Living by faith

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For in it is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God has showed it unto them. Romans 1:16-19

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that does them shall live in them. Galatians 3:11-12

Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. Hebrews 10:38

If a man is going to live in Christ’s life then he has to live by faith. When Scripture says a man lives by faith it means that every issue and aspect and fiber of what constitutes his living on earth is done by faith. He lives by faith. He does nothing apart from faith if he is living by faith. Every thought is a thought of faith, every word and every action is his faith in action.

If we live by faith this means that every issue of life is an issue of faith.

In this light then consider this:

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Hebrews 11:1

We sometimes remark of someone, his talk is good but there’s little substance to his life; or of others, there is little evidence they are disciples of Jesus.

If a man is living by faith in Jesus Christ then how he lives is the evidence of whether he is indeed living by faith – every aspect of his life will reveal evidence either way, that he believes or doesn’t believe.

If Christians don’t pray it’s bcos they don’t believe. If they are casual toward obeying the truth of Scripture it’s bcos they don’t believe, regardless of their claim to believe. They don’t have the substance and evidence of faith.

If I believe that I have access to God by the blood of Christ and He will answer my prayer, then I will pray. And this principle applies to all obedience.

Jesus looks for the substance and evidence, whether our faith is living or dead.

Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

James 2:18,20

The authentic Christian life is simply what happens when a person lives by faith – The just shall live by faith.

An unauthentic Christian life is to compartmentalize your life into things of faith and things not of faith.