TUESDAY May 12, 2020

The Just Shall Live by Faith

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

Paul boldly shared the Gospel with people. He wanted everyone to hear about God’s salvation. As he lived righteously, without any hypocrisy in his life, he was not ashamed when he preached the Gospel. Paul knew he was justified by Christ, and he lived by faith.

The Gospel is shamed when people are living a life of hypocrisy. Also when people have been given the opportunity to share the Gospel with someone, and they do not do it because they become embarrassed, the Gospel is shamed. They have disobeyed the Holy Spirit’s leading. We all have done it! Understand, Christians cannot share the Gospel boldly unless the Holy Spirit first places a message on their hearts. It is the work of the Holy Spirit. He gives us the power to be bold and look into the eyes of people to share––without any fear.

When I preach the Gospel, even though I may get nervous, I have found that it is not really me. God takes over, and He is the one who touches the hearts of people though the message—I am just His donkey! When I study God’s Word, I ask Him to speak to me first. The message has to convict my heart so I can be transformed. That is the power of the Gospel. The message has to be believable as it works in and through a person’s life. People cannot tell anyone about the Gospel unless, by faith, they have first been transformed by it.

If there is no change in the life of a person, there is no true conversion. The Gospel has to have power in a person’s life and in their walk with God. You have got to have faith and live by faith.

At last meditating day and night by the mercy of God, I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith. Here I feel as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through these gates that had been flung open.
~Martin Luther~

For more from Raul Ries, please visit SomebodyLovesYou.com!