Articles
Those That Are Of Faith - Galatians 3
Those That Are Of Faith - Galatians 3
Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness (Gal. 3:6; Genesis 15:6).
Then Paul argues that 1) those who are OF FAITH are the sons of Abraham (vs. 7), and 2) that those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham (vs. 9).
This being ‘of faith’ begins with us by trusting in Jesus (vs. 26) and being baptized into Christ (27). THUS we become children of God through faith and if children of God, then we are children of Abraham and heirs according to the promise (29).
While that is the way it begins, the consequential life that follows is a life of trust. Those who would be justified BY faith must LIVE by faith (3:11). As Paul exemplifies: “The life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God” (2:20). We ‘walk in the footsteps of the faith that our father Abraham had..” (Rom. 4:12). We walk by faith (2Cor. 5:7).
Such faith that saves is NOT a moment of faith, but a living and walking faith. Study the life of Abraham! He was a believer when we are first introduced to him in Gen. 12 for Hebrews writes that ‘by FAITH Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place… and he went (Heb. 11:8). He then for years he walked with God, worshiped God, was a friend of God. THEN, in Gen. 15:6, we read that his faith was reckoned unto him as righteousness. As Paul describes such life of trust:
18 In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, "So shall your descendants be."
19 Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah's womb;
20 yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God,
21 and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform.
22 Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. (Romans 4:18-22)
IF we are to have the faith that Abraham had, we must also hope against hope, not become weak in faith, not waver in unbelief but be fully assured that what God had promised, he is able to perform. Does this describe your faith? Are you ‘of faith’?
Hugh DeLong
