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Paul said: "But that no one is justified by the law in the
sight of God is evident, for "The just shall live by faith"
(Gal. 3:11). As we noticed last week, Paul quotes from Habakkuk
2:4 saying: "The just shall live by faith."
In this article, we will notice the aspects of living by faith
as communicated by Paul to the Galatians.
The Galatians had turned to another gospel (Gal. 1:6). Some Jews
had come to them perverting the gospel (Gal. 1:7) by teaching that
one had to keep the law and be circumcised to be a child of God
(Gal. 2-3).
Paul said: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach
any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him
be accursed" (Gal. 1:8). So we see that living by faith is
to live by the gospel that was revealed by the apostles "which
was once for all delivered to the saints" (Ju. 3). Those who
live by faith do not live according to the doctrines of men (Col.
2:20- 23) but live according to the doctrine and law of Christ (2 Jn. 1:9; Gal. 6:2). We live by faith in the Son of God (Gal. 2:20).
What does it mean to live by faith?
To live by faith means to obey the truth (Gal. 3:1). A person who
is not living in obedience to God is not living by faith. He has
turned from the Spirit of God back to the flesh (Gal. 3:3).
To live by faith is to have the Spirit by the hearing of faith
(Gal. 3:2). People who hear God's word and believe it are those
who live by faith. They walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16), they are
led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:18), and they have the fruit of the Spirit
(Gal. 5:22).
To live by faith is not to foolishly turn away from God to the
flesh (Gal. 3:3). Some of the Galatians had turned from God seeking
to be justified by the law. Thus they had fallen from grace (Gal.
5:4).
To live by faith is to be as Abraham (Gal. 3:6). The people who
live by faith have the faith of Abraham. Abraham believed God trusting
and obeying Him even in offering his only son (Heb. 11:17-19).
To live by faith is to be a son of Abraham (Gal. 3:7). A person
living by faith is a son of Abraham because they are Christ's (Gal.
3:29) having been baptized into Christ, putting Christ on in baptism
(Gal. 3:27). Christians are blessed with believing Abraham (Gal.
3:9). They are sons of God (Gal. 3:26).
To live by faith is to love (Gal. 5:1-15). Faith works through
love (Gal. 5:6). A person living by faith is not hindered from obeying
the truth (Gal. 5:7). A person living by faith serves the brethren
through love (Gal. 5:13) and loves his neighbor (Gal. 5:14).
To live by faith is to walk in the Spirit (Gal. 5:16). This person
is led by the Spirit (Gal. 5:18) not bearing the fruits of the flesh
(Gal. 5:19-21). People practicing the works of the flesh cannot
inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:21). But, a person walking in
the Spirit bears the fruit of the Spirit against which there is
no law (Gal. 5:22-25).
Are you living by faith? Are you obeying the truth? Are you hearing
with the hearing of faith? Are you a son of God? Do you love the
brethren and your neighbor? Do you walk in the Spirit bearing the
fruit of the Spirit?
Contemplate this: If you are living by faith then you have mercy
and peace with the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal. 6:16, 18).
If you are not living by faith, you cannot inherit the kingdom of
God (Gal. 5:21).
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