We Walk by Faith
“Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.” (Hab. 2:4.)
Faith is a popular theme of Christianity. It is often mentioned, yet seldom obtained. Faith is preached from many pulpits, but not many hearers are true believers. What passes for faith in most elements of Christianity, is really nothing more than a physical belief or mental acceptance of some of the basic tenets of the Scriptures. Really, there is very little godly sorrow, true repentance, and belief and trust in Jesus Christ as the Saviour of men – at least within the ranks of mainstream Christianity.
However, I want you to know that faith is integral in the life of every child of God. Today, I want us to consider that faith, which comes from above, is necessary in at least the following three areas: in order that we might be saved; in order that we might serve;and in order that we might please our God.
I suppose before we conclude our introduction, it would be good for us to read the famous definition/description of faith which is found at the beginning of the 11th Chapter of the Book of Hebrews: “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.For by it the elders obtained a good report.Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Heb 11:1-6)
We are Saved by Faith
The Salvation that we have is not something that we can literally see. In other words, the Components that make up our Salvation – the Death the Burial and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ – are all things that we must Believe. We read in Heb. 11:1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” We cannot, with our Physical Eyes, see the Cross upon which Christ Jesus Suffered. And, we cannot, with our Physical Eyes, behold the Empty Tomb wherein He once laid. But, if you think about it, how many of the Early Christians ever saw these things? I mean, even those that were contemporaries with Christ and with the Apostles, did not, in large part, see, in the Flesh, the Salvation that God has accomplished for His People. Eph. 2:8, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Since faith is the “substance of things hoped for”; since faith is the “evidence of things not seen”; and, since faith is “the gift of God”; it must be, then, that this is an invisible, not physically tangible, gift from God. This gift from God is necessary in salvation. This gift from God is necessary in the very existence and persistence of the child of God. “For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.” (Gal 3:26)
And yet, the faith that comes from God is largely ignored by Christianity today. They have instead, substituted for this faith, either altogether the works of men, or the works of men supplemented by some faith of human origin. Whether the faith which they cling to is based entirely or partly upon the works of men, makes no difference: either faith is flawed, of human origin, and depends upon man for its effectiveness.
In the Scriptures, we are taught that true, saving faith must come from God and Heaven. This gift of faith implies other-worldly origin and other-worldly powers. Actually, it is a dangerous thing to trust in a faith of human or mortal origins, when we are dealing with the matters of the soul and spirit! The faith of this world cannot contend with the foes of the spiritual realm. The faith of this world cannot hope to be effective unto the world to come. Paul understood that salvation hinged upon the “spirit of faith.”“Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God. For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” (2Cor. 4:10-18.) The Hand of God must be involved in the true deliverance which comes by faith in Jesus Christ.
Our text verse is teaching us that we are saved by faith, and not by our works or our own abilities or worth. Paul quoted this OT passage in the NT: “But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.” (Gal 3:11)I believe that it is safe for us to teach that no man will have faith in God – not true, saving faith – without the working and the administration of the Holy Spirit. “For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.” (Gal 5:5)The Spirit accomplishes the deliverance of this faith through the Word of God. “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Rom 10:17)
This morning, you hold in your hands, the means by which the Holy Spirit of God will grant you the faith to believe on the Son of God – Jesus Christ – as your Saviour and Redeemer.“Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;” (Phil 1:27) The “faith of the gospel” is one and the same as the “spirit of faith” which is delivered to us by the Holy Spirit of God. This God-given faith is miraculous and powerful to the saving of our souls. We are saved by faith, and without faith no man will be eternally saved. This faith which is granted unto us – undeserving though we are – will endure throughout this lifetime, and will bring us into Heaven.
We Walk by Faith
Not only are we saved by faith at the beginning of our salvation, but we live out our salvation based upon the faith which comes from God – “We walk by faith.” The Life that we live in the Flesh, we do now live unto the Lord. Therefore, we must live and walk by the faith of God. We must live our lives understanding that God is above, and Jesus Christ is on His Right Hand. We cannot see God there; nor can we behold Jesus Christ in Heaven, with our physical eyes. And yet, we believe and are sure that He is there.“Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him.” (2Cor. 5:6-9.) This faith in God and in the continual presence of God in our lives and on our behalf, allows us to live and continue in a world where God is not known, and where He is not feared.
I believe that the lives that we now live are only going to be of profitable use unto God, if we will indulge the inner man, and follow after faith. The inner man – the result of the actions of the Holy Spirit in imparting repentance and faith unto us – has a sincere and genuine desire to trust and believe in Jesus Christ, and to follow after Him and His Cause. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Gal 5:22-25)Paul instructs us to “walk in the Spirit.” I would submit to you today, that walking in the Spirit is nearly (or wholly) synonymous with walking in faith. We are commanded to do both, and I believe both are a result of the presence and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I suppose that you could also say that we should walk “in the faith” – in the sense that we should obey the doctrine of Christ, and the teachings of the Word of God. We should adhere to the “System of Faith” whereby we, as Churches of Christ, proclaim the Will and the Word of God to the world. “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” (Col 2:7) What we have believed concerning God, because of the faith granted unto us, let us not ever forget. We must adhere to, and contend for, those things which we believe. God expects us to walk in a faithful manner, observing the precepts of the Word of God, and the principles presented to us in the New Testament.
You could also say that we walk “by faith,” in the sense that we walk by (and through) the faithfulness of God unto us. “For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God.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.” (Gal 2:19-20) God’s faithfulness unto us (and unto Himself) is at the foundation of our salvation and the perseverance of the saints of God. If He were to fail, or if He were to lapse in His faithfulness unto us, then we would surely fall. And yet, we know that He is faithful to us (and Himself and the covenant of salvation between the Three Persons of the Trinity) and will never forsake us.
But, mostly, today, I want you each to know and realize that the continuance of your service unto Christ – and any successes you hope to have in Christ – depend upon your faithfulness unto Him. I know that He has granted you faith, or else you are not saved. I know that the faith is the gift of God, and it is nothing that you deserve or have earned. And yet, this faith can increase and grow. Or, we might say that we can mature and “grow up” in the faith which comes from Heaven. It seems to me that most of us have hardly scratched the surface of what this faith from Heaven is meant to accomplish in our lives. I don’t think that we have even begun to properly make use of faith as it pertains to our trust and confidence in God, as we labor in His service. We need to be reminded that the faith we have been given is a miraculous and heavenly faith, capable of spiritual endeavors and holy labors and fervent worship – which you and I can hardly imagine – if only we will believe and follow the Holy Spirit.
We War by Faith
So, faith is necessary in salvation, and indispensable if we are to walk with the Lord. And yet, we know that there are many difficulties, and mighty opponents which we must face in this life. What to do, when confronted with a terrible trial? What to do, when an enemy assaults us? Well, the answer is, again, found in faith.
When there are challenges in our lives; or, when we are tempted by Satan or the flesh; or, when we are persecuted by the world; we cannot with our physical eyes see the gentle and sustaining Saviour that leads us,guides us, and protects us. And yet, we know that He is with us. “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:” (2Thess 1:3-4) The very fact that we have survived (and prospered) thus far, is proof that God is with us. Though we cannot see Him with our mortal eyes, we can see Him and His faithfulness unto us with the eyes of faith, which He has granted unto us.
This service unto the Lord is often described as a warfare, or as a series of battles. Well, I want to remind you today, that the Lord is with us as we mount our defenses. When we are attacked by Satan, self, or the world, have faith in God. He will succor us and protect us.“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” (1Thess 5:23-24)
As a part of our warfare in the Cause of Christ, we are also called upon to go out – on the offensive – to engage the enemy, which is the world and the devil and his minions. Even then, we war by faith. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.” (1Tim 6:12)The Lord is with us as we go out to conquer.“Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you: But I beseech you, that I may not be bold when I am present with that confidence, wherewith I think to be bold against some, which think of us as if we walked according to the flesh. For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.” (2Cor. 10:1-6.)When we go to battle against the world of evil; or when we combat the minions of Satan; or when we assail the heresies of the devil; we cannot, with our physical eyes, see the strong and overcoming Saviour Who is with us. And yet, we know that He is by our side.
Conclusion
True Salvation that comes from God is not very appealing to the world of Men. This is because it is not something that is tangible in a Physical way. In other words, though this Salvation is very real, this Salvation is not meant to be a physical and visible attraction unto men.“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1Cor 2:6-14) Worldly men have no desire for the salvation which comes from God, because that salvation hinges on a Heavenly and Spiritual faith – granted to us by God and descending upon us from Heaven – and the eyes and minds of the world cannot comprehend such a thing. Instead, they will label the Christian a weak-minded fool, and they will devise their own salvation. Of course, their salvation will be only based upon their worldly wisdom and understanding.