“For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin (Rom. 14:23b).”
Do you see this? Does what it says register with you this morning? Look again, “For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.” (Rom. 14:23b) This is one of those unqualified maxims (in context) that we find in Scriptures from time to time, and as such this is the kind of statement that should at the very least cause us to stop and reflect and maybe ask ourselves, Do I believe this? (A hint: It is supposed to stop us in our tracks…and at the same time it is not a matter of whether I want to believe it or not…it is a biblical maxim…I must believe this!) If you are wondering what a maxim is: Simply put, it is a rule that connects an action to the reason for the action. (God does this a lot since we need these types of directives!) If you are still wondering about this:
· Rom. 4:20- “…he (Abraham) grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised.”- The reason faithless acts are sin is that they do not glorify God.
· Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him…”- Where there isn’t faith, or where faith is not exhibited, all acts done displease God.
This type of a statement when reading through Scripture always causes me to stop and wonder: How often in the day do I do things without conferring with God? How often do I just act or react without thinking about the consequences? How often do I make decisions based on my experience or lack thereof? And I could go on with this reflection because this statement causes me to stop and reflect.
I hope that you read the Bible every day. And I hope that you are caught off guard by God’s Word to you every day. I hope that the Word of God causes you to reflect on how to live your life differently. If these things aren’t happening then you need to go back, pray and read it again…for as Christians we are to be transformed daily by the renewal of our minds by God’s Word. Remember Paul had said before this, “I appeal to you therefore, brothers (and sisters), by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:1-2)
The Bible is clear; our freedom in Christ is seen in our living by faith and when we live by faith we will seek to do everything in faith for that is where true living happens…faith that exhibits and fulfills the law of Christ. Anything short of this is sin! Seem harsh…not really since we need to know, and God by His grace and because of His steadfast love for us lets us know so we can fulfill what we were created to do. That is grace and mercy intertwined daily for us.
So now you see why God could make such a statement to Paul and then Paul to us because if we choose to live any other way than by faith we are in fact sinning…willfully…before God. So let’s take this statement seriously; and let the Spirit transform us by the renewal of our minds so that we will in fact “…live by faith.”
God Bless y’all today.
In His Grip,
Pastor Mike
