Everything Begins and Ends with Faith
God accepts a person’s faith in Jesus Christ as righteousness.
But Paul makes a critical point, not to be missed, and that is, a person must continue to believe, that is, a person must continue to live by faith.
“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17)
From the time we accepted Jesus Christ to the time we shed this mortal body, the whole of our lives are to be lived by faith. Having begun in faith, we are to continue down this same path by faith until we meet the Lord, who will say, “Well done good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)
The New International Version has this in mind in its translation saying, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17)
In this section of the letter Paul writes to the Roman church, but he then quotes the prophet Habakkuk saying, “The just shall live by faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4)
To live for God isn’t about the keeping rules or the keeping of the law, it is by faith. Paul brings this out so eloquently in Ephesians 2:8-9 saying, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”
And it is this faith that God accounts or imputes to us as righteousness.
“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:22)
Faith is a humble steadfast trust in God despite the circumstances we face. The life of a believer is to be a life of faith, because “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)
Therefore, everything begins and ends with faith.
Dennis Lee is Senior Pastor at Living Waters Fellowship, Mesquite, Nevada. He presently has two books, “From Here to There: A Journey to Spiritual Transformation,” and “Wells of Living Waters,” He also writes a religious column for a local newspaper entitled, “Rediscover the Bible for Life,” along with daily devotionals and thoughts that he posts on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Living Waters Fellowship’s Website
Amen! I was just reading in this portion of scripture in Hebrews this morning. Another thing God put in my heart is that is why it tells us in Hebrews 10:23, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” That reminds me that no matter what circumstances we face, our faith is never to waver, just as many are spoken of in the whole chapter of Hebrews 11. Adversities may come and go, but God is forever faithful, and that is what we can always trust in.
Great take. thanks