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What is Faith?
John TiltonRomans 3:25-26
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement,[i]through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished—26he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.
In Hebrews 11:1, the word days, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”God is telling us through these scriptures that what we know of Jesus’ sacrifice, which we’ve heard of and read, is most profound when we can understand his sacrifice, his righteousness in the context of faith.That context being what we hope for, and seek assurance for, but don’t see in a tangible way that we might want as people.We want proof, we want the tangible, we want the visual.However, that is the essence of Jesus’ sacrifice and God’s righteousness; in that it is that which must be confirmed in our hearts in spite of not having what we as people would want as proof; but rather what we stand on in our heart because of what we know Jesus, and His righteousness that we can glory in.
I am the type of guy that always likes to know the what, how, and why.I want to know the subject, mission, goal, or fact; and then to substantiate it with facts.Knowing the what, how, and why, with the facts; I can then go forth with confidence toward the goal and assignment.However, I have and I currently am faced with situations, responsibilities, assignments, and projects, that I don’t have control over the end result.I can’t make things happen.What I can do is to do what God has called me to do and – hope for with the assurance of God’s promises and faithfulness, in spite of what I can’t and don’t see yet.It is faith, faith in a deeper understanding of what faithmeans and how I will live in faith.
Dear Lord, thank you for taking me deeper in my understanding of faith in Jesus, for what you did, Jesus; in sacrifice, and how through your righteousness, I am able to stand on and nurture that faith in my life, to live in faith.Thank you for your faithfulness.
