THE
LIFE OF FAITH
.
THE CHRISTIAN life
is one of faith. This is true from beginning to end. The apostle Paul,
having stated his readiness to preach the gospel at Rome, plainly declares,
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel [good news] of Christ: for it is the
power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth:
to the Jew first, and also to the Greek [Gentile]. For therein is the righteousness
of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The
just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:15-17). He had earlier written
in Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet
not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in
the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me,
and gave himself for me." Yes, Paul had been crucified with Christ when
he turned to him. Then having died to sin in his body, he said, "Therefore
we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised
up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk
in newness of life" (Romans 6:4). And in 2 Corinthians 5:7 he states,
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." Yes, "The just shall
live by faith" (Habbakuk 2:4; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38),
and this is true any way that we look at it (whether in becoming a Christian
or in all phases of living the Christian life). The Christian life is a
life of faith, and until we have learned to trust the Lord in every way
we have not entered into the fullness of our religion, which is called
"the faith" (Jude 3).
In this article we wish to consider "The Life
of Faith" from three perspectives: (1) The Sin Problem, (2) Material Things,
and (3) The Experiences in Living. In doing this we hope that it will help
us to better understand and perfect our faith.
.
I. THE SIN PROBLEM
.
The
Problem in Having Life
And
Having Life More Abundantly
.
Jesus avowed that he came that we might have
life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). Theretofore the biggest
problem in living was death and the prospects of death. It was the ominous
dark cloud that overshadowed everyday life at all times. And with death
was the greatest problem of all, sin that brought on death. The sin and
death problems are universal (Ecclesiastes 7:20; 1 Kings 2:1,2), connected
and cannot be separated. Along with the guilt of sin and death is impending
judgment, man being held accountable for his sins (Hebrews 9:27). It is
no wonder that the writer of the book of Hebrews says that Jesus came to
"deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject
to bondage" (Hebrews 2:15). Having life, and having life more abundantly,
was next to impossible in the state in which Jesus found man. Now through
him the sin problem has been dealt with, our consciences can be purged
from dead works (Hebrews 9:14), and we can serve God in newness of life
(2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 6:4). Faith, and the life of faith, is the
key to all of this.
.
The
Definitive Book of Christianity
.
The book of Romans is a most profound and interesting
book. It is very definitive in understanding and explaining Christianity.
Its theme is justification (from our sins) by faith. In the first two chapters,
and much of the third, Paul establishes the fact that the sin problem is
universal. Chapter 3:23 sums it up, as Gentile and Jew alike are said to
have sinned and come short of the glory of God. Mankind had not attained
the righteousness of God. Then continuing on through chapter 5, we learn
that we can attain the righteousness of God through faith. Nailing it down,
the apostle states, "Therefore [read the last several verses of chapter
4] being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus
Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:1,2). Chapters
6 through 8 show us that grace is no license to sin, but the righteousness
of God is to be lived out in our lives practically, not just accepted in
forgiveness. It is not to be accomplished by a legal system per se, but
in the context of grace.
.
Going
Around in Circles
.
More than once Paul seems to be going around
in circles then goes at length to explain what he has said lest he be misunderstood.
He quite plainly says that we are disengaged from the law, being now justified
by faith, but then turns right around and asserts that we must keep the
law. Notice. In chapter 3:28 he states, "Therefore we conclude that a man
is justified by faith without the deeds of the law." Then, apparently afraid
that he would be misunderstood, Paul asks a question and then answers it,
"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish
the law" (3:31). In the last part of chapter 5 he further tells us that
"where sin abounded, grace did much more abound" (5:20,21). Is he saying
that grace, unmerited favor, is a pretext to the practice of sin? That
God simply turns His head and looks the other way? Again, lest he be misunderstood,
he prods our thoughts with some more questions, "What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?" (6:1) His emphatic reply:
"God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
(6:2) No, never!
.
Struggles
with the Law
And
the Exceeding Sinfulness of Sin
.
But, this simply takes us back to our original
problem, like we before stated. Sin is the transgression of the law. No
one has ever perfectly kept the law, and just one infraction of it seals
the sinner’s fate. Therefore Paul now deals with the problems and struggles
involved in law keeping at length in chapter 7, which would be good to
read, before bringing out more fully the New Testament way of obedience.
The law cannot remove sin; it only highlights its reality and awfulness
(and man’s inability to keep the law). It brought out (and still does)
the exceeding sinfulness of sin (Romans 7:13) and thereby was (is) a schoolmaster
to bring us to Christ (Galatians 3:24), showing man’s inability to be saved
by law. Trying to impose law upon a person, aside from Jesus Christ, is
like trying to restrain a wild beast. It may agitate the animal and make
him even more vicious. And even like a wild beast that has supposedly been
caged, the restraining influence of the law on the unconverted is about
like this wild beast in a cage that frequently breaks lose from his confinement.
Paul says in another place that "the strength of sin is the law" (1 Corinthians
15:56).
.
Great
and Wonderful Truths!
.
To make his point Paul ends the 7th chapter
of Romans with a desperate outcry, "O wretched man that I am! Who shall
deliver me from the body of this death?" He now makes way for the answer
that he has been building up to, when he says, "I thank God through Jesus
Christ our Lord." The first several verses of chapter 8 supply the details
of this answer. These truths are indeed great! They are so great that we
lay them out in print before you:
-
"There
is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who
walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit
of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God
sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned
sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled
in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For they that
are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh: but they that are
after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is
death: but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal
mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither
indeed can be. So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But
ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of
God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none
of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the
Spirit is life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that
raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from
the dead shall also quicken [make alive] your mortal bodies by his Spirit
that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh,
to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die:
but if ye through the Spirit do mortify [put to death] the deeds of the
body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they
are the sons of God" (Romans 8:1-15).
The first verse of this section really sums
up all that follows. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which
are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit"
(Romans 8:1). Parallel with this in meaning is Galatians 5:16, which reads,
"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust
of the flesh" (and the rest of this chapter in Galatians is parallel with
Romans 8). And 1 John 1:7 likewise reflects these truths, "But if we walk
in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin." Then
retracing our steps again to Romans 7:6, Paul earlier asserted, "But now
we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that
we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the
letter." All of these verses nicely summarize the truth.
.
Understanding
These Great Truths
.
What does all of this mean? Two things stand
out here. (1) There is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus.
(2) They walk after the Spirit and not after the flesh. The law that only
condemned us has been taken away. It was nailed to the cross with all of
our offenses (Colossians 2:14; Ephesians 2:15-18). We are now dead to the
law and live unto Christ. Through faith we have entered into the grace
of God wherein we stand (Romans 5:1,2; Galatians 3:26,27). As new creatures
in Christ Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are now cushioned by grace as
we grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord. The law that in essence
demanded perfection no longer is a barrier in our approaching God, since
we are not under law but under grace (Romans 6:14,15). Hebrews 4:16 reads,
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain
mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." We are without law, but
"not without law to God," being "under the law to Christ" (1 Corinthians
9:21). It is no wonder that Hebrews 7:25 goes on to say, "Wherefore he
is able to save them to the uttermost, that come unto God by him, seeing
he ever liveth to make intercession for them." And coupled with the cushion
of grace, we have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit received when we repented
and were baptized into Christ for the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 5:32).
Needless to say, there must be a spiritual change, a spiritual birth, before
we can even think about walking in the Spirit (John 3:3-8). As we trust
the Lord and continue to grow, we are "strengthened with might by his Spirit
in the inner man" (Ephesians 3:16-20). Being filled and led by the Spirit,
we pursue that which is positive and soul enriching (Galatians 5:18-25).
The law of Christ is love (Galatians 5:14; 6:2; 1 John 4:21; Romans 13:8).
The works of the flesh run counter to everything that a Christian stands
for, and go decidedly in another direction. The law in its basic rudimentary
form and function, however, serves a much needed purpose in helping restrain
unruly people given over to the flesh (1 Timothy 1:8-10), although this
does not produce salvation.
.
"Where
Is Boasting Then?"
.
So there is no room for self-righteousness,
pride and arrogance in becoming a Christian or in living the Christian
life. Paul asked, "Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law?
of works? Nay: but by the law of faith" (Romans 3:27). Going back to one’s
initial conversion, it is no wonder that Paul asserts in Titus 3:5-7, "Not
by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy
he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost
[Spirit]; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to
the hope of eternal life." These words simply echo what Paul had written
at another time in Ephesians 2:8 and 9, "For by grace are ye saved through
faith: and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works,
lest any man should boast." The Lord Jesus told a parable involving a Pharisee
and a publican in Luke 18:9-14. It was addressed to certain ones who "trusted
in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others." Read this
parable. We need the humility of the apostle Paul who said that he was
chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15,16), "less than the least of all saints"
(Ephesians 3:8), and the "least of the apostles" (1 Corinthians 15:9).
He further tells us in Philippians 3:9 that his desire was to "be found
in him [Christ], 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." He did not write these words in an effort to excuse
himself or others, for he ever pressed onward and upward, but they were
expressions of genuine humility.
.
Going
on Our Way Rejoicing
.
Yes, by believing in Jesus Christ and personally
accepting him as our Savior, we entered into a life of trust. We had to
really believe that we were lost before we could be saved. There was no
way that we could save ourselves as we have seen. Christ, the incarnation
of God, lived a sinless life to become our Savior and to qualify to be
our faithful high priest (Hebrews 2:14-18; 7:25). This sinless Christ personally
died for us, paying the awful price of sin in death (Romans 5:5-10; 6:23).
God "hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin: that we might be
made the righteousness of God in him" (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Corinthians
1:30). When we repented and were baptized for the remission of our sins
(Acts 2:38; 22:16), we trusted God to wash away our sins by the precious
blood of Christ (Revelation 1:5), for "without the shedding of blood is
no remission" of sins (Hebrews 9:14,22). We accepted the blessed promises
of God foretold long ago by the prophet Jeremiah, "For I will be merciful
to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember
no more" (Hebrews 8:12: Jeremiah 31:31-34). And like the Ethiopian baptized
by Philip, we came "up out of the water" to go on our way rejoicing (Acts
8:35-39). With the problem of sin and death taken care of, we now enter
into the present life better prepared to live it to its fullest. Our fixation
is not upon law, which does not empower its adherents to do what it says,
but only condemns them. But with our eyes now fixed upon the Lord Jesus
Christ victorious living is assured (Philippians 4:13; 1 John 5:4; Hebrews
12:1,2). Yes, the life of trust and godliness has "promise of the life
that now is, and of that which is to come" (1 Timothy 4:8).
.
"I’ll
live for Him who died for me,
How
happy then my life shall be!
I’ll
live for Him who died for me,
My
Savior and my God!"
.
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