Christians in a Globalized World; The Just Shall Live By Faith

See first post: Christians in a Globalized World; Saints in Rome

Christians in a Globalized World; The Just Shall Live By Faith,

By Kato Mivule

Romans 1:17
(17)  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written. The just shall live by faith.

As we continue studying Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, we find that Christians in Rome did not live a very comfortable life…We see that they suffered persecution because of their faith in Jesus Christ. We see that they too, endured the same troubles that the Roman Empire faced at that time.

The Roman Empire was so large it had become unsustainable. The elites were filled with greed and self indulgence. The Roman social, political, economical, and militaristic structures were beginning to crumble. Rome faced the daily threat of the Barbarians.

Yet in the midst of all this Paul writes to the Christians in Rome and tells them that the just shall live by faith.

Fast forward to our society today especially when one takes a look at global events surrounding us. It seems that the Social, Political, Economical, and Militaristic structures of the Western Globalized world are not holding together.

The Global economy has been severely damaged by elites in the business world who are given to gluttony, greed and self indulgence. There is a constant fear of Islamists and Terrorism in the West. The Increasing number of Moslem Immigrants to the West, only underscores these fears.

From Europe to the Middle East, to Africa, to Asia, North America and Latin America, there seems to be nothing but a downward spiral towards complete social failure. Life as we know it from a Christian Conservative point of view is fading away. Yet we have the same message as Paul the Apostle wrote to the Christians in Rome…’The Just Shall Live by Faith’.

Regardless of what we go through, we are called to be a people of faith. For without faith we cannot please God. The calling to have faith and please God is the same for us today.

Hebrews 11:6
(6)  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

It is important that we know that the faith Paul is speaking about in this passage is not the “Name It Claim It’ Prosperity gospel faith… This is not a faith in our selves or a faith in man but this is faith in Jesus Christ. It is a faith where one has placed total trust in Jesus Christ regardless of what you go through.

It is a faith that endures, perseveres, suffers for Christ even unto death, and a faith that places trust in The Lord’s Providence and guidance.  It is a faith that places trust in The Lord to provide for our needs according to His riches in glory regardless of what the world’s economists say.

As a matter of fact, the faith we see mentioned in Hebrews 11 has nothing to do with the ‘name it claims it’ gospel. It has to do with Christians whose focus was on a city, not built with the hands of man.

This was a faith that was focused on Jesus Christ.

These folks even did not receive the promises here on earth but looked for a better country. They were pilgrims on earth and citizens of heaven.  Their faith was not about having a “Christian Caesar” in Rome, but they looked to that city – New Jerusalem whose foundations were not built by hands of men.

This is the faith that we are called to in this day and age and it is the faith by which we must live – The Just Shall Live By Faith…. Otherwise, we end up distracted by Satan as we focus on having a ‘Christian Utopia’ on earth.

Hebrews 11:13-16
(13)  These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
(14)  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
(15)  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
(16)  But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

Interestingly we do not see Paul telling the Christians in Rome to rebel against their secular “wicked” governments, no; we don’t see Paul writing about how evil Caesar was in Rome, instead we see Paul strengthening Christians in Rome, and calling them to a life of faith in Jesus Christ.

Many Evangelical Christians are getting caught up with issues that really they cannot do anything about, or even change, and find themselves fighting against what God has purposed to be…

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7
(6)  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
(7)  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

Now the Bible clearly states that the mystery of iniquity is already at work but being restrained until the time when He who restrains be taken out of the way. Interestingly it is Paul the Apostle who wrote about this to the early church of the Thessalonians almost 2000 years ago.

Secondly the bible is very clear that there will be a one world global government and a one world global leader called the Antichrist and you are not going to do anything to thwart or stop that from being fulfilled…this is what Political Christianity is trying to do – elect so-called Christian Politicians to stop the Antichrist.

It is we, Evangelical Christians, who really need some serious house cleaning,  as we shall continue to see through out the Book of Romans. It is we who need repentance from sin, forgiveness, holiness, righteousness, and the fear of God restored back to us. It is we Christians, who have lost sight and vision of our calling in Jesus Christ.

We are now more concerned with earthly matters than heavenly. The issues we tend to be concerned with today were not at all a focus of Paul the Apostle when he wrote to Christians who lived in Rome.

Kato Mivule