Living Inside Faith - Pastor Tim
Living Inside Faith
Pastor Tim Spirk
Faith is one of the most central parts of the Christian life, yet it is often misunderstood. Scripture teaches that faith is not just believing something in our minds, but living in a place of inward confidence, firm persuasion, and trust in God and all that He says. To live by faith means we believe the full truth of what Jesus accomplished on the cross and through His resurrection, and we take Him at His word.
Romans 3:21–31 reminds us that faith in Jesus means relying on Him for our salvation rather than relying on ourselves. Faith is a confident trust in the eternal God who is all-powerful, infinitely wise, and completely trustworthy. He has revealed Himself through His Word and through the person of Jesus Christ, and His promises have proven true from generation to generation. Faith is how we access what love has already provided.
Because of faith, we now live in a completely different position before God. Romans 5:1–2 says that since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. Through faith we stand in a place of undeserved privilege, and we can confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing in His glory. Scripture tells us that faith, hope, and love will remain forever, and faith is one of the foundations of our relationship with God.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that without faith it is impossible to please Him. To live without faith is to live outside of the place God designed for us. But when we walk in obedience to what He has asked of us, we are living inside of faith. Faith is a settled confidence that what God has promised will come to pass, even if we cannot yet see it. It is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not yet visible.
Abraham is one of the clearest examples of this kind of faith. Romans 4 tells us that Abraham believed God, and because of his faith he was counted as righteous. Even when there was no reason to hope, he kept believing the promise God had given him. His faith did not weaken when circumstances looked impossible. Instead, his faith grew stronger, and he became fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. Abraham overcame his own shortcomings by looking away from himself and fixing his eyes on the greatness of God.
Hebrews 11 shows us that the people of faith did not always see the fulfillment of every promise in their lifetime. They lived with eternity in mind, trusting that God would complete what He had spoken. Faith does not mean we will never face hardship. In fact, many of the heroes of faith endured difficulty, suffering, and uncertainty. Faith is not a bridge over troubled water, but a pathway through it. God does not promise that we will avoid every trial, but He promises that He will be with us in the middle of it.
Living by faith means we are not controlled by what we see in the moment. We live with our eyes on what God has said He will do. Jesus told His disciples in Mark 11:22 to have faith in God, but the original language carries an even deeper meaning. It can also be understood as having the faith of God, the same kind of supernatural, creative, unwavering faith that He Himself has. This kind of faith believes what God says even when circumstances say otherwise.
When we live inside of faith, we live in confidence, peace, and expectation. We trust that God is working even when we cannot see it. We trust that His promises are true even when the outcome is not yet visible. And we trust that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
Faith is not striving to make something happen.
Faith is resting in the certainty that God will do what He has promised.
