Faith is at the Core of Our Christian Walk

Clearly, spiritual things can only be perceived by our re-created spirit (through faith). Our physical senses can't discern spiritual things. Therefore, faith is at the core of our Christian walk. Throughout Jesus' ministry on earth before and after His resurrection, His emphasis was always on faith, and not on sight. Even the nature of His birth takes faith to accept: He was conceived of the Holy Spirit, and born of a virgin, and a lowly virgin at that. Although Jesus was the “Mighty God” (see Isaiah 9:6) who had come into the world incognito, He chose not to arrive on earth in some grandiose style. The world He Himself had created even made no room for Him when He arrived in Bethlehem; all the inns were full, so that He was born in a manger. The Lord of the whole universe was born in a manger. Then His birth was announced not to the kings of the world, but to lowly shepherds. When He came of age and started His Ministry on earth, Jesus was referred to as the "carpenter's son" by those who sought to deride Him by his humble background. Thus, when one considered the physical background and circumstances of Jesus, it took faith to recognize that He was God. Those who were looking to accept Him by sight were obviously disappointed. And it was in such manner that Jesus conducted His entire earthly ministry.

Let's consider a few instances where Jesus emphasized Faith as superior to Sight. John the Baptist had introduced Jesus twice as the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (see John 1:29; John 1:36). Yet, when John was imprisoned, he started to harbor doubts about Jesus as the Messiah. So John sent messengers to Jesus to ask Him if He was indeed the Messiah that was to come. (see Matthew 11:1-3). Jesus could have satisfied John's quest for a confirmation by just saying “Yes” to his question. But that was not Jesus' style. He sent back the messengers to John with a message pointing John to the prophecies in the Scriptures about the works of the Messiah (as recorded in Isaiah 35:5-6) and the fulfillment of those prophecies in Him. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.” (Matthew 11:4-6 KJV).

Again, when Jesus rose from the dead, He never showed Himself to a single person who wasn’t already one of His disciples. We would think it would've been great for Him to have walked the streets of Jerusalem and into Pilate's palace so that the multitudes that had witnessed His crucifixion would see Him in His resurrected body and believe that He was indeed the Christ. But that’s not the nature of our God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him.” Even when Jesus appeared to His disciples on the road to Emmaus (on the day of His resurrection), He prevented them from seeing Him as the risen Christ. Instead, He opened their eyes to Scriptures that pointed to His death and resurrection. (See Luke 24:15-16; Mark 16:12). And upon hearing those Scriptural teachings about Christ, their hearts burned within them. (see Luke 24:32). “Is not My Word like a fire?” says the Lord.” (see Jeremiah 23:29). No wonder the Bible says that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ. (see Romans 10:17). Jesus would later appear to all His disciples and declare to Thomas (who had previously doubted the other disciples' account of an earlier visitation by the resurrected Christ) that "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (see John 20:29). Indeed, in the eyes of God, faith is truly superior to sight.

My dear reader, the Christian walk is a walk of faith. Every benefit of the finished work of Jesus is received by faith, because it is only by faith that we access grace (the undeserved, unmerited favor of God). And without faith it is impossible to please God. (see Hebrews 11:6). Thus, Romans 5:2 says, “We have access BY FAITH into this GRACE in which we stand.” Hence, we're saved by grace through FAITH in Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:8-9). We're made righteous by FAITH in Jesus Christ (see Romans 1:16-17; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 5:17; Romans 3:22). We're healed by FAITH in Jesus Christ. (see Mark 10:52; Isaiah 53:5; 1 Peter 2:24). We inherit the blessings of Abraham by FAITH in Jesus Christ. (see Galatians 3:14-15; Romans 4:13-16). We move the mountains (of our problems) by FAITH in Jesus Christ. (see Matthew 17:20). We overcome the devil by FAITH in the blood of Jesus. (see Revelation 12:11). We fight the good fight of Faith (see 1 Timothy 6:12). Paul admonishes us in Colossians 2:6-7, "AS you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, SO WALK IN Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in THE FAITH, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving." Since we received Christ by GRACE through FAITH, and not by the law or through the works of the law, Paul is basically saying we should walk the Christian walk in the same way we got saved and received the Spirit of God —  that is, by GRACE through FAITH (see Ephesians 2:8-9). Hence, Paul was angry with the Church in Galatia when they started moving away from Faith to the works of the Law. And he said to them, “This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the WORKS OF THE LAW, or by the hearing of FAITH? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:2-3). Like the Church of Galatia, there are many believers today who just can’t bring themselves to accept the truth that righteousness is a gift that must be accepted by faith in Christ Jesus. (see 2 Corinthians 5:21; Romans 3:20-22; Romans 5:17; 1 Corinthians 1:30). Many believers insist on being under the Law and working for their own righteousness rather than accepting (by faith) that they are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Unfortunately, it appears that faith is more difficult for many people than works of the law. But Paul said, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain.” (Galatians 2:21). Beloved, we cannot walk the Christian walk by the flesh (or self efforts at keeping the Law of Moses); we are to walk by faith in Jesus our Savior. We are to grow in our dependence on Him — from faith to faith. We're also not to respond to our natural circumstances and situations with human effort, but with faith in the finished work of Christ. God is pleased when we live our lives by faith in Him, in spite of the circumstances in which we may find ourselves. It is only by believing everything the Bible says about who we are in Christ that our lifestyle or conduct will reflect that reality. If we believe right, we will certainly live right. Faith is how we walk in the Spirit. “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7). “The just shall live by faith.” (see Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38; Habakkuk 2:4). May you live and walk by faith. Remain blessed.

I share this message, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16 KJV).

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