The Just Shall Live By Faith
The Just Shall Live by Faith 10/7/07 a.m.
Rom. 1:16
Rom. 1:16 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
What does it means by; “The just shall live by faith”
Our nature is like Peters’
Mt. 16:21-27
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are 1an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. 25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.
The Picture;
The servants of God had finally found and received the promised Messiah and now He is telling them that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer at the hands of its leader and die. How is Israel going to be saved?
I don’t want you to die.
Why did God promise us a savor of Israel if He is going to suffer at their hands rather than rule with His own hand?
What good is a dead Messiah?
How can He deliver us from the Romans if He is dead?
How is Israel going to be restored to her rightful status if our redeemer is killed by the Jews?
How is the peace of Jerusalem to be restored if our Savor isn’t even able to stay alive?
I’m sure this had to be the along the though line of Peter and the disciples.
Life doesn’t always go as we expect it to or as we hope it will;
21 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.
Sometimes life brings us heartache, pain, suffering, discouragement, disappointment, detours, setbacks, and things we prefer not to experience.
Our reaction usually is to object – like Peter
22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!”
We don’t want these type things in our lives,
They get in our way,
They mess up our plans,
They cost us time, effort, money,
They bring pain, suffering, discouragement, and discomfort
Our reaction in this manner shows;
23 But He turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.”
Where our attention is, - self
What our focus is on, - my plans rather than Gods purpose
Where our thoughts are centered, - the carnal rather than the spiritual
The state of mind we are in, - on the temporal rather than eternal
Where our concern is, - on the earthly rather than the heavenly
But the Lord said we must live by faith;
24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
To come after Me,
Is to deny myself, putting Gods’ will before ours
Take up my cross, doing what ever it is God wants us to do
And follow Him. Trust and obey Him at all times
Or in other words, live by faith
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Too hard – Abraham leaving his family & all he knew You want me to do what?
Gen. 12:1 Now the Lord had said to Abram:
“Get out of your country,
From your family
And from your father’s house,
To a land that I will show you.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
W/o mercy; What did I do to deserve this?
Heb 5:8
8 though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Stupid; Noah building the ark People will think I’m crazy
Ge 6:14
14 Make yourself an ark of gopherwood; make rooms in the ark, and cover it inside and outside with pitch.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Too costly; the Rich young ruler I’ll lose everything I’ve worked for
Mt 19:16-24
16 Now behold, one came and said to Him, “Good Teacher, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?”
17 So He said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life, keep the commandments.”
18 He said to Him, “Which ones?”
Jesus said, “‘You shall not murder,’ ‘You shall not commit adultery,’ ‘You shall not steal,’ ‘You shall not bear false witness,’ 19 ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
20 The young man said to Him, “All these things I have kept from my youth. What do I still lack?”
21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.
23 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “Assuredly, I say to you that it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Worthless; Joseph; I serve God and this is what I get
Hated by his brothers, sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused & put in prison;
Ge 41:46
46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Unjust; the wicked prosper – I struggle & everything they touch turns to gold
Ps 73:2-3
But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;
My steps had nearly slipped.
3 For I was envious of the boastful,
When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Unpopular & wrong to others; I’ll have everyone on me
Ex. 23:2
2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil;
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Against our nature; but this is what I feel like doing
Rom. 7:21-23
21 I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good. 22 For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man. 23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
Mt. 5:44 - 45
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Against the law; I can’t obey God it’s against the law
Acts 5:26-29
26 Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. 27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, 28 saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!”
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
W/O rewards; Just what good is it doing me?
Mt. 5:3-12
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
Pointless; What good am I’m accomplishing?
Mt. 5:13-14;
13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Living by faith is to follow (Trust and obey) the Lord even when it seems to be;
That God is asking too much; Christ’s death It’s just more than I can bear.
Mt 26:36-38
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” 37 And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. 38 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”
Regardless of the situation, circumstances, our feelings, desires, or popular opinion we must live in obedience to God’s Word and trust God while doing it;
to be living by faith!!!
Heb. 12:1-3
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.
Living by faith is to;
Follow the Lord even when it is tuff;
Run with endurance the race that is set before us,
Looking unto Jesus,
Trust and obey God.
Are you living by faith – have you placed your faith in Christ for eternal life?
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1 a stumbling block
