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From the book of Genesis to the Bible’s last book, the book of Revelation, we read about people having faith. In some cases, Jesus said people had little faith (Matthew 8:26; 14:31). Yes, people can be weak in faith, but it also is possible to have a strong faith (Romans 4:19,20).

The expression “live by faith” is used at least four times in the Bible, once in the Old Testament and three in the New. It first appears in Habakkuk 2:4, where it is written, “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”

In a context in which he wrote about God making man righteous through the gospel, Paul reminded the early Christians that “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:16,17). In contrast to the impossible task of being justified by the law of Moses, Paul told Christians that “The just shall live by faith” (Galatians 3:11). The final time we read the words “The just shall live by faith” is found in Hebrews 10:38. After that statement, the writer speaks about believing to the saving of the soul (10:39), then he shows us example after example of Old Testament characters whose lives exemplified a living faith (Hebrews 11).

In every era of mankind’s history, those who have pleased the Lord God have been those who chose to live by faith. The reality is, “The just shall live by faith.” Yes, it is a choice. Faith is not something that can be injected with a needle, transplanted from one person’s heart to another’s, or purchased with money. Having faith is an individual response.

When the Bible says, “The just shall live by faith,” what does the word “just” mean? It comes from the Greek word “δ καιος/dikaios,” which means “righteous, observing divine laws; in a wide sense, upright, righteous, virtuous, keeping the commands of God” [Thayer, word no. 1342]. So, being righteous means to comply with God’s instructions. That same Greek word is translated frequently into our English Bible as “just,” but more often it is translated as “righteous.” If you want to think in terms of, “The righteous shall live by faith,” that is not a mistake.

The one who is blessed is the one who lives by faith. Thinking about faith is a positive step, but thinking about faith does not equal living by faith.

Asking about faith, if the inquiry is from a sincere heart, is good. However, asking about faith and living by faith are not the same.

Putting in the effort to learn about faith has the potential to bring great benefits, but learning about faith and living by faith are different. Multitudes receive instruction about faith, but in the end many do not choose to live by faith.

Some pray about faith. Jesus’ disciples appealed to Him to increase their faith (Luke 17:5). Requesting faith and living by faith are different.

Many Christians know and sing the spiritual hymn entitled “Living by Faith.” It is one thing to sing about faith; it is another thing entirely to live by faith.

Talking about faith is not wrong, but do not confuse talking about faith with living by faith. From James 2:14-26, we learn that the kind of faith which pleases God is faith that manifests itself in action. And, it is not only faith in action, but it is action which is in harmony with the revealed will of God. In that context, James referred to the possibility of talking about faith: “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?” (James 2:14). The point: that kind of faith, a faith that is lifeless and non-active, cannot save anyone. One can talk about his faith from the rising of the sun until he goes to bed at night, but if he is not living by faith, his talk is just hot air.

Recently I tried to reason with an atheist about the human body showing design, which would indicate it came from an intelligent Designer. His response was, “You believe what you want to believe and I will believe what I want to believe.” While believing is a choice, you and I do not believe in God, the Bible, Jesus, and heaven because that is our personal whim or feeling, something that we just desire to believe. Biblical faith is always based on evidence (Hebrews 11:1), and like the example of Abel reminds us, faith is man’s response to God’s revelation/instruction (Hebrews 11:4; Romans 10:17).

If one has a faith which pleases God, what does he do? First, he accepts the facts/truthfulness of the Lord’s message, just as Paul exclaimed, “. . . I believe God that it will be just as it was told me” (Acts 27:25). Second, such a person trusts in the Lord, having a sense of dependence on Him (Proverbs 3:5). Third, biblical faith includes submitting to the Lord. When God said Moses did not believe Him (Numbers 20:12), the context shows that meant Moses failed to obey the Lord. Real, God-pleasing faith is demonstrated by submitting to the Lord’s will.

“Living by faith” is an ongoing process. It is what God wants us to do each day: trust in Him and have a heart that is ready to obey Him at all times. When the devil sends his fiery darts our way, a strong faith can serve as a shield to protect us (Ephesians 6:16). Whether it feels like matters are going smoothly in our lives or we are facing disappointment, turmoil, and opposition, let us keep on choosing to live by faith.

BY ROGER D. CAMPBELL

“GOD LOVES YOU AND I LOVE YOU AND THAT’S THE WAY IT’S GONNA BE!” – MIKE

There was a hymn in one of the books from which we’ve worshipped over the years (though I forget which one) entitled “Did You Repent, Fully Repent?”  While I admit that John the Baptist did question the “repentance” of some of the Jewish leaders who came to him to be baptized (cf. Matthew 3:7-9), I’m not sure such provides a prerogative for us to question the repentance of someone else in all the ways the song seemed to suggest.  However, it is imperative that we understand the true nature and requirements of biblical repentance in order to distinguish it from its counterfeits- especially for ourselves.

Repentance is typically defined as “to turn again.”  This is literal and certainly accurate.  But there are other factors that come into play for a complete understanding of the word and its implications. For instance, “repentance” can be:

• General.  That is, the word can stand for an overall “turning from sin and to righteousness,” as in that which was urged upon unbelieving Jews, “Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,” Acts 3:19. Here the word is used of the need to “turn” or change the direction of one’s entire life.
• Specific.  After “Simon himself believed” and was “baptized,” he committed a particular sin for which Peter condemned him, and further stated that he needed to “repent of this wickedness of yours, and pray the Lord that if possible, the intention of your heart may be forgiven you,” Acts 8:13,22.  In this case, the “turning again” was specific to a particular sin of which Simon needed to repent.

Beyond these two “types” of repentance, there are other particulars we need to note:

1. Repentance is not being sorry that your sin (general or specific) has been discovered, or has come to light; it is being sorry that your sin has offended the righteousness of your Father in heaven, and brought disgrace to the name “Christian” that you and your brethren wear, cf.1Peter 4:16 and Colossians 1:22.
2. Repentance is not regretting that you will have to turn away from the sin(s) that you enjoy; it is regretting that you need to turn away from sin yet again, 2Corinthians 7:10.  Moses apparently never regretting his repentant choice of “ill-treatment with the people of God” over “the passing pleasures of sin; considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt,” Hebrews 11:25-26.  But the rich young ruler of Matthew 19:16-22 evidently wasn’t able to make the same type of choice since he “went away grieved” when Jesus explained “the cost” of discipleship.
3. Repentance is not just being sorry that you sinned; it is being sorry enough to change- to turn away from sin.  Judas was sorry that he had “betrayed innocent blood” (of Jesus), but his sorrow was of the worldly variety since it produced only death-  both physically and presumably spiritually also, cp. 2Corinthians 7:10 and Matthew 27:3-5.   Contrastingly, Peter was also sorry that he had denied Jesus, and even “went out and wept bitterly” because of it, Matthew 26:75.  But Peter’s sorrow produced life- spiritual life, not only for him, but also for those that heard him preach Jesus, cf. John 21:15-18 and Acts 2:14ff!  Both of these men were “sorry” for their sin, but only one of them truly repented of it.

True repentance is not easy.  It can be, and usually is, hard… very hard… because it requires us to “change” our hearts and minds about our sinful path, and to change our course/direction (our lives).  But it is only when our hearts, minds, and lives have been “turned again” toward God that our affiliation and our future changes, “when a wicked man turns away from his wickedness which he has committed and practices justice and righteousness, he will save his life. Because he considered and turned away from all his transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live,” Ezekiel 18:27-28.  So yeah, really understanding “repentance” and its requirements is pretty important. BY PHILIP C. STRONG

“GOD LOVES YOU AND I LOVE YOU AND THAT’S THE WAY IT’S GONNA BE!” – MIKE