Today’s Devotional: “Everything Begins and Ends with Faith”

God accepts a person’s faith in Jesus Christ as righteousness.

But Paul makes a critical point that must not be missed, namely that a person must continue to believe, that is, to live by faith.

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17)

From the moment we accepted Jesus Christ to the moment we shed this mortal body, the entirety of our lives is to be lived by faith. Having begun in faith, we are to continue on this path by faith until we meet the Lord, who will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” (Matthew 25:21)

The New International Version reflects this in its translation, stating, “For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’” (Romans 1:17)

In this section of the letter, Paul addresses the Roman church and then quotes Habakkuk 2:4

To live for God isn’t about keeping rules or the law; it is by faith. Paul makes this point so eloquently in Ephesians 2:8-9, saying, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.”

And it is this faith that God counts as righteousness for us.

“This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” (Romans 3:22)

Faith is a humble, steadfast trust in God, despite the circumstances we face. The life of a believer is to be one of faith, because “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6)

Therefore, everything begins and ends with faith.