Now the just shall live by faith:
but if any man draw back, my soul
shall have no pleasure in him.
But we are not of them who draw
back unto perdition; but of them
that believe to the saving of the soul.
Hebrews 10:38-39
Yes, I repeated the verses from yesterday's blog because before we move on since the next chapter is all about faith we must come to understand this thing called: "Faith." What is faith? There are many different beliefs and teachings on this thing called: faith. Those teachings and beliefs cause people to do what may or may not be actually Scriptural: their understanding and definition is not Scriptural but makes them feel pious. We hear of "faith healers," and those who speak that they have faith but their lives are far from the words of Scripture, but they believe their faith is all that is needed to be saved. Yes, without faith you cannot please God, but not any kind of faith, but the faith as revealed in Scripture. "The Just shall live by faith," the just, not just anyone or any faith, but faith by a just person, so what is a just person? The word "just" has several meanings and the meanings that are to be assigned to a Christian is that a just person is one that keeps the truth, or fact, true, correct, one who has a just analysis implying that one has taken time to study and learn the facts. A just person is one who is righteous, actual, real, or genuine. To have justice in your life you must have the quality of righteousness, a moral uprightness, to be conformed to a principle shown in your conduct (this requires conversion, not just simple faith), so then you do justice that reflects or expresses the worth your faith is based on properly.
"The just shall live by faith." To have faith is to have confidence or trust in a person or thing. That is simple enough but faith is much more for that is to have faith as in your tires not causing you and accident as you travel at high speeds, you have faith in a thing, and in those who built the tires even though you have no knowledge as to how they were built, if they were built by trustworthy people. So faith is not built upon proof. I have never seen God, or Jesus Christ, yet, I belief and and faith in God, the Godhead that what I have not seen is trustworthy and will fulfill all His promises. Yet, my faith is not built simply on nothing for I do have a way to assure my faith: Scripture. Scripture has made known to me, and will to you, the cause for my faith and reassure me, or you, so that I can have confidence in my faith. Scripture has shown to be a reliable guarantee so my faith is secure, not simply built upon nothing. Now I can be faithful and have a steady allegiance, or loyalty, and an affection to the One Who has by the fact of His life, death, and resurrection shown to be fact: My faith is assured and has substance even though I have not seen Him or God. There is no reason to draw back from God, from Jesus Christ, to return to the "old ways" that were leading to destruction.
Allow me to give a literal translation with some thought for clarity in parenthesis: "But the just out of faith shall live, and if (the if is subjunctive so a person may or may not, it is not known) he draw back, my soul delights not in him. But we are not of [those] drawing back to destruction, but of faith (many of the translations use the word "believe" to translate the same word in verse 38 which is identical to the word here, so it might be a bit misleading, for it is of faith, and that faith is to believe, but without Authentic faith that belief may or may not be Scriptural) to saving {the} soul."
Here then is the crux; Faith comes by hearing, hearing the word of God: PERIOD! Pastors and teachers may and should be able to aid you in your growth in sanctification but the responsibility is upon you, to study, pray, and to exercise Authentic Christian Faith.
2016 a new year is two days away, how will it be different for you. What will you do that will make sure your election and salvation? Who will you witness to, not just by you action which is very important, but to show from the word of God, where faith comes from, this is a free gift that God has given, so by your spoken word, using Scripture correctly you will be faithful to the command to take the Gospel to the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8) even if you uttermost part of the earth is right where you live: in fact start there and then see how God will use you to feed His sheep. Be intentional, do not be lazy, or tacitly approve of the wrong that is in the world, take a stance, live as an Authentic Christian and you will find even in the midst of persecution, or trouble a blessing that no person can take from you, it is from God, to you, for you faithfulness: "the just shall live by faith, and that faith is the saving of the soul."
Whoever invokes a blessing in the land
will do so by the God of truth.
For the past troubles will be forgotten
and hidden from My eyes.
Isaiah 65:16
Pray for God to show you the way to be intentional
Richard L. Crumb
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