Hab 2:4; Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11; Heb 10:38
But what is it exactly that we, as followers of Christ (i.e. the just/righteous) are called to believe, have Faith in?
First we are called to believe that our right standing (being just) with God is based on God's provision (a gift) of righteousness through Christ, not our performance (it is however based on performance, just not ours, but Christ's). This addresses our status as being declared (sentenced if you will) righteous before God and now fully beloved by him.
Secondly because of this right standing given to us by God, nothing can or does happen to us outside the realm of God's infinite and unlimited love, wisdom and power. This is the essence of what Paul means when he says all things work together for the good of those who love God. And the reason they do is because the difficult things make us more like Jesus, which is a good thing.
As we go about life in this fallen and broken world, experiencing our own weakness and faults and that of others, we must constantly remind ourselves that God is for usnot against us (and Christ himself is even praying for us right now); that absolutely nothing can ever (nor ever does) separate us from his love...ever.
This involves our ongoing experience of God's love and care (providence). It is based upon our status but separate from it. Without our right standing with God we would not have complete unfettered access to him or be the child of his infinite love and care.
Engaging (or not) who we are
Engaging (or not) who we are
Can we lose sight of this reality (promise)? Yes and we do often whenever we doubt (stop believing) these things are true.
Can or do we ever feel alienated from God and his love? Absolutely, but that is on our side of the relationship not on God's side. Because God's love is not based on our performance but on Christ's (which is finished), his love is 100% locked in and fixed upon us. It can never be more or less than it already is.
It is this reality we are called to believe i.e. the just shall live by the reality of God's unfaltering, nonstop and relentless love fixed upon us in Christ. By faith we know that absolutely nothing happens to us outside of God's infinite wisdom, care and control.
We are called to believe these things and live by them. When we do we are living by faith as God calls us to.
