are turning from sin to righteousness, and our sin is no longer remembered our held against us. However, if we turn from faith, or obedience to our old ways, then our righteousness will not be remembered.
As Paul stated, "I thank God for Jesus Christ". Not because Jesus is a get out of hell free card, but because as long as we are alive on this earth, there is an opportunity to repent and return to our faith, which is in the teachings of Jesus, and become righteous.
As it is written in 1 John 3:7, "... whoever does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous".
Focus on Jesus. Amen.
