“… The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11

The Lifestyle of Faith (part 1)

“… The just shall live by faith.” Galatians 3:11

The lifestyle of the just or righteous person is a lifestyle of faith. Faith is the persuasion in the just or righteous persons mind that the word of God is true. Abraham had this testimony, “He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform” (Romans 4;20, 21). The just or righteous person is one who does that which is expected by the one who sets the rules and regulations whereby the just must live. In this case God is the one who sets the rules. Not only does He give us life, in setting the rules, He teaches us how to live. And we are to actively pursue a lifestyle that is governed by every word that proceeds from His mouth (Matthew 4:4).

God has a word or a promise concerning every area of our lives. The word of God is our infallible authority. “The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away: But the word of the Lord endureth for ever” (1 Peter 1: 24, 25). The word God is our guide for life. “When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverb 6:22, 23). The word of God is our stability, “The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe” (Proverb 18:10), the word of God is our strength, “I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower” (Psalm 18:1, 2).

Now, the more we hear God’s word, the more we do the one thing that is needful (Luke 10:42) and sit at the feet of Jesus, listening at His words; the more our faith increases, as it is written, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). As our faith increases, faith’s components are also strengthened which are these: love, belief, loyalty, obedience, trust and confidence. So then our lifestyle of faith is a lifestyle of love; a lifestyle of belief; a lifestyle of loyalty; a lifestyle of obedience; a lifestyle of trust; and a lifestyle of confidence.

It is written in Hebrews 11:6, “But without faith it is impossible to please him.” The same with faith’s component of love. Without love it is impossible to live a lifestyle that pleases God, because if you love Him you will keep his commandments (John 14:15). Love is a commanded lifestyle. We are to love God and those who are good to us and also those who are our enemies. “…not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another. And this is love, that we walk after his commandments” (2 John 1:5, 6). “which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself “ (Matthew 22:36-39). (To be continued)