The Just Shall Live By Faith.

     And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-
     if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which, I, Paul, was made a minister.
                            Colossians 1:21-23 NASB 

     The Christian life is one that is to be lived out on a daily basis, by faith, in Christ. The Apostle Paul states that we walk by faith, and not by sight (2 Cor 5:7). He also states that just as we have received Christ Jesus (which is by faith), we are to walk in Him (Col 2:6).
     Many people have the idea that once they say a prayer, they are now eternally secure. They reduce faith to a one time act. For many, it does not matter therefore, how they live out the rest of their lives. The truth is that faith is to be lived out in the life of the believer, moment by moment, each and everyday.
     Now there are scriptures that show us the security that the true believer has in Christ. There are abundant passages to show us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. He is able to save us to the uttermost, nothing can snatch the child of God out of the Father's hand.
     There are also abundant passages to show us that we must continue in the faith, steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel. We cannot focus on the verses that show us our security in Christ, while neglecting those scriptures that warn us of the dangers of falling away, and likewise, we cannot focus on the warning passages to the neglect of the security passages. We must take the whole council of God, and rightly divide it.

     But Christ was faithful as a Son over His house- whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and boast of our hope firm until the end
                                              Hebrews 3:6 NASB

     Take care, brethren, that there not be in any one of you an evil, unbelieving heart that falls away from the living God.
     But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called "Today," so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.
     For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end.
                                         Hebrews 3:12-14 NASB

     Once again, these scripture passages are here for a reason. They serve to warn us about the very real possibility of falling away from the faith that we hold in Christ. These passages show us that it is possible for the heart that has been softened by Christ, to become hardened once again by sin. We are admonished to encourage one another in view of this very real danger that each and every child of God faces.
     Jesus tells us that unless we are born again, we cannot see the kingdom of God. We must be born of water and the Spirit to enter into the kingdom (John 3:3, 5). This new birth is called the washing of regeneration, and renewal by the Holy Spirit, who was poured out upon us through Jesus Christ. Through this we are justified, and made heirs according to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:4-7). Notice, this is not based upon our deeds, but upon the kindness of God.
     The new birth is the making of a new creation (2 Cor 5:17). To be sure, we are justified, that is, made right with God. We are reconciled with Him. However, it is much more than a judicial reckoning of righteousness to unrighteous individuals, based upon a one time profession of faith. It is the entire remaking of an individual, renewed into the image of the one who remakes the sinner, that is God (Col 3:10). Understand what this means to us. If we are being recreated into the image of God, we are going to walk like Jesus did. Our lives and conduct will show this re-creation for the world to see. 
     It is God who sanctifies us through and through (1 Thess 5:23-24), but we are also called to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. That is, we are to work out in our actions, what God is working in us (Philippians 2:12-13). Paul tells us that as Christians we have an obligation to put to death, through the Holy Spirit, the sinful deeds of the flesh. They have no more place in the life of the new man (Romans 8:12-13).
     There are many who have a fear that they are not doing enough. They go through life striving and struggling, never quite sure if they are saved or not, based upon their deeds. This is wrong, and any efforts to gain God's favor through our works are in vain. We cannot begin in the Spirit, but then attempt to go on in the flesh (Gal 3:3). 
     However, Faith produces works. If we believe, it will compel us to action (Romans 4:16-22; James 2:18-26). It works by Love (Gal 5:6). The one who loves Jesus will obey Jesus. The individual who loves, is not concerned that he might not have done enough. Such an individual is not striving and struggling to do all they can so that they will be saved. The individual who loves Jesus is following Him, doing the good works, not to earn something, but simply out of love for Christ. If such a one should stumble, they confess it and forsake it, and keep on following Christ. They are confident of their salvation, they know that they are secure in Christ. This is walking by faith. The just shall live by faith. It is a living active continuation of the faith that we first profess at salvation. We hold fast to it from beginning to end. The new birth is the entry point into the kingdom of God. 
     Sadly, many become careless and complacent, and allow themselves to become hardened. They begin to to drift away (Hebrews 2:1-3). That is why we are warned; not so that we work a little harder, or worry a little more. We are given these warnings by a loving God, who is able to save us to the uttermost, and is able to bring us into glory faultless, with great joy (Heb 7:25; Jude 1:24).