Viewpoint Brief Bible Study #008 |
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JESUS calls US to be |
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The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide. |
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The Walk of Faith
(Part 4 of 8 Parts) by Given O. Blakely, edited by Ray Downen
Our brother sends out a daily devotional Bible study by e-mail. You can reach Given O. Blakely (Joplin) at GivenB@aol.com to order his inspiring Bible studies
. He writes about God and Christ and things of the Spirit (the spirit).
From The Word of Truth Publication
A THOUGHT FOR THE DAY for Monday June 30th, 1997
"For therein [in the Gospel] is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith." (Romans 1:17; and see also Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; and Habakkuk 2:4)"Don't leave home without it!" Without faith, it's IMPOSSIBLE for any person to please God. The affirmation of Scripture is, "without FAITH, it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). No circumstance of life can negate this clear, unequivocal word from God.
It makes little difference what accomplishments one may have enjoyed, God does NOT extend His favor if the one who seeks Him does not fully, truly TRUST Him!
It is remarkable how little this is believed in the religious world. It is as though Satan has extended himself and has succeeded in blinding men to this truth. As long as people think human efforts alone will please the Lord, they will leave Him out of their lives. Sinful men have no reason to be comfortable in God's presence!
The just shall live by his FAITH
"Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in
him: but the just shall live by his faith" (Habakkuk 2:4).Observe the personal emphasis: the just individual lives by "HIS" faith.
It is not possible to have spiritual life because of the faith of another (your parent, your spouse, your child, your friend, or your spiritual advisor); it is your own faith which produces life toward God.
This is in diametric opposition to the principle of professional clergy, who presume to stand between men and God, who by human "church law" are thought to be able to forgive sins. While this principle was true under the law, it is not true under Christ. This affirmation is quoted several times in the new covenant writings.
Righteousness of God Comes to Men by FAITH
"For therein is the righteousness of God revealed
from faith to faith: as it is written,
The just shall live by faith" (Romans 1:17).To be righteous is OUR quest. We'll not achieve it except through faith in JESUS who has opened the Way to God.
The Gospel announces the availability of the righteousness of God Himself, conferred upon men through their faith. This righteousness is initially appropriated by faith. It is also maintained and retained through individual faith. That is the Spirit's application of "the just shall live by faith." Those who walk by faith live in the favor of God. Their persuasion of the truth of the Gospel causes the face of God to shine upon them.
Justified by FAITH, Not by Law-Keeping
"But that no man is justified by the law in the
sight of God, it is evident: for,
The just shall live by faith" (Galatians 3:11).Although some men have elected to argue about the means through which men are justified, the Spirit declares that the means of our exoneration "is evident."
Justification is a matter of being alive -- alive IN God, and alive TO God. "The just shall live by faith," maintaining sensitivity and relation to the living God through Christ and by the Spirit. This is contrasted with seeking the approbation of God through the law principle (that is, by strict adherence to a set of rules).
Those who walk by FAITH do not pursue the acceptance of God by following set procedures (by works, by pursuing a righteousness of their own). Rather, true believers focus on believing the good news concerning what the Lord has wrought in their behalf. This is what pleases the Lord.
Faith Does Not Draw Back
"Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back,
my soul shall have no pleasure in him" (Hebrews 10:38).The contemporary church appears to have little grasp of the seriousness of drawing back from God. Those who "draw back" move closer to condemnation and hell! That is the solemn proclamation of Scripture. Adam and Eve drew back in Eden, and Israel drew back at Sinai. They did so because their conscience was defiled and did not allow them to any longer enjoy being "near to the heart of GOD."
But faith is not like this. Faith compels the believer to come close to God, staying there as long as he can, and obtaining as much as possible. Faith basks in the presence of God, and dreads the thought of being cast out from His presence.
The person who walks by faith is always moving CLOSER to God. When chastened, he nestles in the Lord's bosom. In times of trouble, he runs to the Lord to obtain safety. In times of blessing, he joyfully thanks the Lord. Temptation cannot drive the believing one from God. Nothing is able to separate him from the love of God, and he knows it.
Faith, because it does not WANT to draw back (move away from God), does NOT draw back.
In joyful expectation of glory, Given O. Blakely
-- A Brother Replies --
A brother who has read the study above comments,-- On the contrary to what you write here about the impossibility of living by another's faith, that is precisely what this passage of Romans is talking about. We live, not by the efforts of our own "little faith," but by the faithfulness of Jesus the Son of God.Romans clearly points out that, "There is no one righteous -- not even one! (Romans 3:10). But it is Jesus Christ, the Righteous One of Romans 1:17 and Habakkuk 2:4 who has, through his faithful life and death, taken our sins and given us his righteousness.
Romans 3:21-24 points out that our salvation is based entirely on what JESUS did rather than on anything WE can do (except believe in what Jesus did). Compare Romans 4:16 which speaks of us who share the faith Abraham had. Romans 3:26 is better translated (as in the JNT), " ... and it vindicates his righteousness in the present age by showing that he is righteous himself and is also the one who makes people righteous on the ground of Yeshuah's faithfulness."
This brother wants us to not lose sight of the fact that our faith is in Jesus ... our salvation comes from HIM, not from ourselves and our deeds. Yet even the translation he quotes from makes clear in Romans 3:21-24 (which he quotes in full in his note) that this salvation is for "all who continue trusting." I think the article, Viewpoint study #8, affirms this very clearly. Our brother feels it necessary to remind us, "we must not place OUR faith above the faith(fulness) of Jesus!"
And that's right! But still the author of this text is telling us that
it's only OUR (personal) faith that will save US. And a later response --From: JWongCDI@aol.com Date sent: Sun, 7 Dec 1997 02:12:54 -0500 (EST)
To: outreach@sofnet.comHi Ray; -- I think the following study reveals an inadequate understanding of the Righteousness of God. There is some vagueness about his understanding of faith as well, but let's overlook that. Notice his use of such words as "achieve" and "conferred, maintained, retained..." Those seem to be inappropriate words to apply to the Righteousness of God.
His paragraph which begins "Justification is a matter of being alive --" is a confusion of ideas. Justification is a matter of being made righteous. Remember 2 Cor. 5:21? "He made Him who knew no sin {to be} sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (NASV)
I think there needs to be a clear distinction of the difference between the righteousness of God and the righteousness of the Law, besides in their appropriation (faith vs. works). When BOTH terms are used to define BEHAVIOR, we are left with confusion. It is this error that I detect in the study. Do you see that the subject matter in this discussion of righteousness has to do with behavior, only? But Scripture deals with two KINDS of Righteousness: The righteousness of God and the righteousness of Man (Law). They do not differ simply in degree. I think Paul identifies them in Phil. 3. -- Joe
Brief Bible Study #8 from Ray Downen. To go back to
Viewpoint's first page, click < here. Or here to go on to Viewpoint Study 9. For Ray's concluding remarks, click HERE.