What is involved in having the type of faith that pleases God? Does this kind of faith have a foundation? How is it to be manifested in the lives of those who have it? Is it ours as the result of a one-time event, or is it recognized and acclimated to over a lifetime? Let’s begin to answer these questions by laying the groundwork with some initial passages of Scripture.
“Look at the proud person, bloated by self-importance and consumed with self-indulgence, but soul-empty. Look at the person who is in right standing before God. This person is fully alive as a result of having loyal and steady confidence in God.” Habakkuk 2:4
“This is news that is worthy of proclaiming. It is God’s extraordinary message of rescuing and restoring everyone who trusts in Him. God’s way of putting things right shows up in acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along, ‘The person in right standing with God will live a vital and exuberant life of trusting in God.’ “ Romans 1:16-17
“It is obviously impossible to think that we can sustain a relationship with God by carrying out an imposed moral program. The person living in right relationship with God does it by what God arranges for him/her. Doing things for God is the opposite of what God does for us. The one who believes in God is made just by God and enters into this reality of living.” Galatians 3:11-12
This is a sure thing but it does involve endurance and perseverance. You need to stay in the plan/will of God and see it through to completion. This requires an unwavering trust in God. God takes no pleasure in those who fall away or run away.” Hebrews 10:38-39
“I write insisting and imploring you to contend, even to agonize in order to guard this sacred treasure that has been entrusted to you; the entire message of salvation revealed to you in the Scriptures. It is complete and sufficient.” Jude 3
What follows in the next couple of posts will be the marks of faith that will characterize all genuine believers.