“The life which I NOW live in the flesh…”
Galatians 2:20
Now
The life we live “now” is the revelation of our now faith. Faithfulness in God’s eyes is to live by faith in the present tense of our life. Faith is the arbitrator that regulates and governs our conduct.
Faith is the shield by which we overcome temptations. Faith is the sight to see past the temporal press of life and live in harmony with the Will of God.
Noah
“By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house…”
Hebrews 11:7
“By faith” Noah “moved with fear” and built the ark before the flood came. His faith produced “now” works to the saving of his household. Any faith void of “now” works is not the faith that pleases God.
“So also faith by itself,
if it does not have works, is dead.”
James 2:17 (ESV)
Faith is the power of God to live godly in this present world.
“training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
Titus 2:12 (ESV)
What is the time frame of this grace that is ours by faith? (Romans 5:2) It is the present age.
Noah’s faith was revealed by his works.
Moses
“Having become great, Moses by faith refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time…”
Hebrews 11:24-25
Faith births choices in those in whom it dwells. Faith in our present circumstances brings us to victory in God and a refusal to “enjoy the pleasures of sin.” This is not a distant fleeting hope. It is growth into the full victory of Christ in all things.
Faith leads us into the victory of Christ. Our faith is as real as the victories it produces.
“…and the life which I NOW live in the flesh
I live by the faith of the Son of God…”
Galatians 2:20
The dynamic of faith is a living, growing reality. Faith is active; it presses us beyond our abilities into the power of God Himself. Victories are the fruit of perseverance and the indomitable Will of God working within us to overcome every obstacle and to bring every thought into the obedience of Christ.
“For the weapons of our warfare [are] not fleshly, but powerful to God for bringing down of strongholds, bringing down reasonings, and every high thing lifted up against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of the Christ…”
2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (LSV)
Faith apart from the daily works of its wonder is dead religion; it does not move the mountains before us nor reveal the hand of God through us. The faith of God is fueled by His love working in us and growing in us, so that we might live unto the praise and glory of Him.
Slothfulness is the fruit of
faithlessness.
Faith has but one purpose:
“And they glorified God in me.”
Galatians 1:24
“What we want, above all things, in this age is heartiness and holy simplicity; men who justify the holy impulse of grace in their hearts, and do not keep it back by artificial clogs of prudence and false fear, or the sham pretences of fastidiousness and artificial delicacy. These are they whom God will make His witnesses in all ages. They dare to be holy, dare just as readily to be singular. What God puts in them, that they accept; and when He puts a song, they sing it. They know Christ inwardly, and therefore stand for Him outwardly. They endure hardships. They fight a fight. And these are the souls, my brethren, who will stand before God accepted.”
— Horace Bushnell
“Because of this,
we also are striving to be pleasing to Him...”
2 Corinthians 5:9 (LITV)
Why?
“For we all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive the things done through the body, according to what he did, whether good or bad.”
2 Corinthians 5:10 (LITV)
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Brian Troxel
