Freedom is Good News Part 119

Some might feel that the activity of having faith is as easy as falling off a log (I’ve never actually done that! – fall off a log, that is!).  We have been considering faith – the faith that Abraham had – and that it involves much more than just some mental exercise.  It truly involves some kind of activity, just as Abraham’s faith did!

Ultimately, what are we looking for?  As I see it, God has given us life so that we might begin a journey toward Him!  A good word to use here would be “relationship”.  God wants to have a relationship with His creation, yes, with His children.  Isn’t that what we are looking for?

But one thing the scriptures teach us is that our God is Holy and we are not; and that presents a problem, because that which is unholy cannot draw near to that which is holy.  This we know, for the scriptures also teach us that we need to be redeemed from our unholyness, our sinful nature.  God, in His wisdom and understanding, has, from the foundation of the world, considered and provided for our needs in this case.  “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  “Whoever believes in Him” … Did you catch that?  Faith or belief is involved here!

OK, so back to my question, ultimately, what are we looking for?  In a word, we are looking for righteousness!  It is righteousness that will bring us into a relationship with our Heavenly Father and because we have no righteousness of our own, we must be redeemed by Jesus Christ and so accept His righteousness through the blood of His sacrifice.  Do you believe that Jesus’ blood imputes righteousness to you so that you might fellowship with the Father?

We have come a long way in just a short space; allow me to insert here a quote from my daughter, Cynthia Saladin, “If God is your God and you want fellowship with Him, the law is part and parcel of your relationship with Him.  It defines what is acceptable conduct in His presence.  The law is a reflection of the character of God.”  I know I am prejudice toward my daughter but that statement says a mouthful!!  Remember what James said, “Faith without works is dead.”  A short perusal of the faith chapter in the book of Hebrews should give us understanding here, “By faith, Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did, and thereby was commended as a righteous man … By faith, Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family … By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going …by faith, Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, … because they were not afraid of the king’s edict.” (Hebrews 11:4-23)  We could go on but I believe we see that each of these (and more) were commended for their faith by doing something.

Oh yes, faith is a huge subject – there is still more to come!!