Walking in Faith because We are Walking by the Spirit

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is publicly proclaimed by preachers who preach Christ and Him crucified (1 Cor 2:2). In their lifetimes, people will hear of how Jesus fulfilled the requirements of God’s Law, by keeping the Law unto righteousness (Mt 5:17). Jesus always did what was pleasing to God His Father (Jn 8:29; Heb 4:15). He was the perfectly obedient and only begotten Son of God (Jn 3:16). In this, Jesus is the one and only way to the Father (Jn 14:6).

For a person to be right with God, that is, to be accepted into God’s presence, this person must either meet the righteous standard of God’s Law to perfection, which was never God’s way of salvation (Gal 3:15–29), or he must have the righteousness of someone else imputed to him. Of course, the other person must have merited the same legal standard — that being perfect obedience to the Law.

Without perfect personal righteousness (an impossibility because of Adam’s sin — Rom 5:12) or this other alien righteousness, the person must pay for his crimes (sins) against the Lawgiver. The wages of sin is death (Rom 6:23); and it is appointed for all men to die once and after this comes judgment (Rom 3:23; 2 Cor 5:10; Heb 9:27; Rev 20:11). The sentence for guilty sinners is eternal punishment in the fiery hell of torment in the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jude 7; Rev 20:14–15).

Who actually believes our report that Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures (Is 53:1; 1 Cor 15:3)? In giving Himself for our sins (Gal 1:4), He bore our sins in His body on the cross (1 Pet 2:24). The Bible teaches that cursed is everyone who hangs upon a tree (Gal 3:3). Hence, Jesus became a curse for His people who were under the curse for not keeping the Law of God (Gal 3:10, 13).

In His death on the Roman execution tree, Jesus’ precious blood was shed for the forgiveness of sins for those He laid down His life for at Golgotha (Jn 10:11, 15; Eph 1:7; 1 Pet 1:19). He saved us from the wrath of God to come on the Day of Judgment (Titus 3:5; 1 Thess 1:10). Not only that, but He sent the Holy Spirit as a token, a pledge of His love for each of His chosen people (Jn 14:26; 15:26; Rom 5:5; 2 Cor 5:5). He who began this good work of salvation in His elect will surely complete it on the Day of Christ Jesus (Jn 5:28–29; Rom 8:30; Phil 1:6).

Having received the Holy Spirit given to us (Acts 15:8; Rom 5:5; Gal 3:2, 5), the new life we now live is by faith in the Son of God, who loved us and gave himself for us (Gal 2:20). God is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins because Jesus justified us by His blood shed upon the cross (Rom 5:9; 8:1; 1 Jn 1:9). In addition, we know God is the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus (Rom 3:26) because every believer has been justified by God’s grace (Rom 3:24), as the way he or she receives faith.

The source of every believer’s faith in Jesus Christ is Jesus Christ Himself, who is the author and perfecter of each believer’s faith (Heb 12:2). Jesus grants faith to those, who by the will of God (Jn 1:12–13), receive Christ in the Spirit. Before the Holy Spirit arrives to cause one to be born again of God (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3) — no one has faith; no one is justified; no one is righteous; and no one does any good — in God’s assessment (Gen 6:5; Is 64:6; Jer 17:9; Rom 3:10–12; Eph 2:12).

Faith, therefore, is a product of the Holy Spirit (Gal 5:22); which is manifest by those who have the indwelling Holy Spirit (Rom 8:9, 11). The promises of God, revealed by the Spirit in God’s Word, are given to those recipients of faith in Christ (Gal 3:22). Believers in Jesus believe the Holy Bible to be authoritative, inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, sufficient, and necessary for our salvation. Christians believe the written Word of God, the corpus of the Christian faith, and all it says about the Living Word, Jesus Christ.

Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (Gen 15:6; Gal 3:6). Abraham’s faith was derived from the same source as our faith (Rom 11:36). This is the one Christian faith handed down to us from the fathers (Jude 3), including Abraham, in whom all the nations are to be blessed because the Person and work of His superior descendant, our Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 3:8–9).

As the Teacher, the Holy Spirit, grows believers toward spiritual maturity and into conformity to Jesus Christ (Rom 8:29), it would be stunningly irresponsible to turn back to vain religion (Gal 3:1). It is the doctrine of demons, an evil spiritual influence, that drives professing believers toward legalism or antinomianism. Trusting in one’s works of the Law is to shipwreck one’s faith. Living a lifestyle that abrogates the Law and the purpose it serves is obtuse (Rom 5:20; Gal 3:25).

Filled with the Spirit of God, the Gospel preacher heralds the Good News to be spoken, heard, and believed by all people in the world (1 Tim 3:16). Out of all those people, the Lord knows those who are His (2 Tim 2:10); for many are called but few are chosen by God’s gracious choice of a remnant to be saved by His grace (Mt 22:14; Rom 11:5). This remnant, elect and redeemed by God, are drawn by God the Father to the Son from both Jews and Gentiles (Rom 6:44, 65; Gal 3:8, 28).

As the Apostle Paul pressed the churches of Galatia, especially the Gentile believers, there was absolutely no reason, no need for circumcision (the sign of covenant inclusion) nor for endeavors to keep the Law of Moses. No one is justified by the works of the Law (Gal 2:16).

How then should Christians live in right relationship to God? Our ambition is to please God (2 Cor 5:9); and we know it is impossible to please God without faith (Heb 11:6). The faith granted to us as a gift of God’s grace is increased by exposure to God’s Word being employed by God’s Spirit (Lk 17:5; Jn 17:17; Phil 1:29). Faith is tested by temptation, trials, tribulation, persecutions, suffering, and poisonous false teachings.

In conclusion, we must walk (live) in a manner worthy of our calling to be children of God (Eph 4:1; Col 1:10; 1 Thess 2:12; 1 Jn 2:6; 3:1). Fully relying on God means we walk by the Spirit, trusting that God is willing and doing all things that concern the plans He has for each one of us, on whom He has set His love (Dt 7:7; 10:15; Gal 5:16; Phil 2:13).

Beloved brethren (for that is what you are!), press on in knowing God, for in this way you will not be disturbed by those who question your performance in holy living. These false brethren do not understand our freedom in Christ, only wishing to hinder our liberty and joy in the One who causes all things to work together for good in everything that concerns us (Ps 57:2; 138:8; Rom 8:28). This we believe.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

August 10, 2023