Wednesday, 3 July 2024

Romans part 9 - Live By Emunah

Tweet

Yesterday, we only dealt with Romans 1, verse 16. Today, let's add verse 17 to the discussion.

Romans 1:16-17 For I am not ashamed of the Good News, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who trusts - to the Jew first and also to the Greek. In it the righteousness of God is revealed, from trust to trust. As it is written, "But the righteous shall live by emunah."

The "Good News" is the power of God! And we must remember, the Good News is knowing Who Yeshua is. Get that "top button" right, and everything else God says fits us, so that we come into right alignment with His plan for our lives.

Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of time came, God sent out His Son, born of a woman and born under law - to free those under law, so we might receive adoption as sons.

By faith (trusting Him) we get in right order with God (through adoption as sons). We are no longer slaves, but heirs to the promises, and those promises include eternal life.

Colossians 3:1-4 Therefore, if you have been raised up with Messiah, keep seeking the things above - where Messiah is, sitting at the right hand of God. Focus your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Messiah in God. When Messiah, who is your life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him, in glory!

Finally, the TLV uses the Hebrew word emunah. What is that? It says the righteous shall live by it. The common translation is "faith." But emunah is more than faith. There is a connotation of eternity mixed in. Faith is a concept dealt with extensively in the Scriptures. In Genesis 15:6, when Abraham believed God, it was by faith (see the book of Hebrews, 11:8).

Our subject verse says "live by emunah", that is to say, "live by eternally trusting (God)." To trust God, we have to hear Him and then act on what we are hearing. Faith that lasts is eternal faith. Short term faith is faith-less. 1 Timothy 6:12 Fight the good fight of faith! Take hold of the eternal life - you were called to it, and you made the good confession for it in the presence of many witnesses.

To be a disciple, we must hear from God and then act according to what we are hearing. We've got to get this right. Our eternal lives depend on it.