Do you have peace with God, or have you been deceived? If you do not know the verses you are relying on, would it be worth checking?
We’ve all sinned, and if God marked iniquities, or punished us according to what our deeds deserve, none of us would be alive right now. Thank You Jesus! Amen.
However, being “justified by faith” in Jesus Christ brings peace with God, as well as access to more grace. Check the verse below.
Romans 5:1-2 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. NKJV
Every promise in Romans chapter 5, assumes that the reader has the same “type of faith” that Abraham had, which is described in Romans chapter 4:16-24, and faith in Jesus Christ, Who is the Seed (Galatians 3:29), which is described in Romans chapter 3:21-26.
Is peace with God automatic? We received peace with God when we got “saved” (Ephesians 2:8 below), right? That’s correct, because the gift of God is grace through “the measure of faith,” that we received when we were saved (Romans 12:3 below).
Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. NKJV
Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. NKJV
However, continuing in the faith that we were given is not an automatic thing. Just as getting saved is important, so too continuing in the faith we were given after we were saved is just as important.
Those who do not continue in their faith after they are saved, do not remain in the same position they were placed in, when they got saved. Check the verses below. The word “if” at the start of Colossians 2:23, sets up a condition. We must continue in our faith, or we will not remain holy, blameless, and above reproach in God’s sight.
Colossians 1:21-23 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled 22 in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister. NKJV
According to Colossians 1:21-23 above, continuing in our faith is something that we must do in order to remain holy, blameless, and above reproach in God’s sight. That’s not automatic, simply because “we have a part,” or we play a role in keeping ourself in that position.
Romans 11:22 also reveals and effort on our part to continue in what we have been given, or else we will be cut off.
Romans 11:22 Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. NKJV
That’s something that all Christians need to know, which could very well answer a lot of “why bad things happen to good people” questions. We all have something that we must do after we get saved that many, if not most Christians, have no knowledge of.
Not only do most Christians have no knowledge of this, but when promises are quoted from Romans chapter 5, and beyond, they are seldom explained as faith based. Therefore, many Christians do not have peace with God, which would certainly explain unanswered prayers, and the like.
How do I know that this is an issue? It is because I can take a person, or a family, who contacts me for help with issues that they are caught up in, and by simply getting them to repent, and continue in their faith, God rescues them from their situation according to His promises written in scripture.
Some of the people we have worked with even knew the promises they were depending on, but they were not receiving results because they simply had not continued in their faith. Many of these issues I have explained in my latest book, “Stop Sinning and Be Healed,” which I marked down to .99 cents. However, you do not need to buy my book in order to receive our help.
One preacher asked, “Where does the faith go?” “God doesn’t take it back, so where does it go?” There are two things I want you to learn from that question. First, it challenges the Word of God.
God’s Word says we are holy, blameless, and above reproach in God’s sight, if we do something; “continue in our faith.” It doesn’t say that the ‘faith” goes anywhere. It says we have to continue in the faith that we have; faith without deeds is a dead faith (James 2:14-17).
Therefore, the issue is not “where is the faith we were given,” but “are we using the faith that we were given?” Dodging the real issue, or making the issue into something else, is one of the schemes being used today against unsuspecting people, as it was used by the devil against Jesus; “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down” (Matthew 4:5).
Second, let the scriptures explain itself. We don’t know everything now because the Bible says that we can’t know everything now (1 Corinthians 13:9). However, the parts we can know are written in the Bible, and that is what we should trust.
1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, NKJV
The verse above tells us what could very well happen, and is happening everywhere today. Some people, who have obviously been given a measure of faith, will simply depart from it, and follow different spirits, and the doctrines of demons.
How can you tell if you have departed from the faith? The things you are quoting concerning the faith are not written in the evidence of scripture, and the good that is promised, according to the evidence of scripture, is not happening in your life (Romans 10:6-8, 2 Corinthians 4:13).
In other words, your faith is not producing the intended results, and one of the reasons for that is God does not answer the call of those who do not answer His calling (Proverbs 1:22-33). Read that passage of scripture for yourself below.
Proverbs 1:22-33 ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. 23 Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, 25 Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you.
28 “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the Lord, 30 They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. 31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. 32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.” NKJV
Verse 23 above promises that if we turn at God’s correction (rebuke), He in turn will pour out His Spirit upon us. Our bodies are controlled by spirits for good, or for evil (Ephesians 2:1-3). After we have been saved, or delivered from the power of darkness (Colossians 1:13-14), we have to keep ourself in the right position to be controlled by God’s Spirit (Romans 6:16-18, Titus 3:8, 14), which means that we have to follow Him, or turn according to His teachings (His knowledge, His counsel).
Just as Noah’s faith made him build the ark (Hebrews 11:7), so too our faith will make us live within God’s instructions found in His Word. Anything besides God’s counsel through His Word has only an appearance of wisdom (Colossians 2:22-23).
If we would respond to what God has called us to do, He would gladly respond to us, and He wants saved people to continue in their faith. So how do we do that?
One preacher said that “Faith is believing that God will do the right thing.” Any Christian can assure you that God is going to do what is right, but that definition of faith is very misleading.
Why? What is right in our eyes is far from what God considers right (Isaiah 55:8-9). According to God’s righteous judgment, every child, who disobeys his parents, deserves death (Romans 1:29-32). Check the verse for yourself, because we were all on that list at one time, and most still are.
Get this! The only way to escape God’s righteous judgment is to be declared righteous through faith in Jesus Christ, and believe.
Romans 3:21-22 But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, 22 even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; NKJV
People who are “right” in God’s eyes, live by faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone else will face God’s righteous judgment, and they will not be able to claim faith in Jesus if they have departed from the faith, and are no longer living by faith in Jesus. Therefore, let us repent, and return to the Lord our God for He is merciful.
Most Christians are taught to focus on the actual day that were saved, but the real issue is the faith we were given, when we were saved. The “end” result of our faith is the salvation of our souls.
1 Peter 1:9 receiving the end of your faith — the salvation of your souls. NKJV
Therefore, question for Christians is not, “Did you get saved,” but “Are you continuing in your faith?” No faith, no salvation of the soul. When will we receive what is promised according to the verses below?
Hebrews 10:36-39 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: 37 “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. 38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” 39 But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul. NKJV
Only after we do the will of God, will we receive what is promised (verse 36 above, Matthew 7:21), and those who draw back from living by faith (verse 38 above), draw back to perdition (the destruction of the soul, verse 39 above).
One preacher proclaimed, “Your salvation is waiting for you in Heaven!” That too is true, but misleading, because there is a comma after verse 4 below, which makes verse 5 a part of that passage he quotes, and in verse 5, God power of protection is only through “faith.” No faith, no protection!
1 Peter 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. NKJV
No faith, no peace with God (Romans 5:1), no access to grace (Romans 5:2), no protection (1 Peter 5:5), no salvation of the soul (1 Peter 1:9), no righteousness (Romans 3:22), no inheritance (Romans 4:13-16), no sons of God (Galatians 3:26), and the list goes on and on.
Those who are justified, or righteous in God’s eyes simply “live by faith” (Romans 1:17, Galatians 2:20, 3:11, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 10:36-39). They don’t just have faith for a season, but they “live by it!”
The entire Christian life is lived by faith from start to finish (Romans 1:17). As it is written below, “from faith to faith.”
Romans 1:16-17 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.” NKJV
According to that passage of scripture, what I have just told you is a part of the Gospel message that you should already know. In the Gospel the righteousness of God is revealed (made known). If you do not believe the verses I have mentioned, you cannot possibly be sealed in the Spirit (Ephesians 1:13).
Just as God loves Israel, so He loves us (Gentiles). However, Israel did not submit to God’s way of righteousness, which is through faith in Jesus Christ. Do you think that we will escape God’s wrath if we don’t submit to God’s righteousness (Romans 10:1-3)?
Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and seeking to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted to the righteousness of God. NKJV
It’s simple. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God; the pure Word of God, just like it is written (Romans 10:17). That means reading it out loud, so that it can be heard in the ears. I use the New King James Version Bible because I know it works just like it is written.
Get your Bible out and read Hebrews chapter 11, out loud, over and over until it is living in you. Why? Hebrews 11 explains what faith really is, and once you know it, you can’t be tricked by philosophy preaching. After that, start reading the Gospels if you are a new Christian, or James, 1 Peter, and 1 John, if you have been a Christian for a while. Allow the pure Word of God to instruct you.
Read it every day is if it is the most important part of your day. How much? If you spend hours a week planning, and attending your favorite thing to do, or what the world expects you to do, then certainly spend more time than that reading your Bible (Matthew 16:24-25, John 12:25-26). Check the verses, because they are another set of promises included in the evidence of things not seen; faith.
Actually we were instructed to pursue faith after we got saved (1 Timothy 6:11, 2 Timothy 2:22), but here again, many never hear what is actually written in their Bibles, but only a weekly sermon, which is usually filled with all kinds of worldly wisdom, and philosophy (Colossians 2:8, Acts 20:28-32).
I’m Alan Ballou; a servant. If my wife Lucie, and I may be of service to you, in keeping with 1 Peter 4:11, please contact us.
