Why Live By Faith?

Romans 1:17 The righteous will live by faith.

The gospel shows me that by trusting Christ my relationship is made right with God. God declares us to be righteous by faith and faith alone.

Faith is always active. Faith is all about our relationship with with God--do I trust God? I can't let my natural thinking get in the way. I have to get out of my own way so that I can see the light.

Psalm 18:28 You, O Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.

Hebrews 11:1 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (NIV) "The assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen." (KJV)

There are 2 words that describe faith: sure and certain. I began my faith believing in God's character. I believe He is who He says He is. My faith believes in God's promises...that He will do what He says He will do. When I believe in God's promises then, even though in the natural world when I cannot see it happening, I know it is...that is FAITH!

Do you ever wish you could see Jesus, touch Him, hear His Words? Are there times when you just want to be with Him and get His advice? That's what Thomas wanted. I'm sure you've heard of "doubting Thomas". He wanted to see Jesus' physical presence.

John 20:24-28 Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord". But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." Thomas said to Him, "My Lord and my God". Then He was real to Thomas.

But, you see, God had a better plan. He did not want to limit himself to a physical body. He wanted to be with us at all times. Every Where, Any Where, Any Time, Every Moment!

John 29-31 Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen me and yet have believed."

So now He walks with me in the form of the Holy Spirit. I can talk to Him. That's what prayer is. He can talk to me too. His words are in the pages of the Bible.

Then my faith grows! See? Faith is the absolute certainty of something even though I cannot see it.