Paul: His Life and His Teachings The Just Shall Live By Faith (Continuation)
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No.16 Paul: His Life and Teachings - The Just Shall Live By Faith (Part 3)
No.17 Paul: His Life and Teachings - The Just Shall Live By Faith (Part 4)
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We were studying the passage “the just shall live by faith” and previously we learned that it is about the righteous, faithfully living by the faithfulness of God. That is, relying on God for the breath we draw, for the direction we take, and for the decisions we make. To continue, let us consider another passage wherein Paul wrote, “I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. (Gal. 2:20). The passage clearly encapsulates what living by faith is for Paul.
Notice however that prior, Paul had been living a totally different life. He used to follow with zeal whatever religious law is imposed. He was raised that one must somehow earn his own righteousness. The problem is, this way of life will only lead to frustration as ultimately, we will fall short. Unfortunately, this is also the kind of life that we believers tend to go back into. Somehow, after starting in faith, we tend to think that we need to add something to it, i.e., our good works. In this lesson, let us further examine what living by the faith of the Son of God is according to Paul’s epistle to the Galatians.
First, living by faith involves faithfulness to the Gospel given by Jesus and not by men. In Galatians 1:6-9, Paul was in disbelief how quickly the Galatians are deserting the Gospel that was taught to them in exchange for a false gospel. So, Paul warns them that whom they are deserting is Jesus Christ who called them by grace. Abandoning grace is reverting to religiosity that cannot save. There is simply no other gospel, no other way, no other truth, no other life. It is only Jesus Christ, God’s Anointed! Paul further warns that anybody preaching another gospel is to be condemned.
Second, living by faith involves standing straightforward for the Gospel. Paul demonstrated this when he rebuked Peter in Galatians 2:11- 14. Paul was coming off religious bondage, so he would not be able to stand any sign of religiosity. When he saw it in Peter and his company, he could not just stay silent. Paul did not only stand for the truth, he rebuked Peter, who at this point was the source of doubt and questionable Christian character. Hypocrisy or double life is something that should not be tolerated amongst the people of faith.
Third, it is living for Jesus despite what religion and religiosity say. It is standing firm that we can only stand right before God because of Jesus. This means, standing firm in Jesus and never abandoning Him even if the pressure is on. In Galatians 2:15-21, Paul addresses the faith community to keep in mind how they got saved. Paul likewise described what a simmer is in the context of a faith community. As a person who is not justified by Jesus is a sinner, those who are outside the community are not presumed to be not justified and are therefore sinners. A true depiction of being a community or an ancestry therefore is our faith to the Messiah, the Son of God.
Finally, living by faith is living a justified life by faith in Jesus Christ. That is, we are justified not because of what we have done, but by what Jesus did. Paul’s use of the term “justified” brings the full understanding of who we were and who we have become because of the grace of God – pardoned, and in right standing with God. To live by faith is to faithfully rely on the faithfulness of God whom through Jesus Christ made us fully forgiven and free. Praise be to God!