Post 27: Marching Forward in Faith
Image: A man walking on a road towards a neon cross with a gold colored arrow behind him. The words “March Forward in Faith" are above the cross, and the website name bytesofsalvation.com is in the bottom right corner.
Summary: This short post discusses what I am learning about how Christians ought to move forward by faith.
What is faith?
In order to understand what it means to march forward in faith, it is helpful to first define what faith is. Dictionary.com defines "Faith" as "Confidence or trust in a person or thing", also giving a definition related to Christian Theology as "The trust in God and His promises as made through Christ and the Scriptures, by which humans are justified or saved." (retrieved 3.18.26)
Hebrews 11:1 (ESV) tells us "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." Other bible translations describe faith as "confidence in what we hope for" and we as Christians "hope" in the promise of the resurrection (Romans 8:11) and eternal life given by faith in Christ (John 3:16).
According to the Bible, God's will is that mankind would believe in Jesus Christ, whom He sent, to receive eternal life (John 6:29, John 6:40). A person comes to faith in Christ when they choose to believe what God's Word (e.g. The Holy Bible) says about who Jesus is and what He has done to save humanity from the penalty of it's sins.
Beyond belief, God's revealed will in scripture includes sanctification (avoiding sexual sin), submission, and giving thanks in all circumstances. Walking in God's will requires active faith and trust, relying on Him, and submitting to His sovereignty rather than our own plans.
Salvation by Grace Through Faith
Salvation is having faith in the truth that Jesus' sacrificial atoning death on the cross fully paid for our sins (1 John 2:2, 2 Corinthians 5:21). By faith in His death, we can be forgiven, washed clean of sin (Psalm 51:7, 1 John 1:7), saved from the very penalty of sin and Gods coming wrath towards sin (Isaiah 13:9, Romans 2:5), and given eternal life as a free gift.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV) states: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast". This passage shows that salvation is not earned through good deeds, following the law, or personal efforts, but rather given as a free gift from God and received through faith in Christ. Because salvation is a gift, no one can take credit or brag about earning their salvation.
While works do not cause salvation, many bible scholars argue that if someone is living out their faith, they will inevitably produce good works (James 2:17). It is also important to note here that the bible indicates that someone who believes but does not do any works still has a faith that is counted as righteousness (Romans 4:5). One example of faith without works still saving someone is the account of one of the thieves who were crucified on a cross alongside Jesus who expressed repentance and was promised salvation on his deathbed (Luke 23:42-43).
Now that I have faith, what's next?
With a right understanding of faith in Jesus as the only one who save (Acts 4:12), we can now take the next step and begin to live a life that "marches forward in faith". One phrase that comes to mind when considering how to march forward in faith is the phrase "Stepping out on faith".
2 Corinthians 5:7 (ESV) says, "For we walk by faith, not by sight." Walking by faith means trusting God’s promises over your own sight or understanding, often requiring courageous action despite uncertainty. As we step out on faith, trusting the Lord, rather than relying on intellectual understanding, and seek His will for our lives, He will guide us according to His Word (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Learn to leave the past behind
When we put faith in Christ, we receive forgiveness for our sins (Psalm 103:12), and become a new creation with a new identity in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This new creation means our old spiritual life characterized by sin and alienation from God has passed away, and we receive a brand-new life, nature, and identity in righteousness.
Moving forward also requires learning to intentionally decide to leave the past failures behind you, and instead focus on embracing new opportunities and the future God has planned. In order to move forward in faith, the bible tells us to forget the former things and strive for what is ahead (Isaiah 43:18-19, Philippians 3:13-14).
Overcoming fear
As we begin stepping out in faith, we will inevitably come up against opposition and things that might make us afraid. Our faith in Christ also gifts us with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38), which is not a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7). As we intentionally seek God amidst fear and other obstacles, setting our mind to Him helps us to overcome fear (Psalm 56:3-4 ). God also commands us not to be anxious about anything but in all situations pray to Him and he will give us peace that surpasses all understanding (John 14:27 , Philippians 4:6-7).
Fear is countered by trusting in God and praying (Psalm 56:3) with God acting as a refuge and shield in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1, Deuteronomy 31:6). Focusing on God's truth keeps one anchored during times we experience fear. God's strength helps us to defeat the fear and face terrifying situations that may hold us back (Isaiah 41:10). God's word promises us that we can have courage because He will always be with us (Joshua 1:9) and will never leave nor forsake us (Hebrews 13:5). He also gives us strength to overcome fear and other obstacles (Isaiah 41:10, Philippians 4:13).
Trusting God in Uncertainty
Faith is trusting God even when the path is unclear, knowing His presence and strength go with you. It is about relying on God's strength to accomplish his will, rather than your own abilities. Hebrews 11 notes many people of faith, such as Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Issac, and many others who trusted God and His promises, and obeyed God in faith despite not having a clear path forward.
Perfect faith does not exist
It is vital to note that, when defining faith, we have to recognize that man cannot have perfect (e.g. flawless/sinless) faith as there is no perfection in our selves (1 John 1:8). Our walk in faith in Christ will never be a perfect walk, because there will be failures, mistakes and lack of trust in some areas (Matthew 17:20, 2 Timothy 2:13), however by faith in Christ, we are perfected (here, perfect means made complete or whole) spiritually through Christ's sacrifice (Hebrews 10:14).
The story of David and Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11-12) is a great example of imperfect faith. King David, having already been established as king for sometime and having multiple wives, spots Bathsheba bathing on a roof top. He summons her, and sleeps with her, leading to her pregnancy. To hide his adultery, David arranges for her husband, Uriah the Hittite, sent to the frontlines of the battle knowing it would likely result in his death, and he was subsequently killed in battle. David later marries Bathsheba and is met with condemnation from the prophet Nathan.
David was a man of faith, described in the bible as a man after God's own heart (1 Samuel 13:14, Acts 13:22), but he did not have perfect faith. He had confidence in God and His promises, but it was not total or constant faith as there were gaps in His faith that led them to surrender to temptation and sin. In this example, David’s trust in God is still something to strive for because he acted on God’s word even when his emotion or circumstance may have made him feel a different way.
Conclusion
Faith is about trusting what His word says about Jesus is true, and what He says about our utter need for salvation in Christ is true. Faith is about taking God at His word and trusting God enough to act even amidst uncertainty or when you can't see a path forward.
Perfect (sinless) faith is not attainable while we still inhabit our sinful bodies and is therefore an unrealistic goal for any believer to have because the bible tells us there is no perfection in man. While we strive daily to put off the sinful flesh by the spirit and walk faithfully in truth, we will inevitably make mistakes, but these mistakes do not impact our salvation, which is an eternal gift given by grace through faith in Christ. When we do fail, going to God in faith and confessing those mistakes before God restores us to right fellowship with Him. Amen!