By Faith

Post date: Jul 17, 2019 6:25:40 PM

A statement by the author of the book of Numbers caught my attention recently. He wrote; “…now the man Moses was very humble, more than all men that were on the face of the earth.” (Numbers 12: 3) It was the author’s identity which surprised me since the subject of the scripture and the author were the same person. The scripture was either written at the height of arrogance or the author Moses understood a spiritual principle that his brethren had not grasped.

John 7: 24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.” 

As children of God we can, at times, under value the Holy Spirits’ influence upon the lives of others. Moses, in his time, was divinely appointed by God to lead the nation of Israel out of bondage. God testified to this appointment in the presence of both Moses and his siblings who had voiced their displeasure toward Moses’ style of leadership; “…so they said has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses? Has He not spoken through us also?”(Numbers 12: 2) After hearing their complaint God replied; “Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I will make myself known to him in a vision, and I will speak to him in a dream. My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house with him I speak with him face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the Lord.” (Numbers 12: 6-8) Both Aaron and Miriam were rebuked by God for their carnality.

James 2: 17 “Even so faith, if it hath not works is dead, being alone.”

Moses was one who pleased God. Hebrews 11: 6 states; “…without faith it is impossible to please God.” After Moses saw the Lord and spoke with the Lord he by faith believed the Lord and obeyed the Lord. Then empowered by Gods’ grace he led the nation of Israel to the Promised Land.

Romans 5: 18 “Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to condemnation: even so by the righteousness of one (Jesus) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”

Jesus was another who pleased God. He prophesied; “When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him. (John 8: 28-29) Jesus’ faith-filled actions produced a new and everlasting covenant through His shed blood where He; “… abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” (2 Timothy 1:10)

John 16: 7-10 “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is to your advantage that I go away: for if I go not away; the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send him to you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment. Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more, of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”

The Webster’s definition to reprove: to scold or correct usually gently or with kind intent.

The believer also pleases God. Unlike the world, the believer with its sins that He; “past over” (Romans 3: 25) is now divinely arrayed with “…the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe…” (Romans 3: 23) The word believe in this context is derived from the Greek word pistis meaning faith. As the believer stands firm in his/her belief that he/she is truly righteous then he/she is well pleasing to God. Like Moses, the believer can confidently declare that he/she is the most righteous “above all men” on the face of the earth. Ephesians 4: 24 confirms this when it says “…put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

Romans 3: 27-28 Where is boasting then? It is excluded by what law? Of works? Nay: But by the law of faith. Therefore, we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Human effort apart from faith does not bring God’s acceptance. Human action motivated by faith in the finished work of Christ brings about Gods’ acceptance. Keep the law, keep religious practices but as you do be mindful that the believer is justified by the law of faith alone and not by their own self effort. He/she is justified by faith, redeemed by faith and righteous by faith through the cleansing blood of Jesus “in whom one has boldness and access with confidence by faith of Him” (Ephesians 3: 12) as you commune with God in prayer. As the scripture says; “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 16)