“¹⁶ For I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto Salvation to every one that believes; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

¹⁷ For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the Just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:16-17

The just shall live by law?  No.

The just shall live by willpower? No.

Perhaps the just shall live by imposing a “purpose” to replace faith in Christ and Him crucified and that purpose becomes a law while our willpower is our source?  Why yes, that makes perfect sense….to the unregenerate man.

The Just, those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and are justified by His finished work on Calvary’s Cross, LIVE by faith in the Son of God Who loved us and gave Himself for us as the perfect Lamb of God and is sitting at the Right Hand of God searching to and fro to show Himself strong in those whose heart is perfect toward Him (Galatians 2:20, 2 Chronicles 16:9).

Listen to me Child of God, the Just shall DIE by vain philosophies that tickle the ears of the foolish and simple.  God’s Children are dying in their proposed purposes to break the yoke of sin and remain bound by the law of sin and death because the pulpits have not lifted up Jesus Christ, Who He is and what He has done on Calvary’s Cross to break the power of sin in their life.

“For the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.” Romans 8:2

In vain, God’s Children are attempting to resist the devil without first submitting to God (James 4:7).  They are zealously trying to follow Jesus without first denying themselves (Luke 9:23).  Unless and until we are IN Christ Jesus by faith in HIS redeeming work (not our purposes or philosophies) we are not spiritually living but we are dying.  The Holy Spirit is not commissioned to free us from the law of sin and death when our faith is in our willpower to be obedient to the law given to us for a purpose. If that were so, the Cross of Christ was in vain. God forbid no!

“¹³ For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

¹⁵ Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.” 2 Corinthians 11:13-15

Seeds of death are being planted among the Just and they are dying by works of vain philosophies instead of living by faith in the Cross of Christ to supply all of their needs according to His riches and glory.

“For the preaching of the Cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

Consider whether or not the preaching of the Cross of Christ is foolishness.  Consider how the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Him crucified is received in your heart.  The Gospel of Jesus will have It’s effect…whether it be a hardening or a softening effect and will bring us to a point of receiving or rejecting the power of God, which IS the Cross of Christ, as the Source and the means by which we LIVE unto God.

From faith to faith, daily fighting the good fight of faith in the redeeming work of Jesus Christ, the righteousness of God is revealed unto whosoever will believe.

-Donna Clark Warren