We're Saved by Faith, We Live by Faith

In looking at why believers should not go on sinning after believing in Jesus Christ I suggest we start with Romans.  The first thing to know about Romans is the reason God had Paul write it.  You find that in Romans 1:16-18 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.” 18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.  So, the Gospel of Christ has the power to deliver (salvation) everyone who believes from what?  The wrath of God that is presently being revealed against the sin of those who suppress the truth.  Because the just are to live by faith.  Faith, not effort and force of will.  

That is the central theme of Romans, avoiding God’s displeasure with sin.  A concern for both believers and non-believers.  For the non-believer step 1 is to become a believer and gain the everlasting life God offers.  In Romans Paul uses the word justified to describe the receipt of everlasting life and deliverance from the penalty for sin.  Chapters 2-4 of Romans deal with justification. Then in chapter 5 he switches over to addressing believers and their need for deliverance from God’s present-day wrath against sin.  And as I addressed in the previous post, believers still have to deal with sin in their lives.  2 key verses that introduce this shift in focus are: 
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Romans 5:9-10 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
 
Notice Paul makes a distinction between being Justified and being saved in v. 9.  V.10 makes the same distinction between reconciliation and saved.   Obviously, Paul did not use the word saved the way we do today.  He wrote justified people who are at peace with God (Romans 5:1) still need to be saved (delivered) from wrath by Jesus Christ’s life.  Since believers are already saved from hell, this deliverance from wrath must refer to God’s displeasure with our ongoing sin.  Sin which Paul says in Romans 6:23 brings premature physical death.  I know that verse is used a lot in evangelism but it is really addressed to believers.  It defines one of the consequences believers can suffer in this life for living in sin. 
 
This is to what Romans 1:17 was referring: 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.”  The last clause actually reads in the Greek as “the just by faith shall live.”  I like that better.  The believer’s only way to escape the bondage of sin is by faith.  Trying harder, doing better do not work.  Paul says he tried it that way and it killed his fellowship with God (Romans 7:7-12).   So, we need to understand how the just live by faith. 
 
More to follow.