In our present day culture, successful living is obtained by the achievement of results, the attainment of rewards and the acquisition of resources. “He who has the most toys wins” is the slogan of many. The temptations of this culture are displayed without restrictions or restraint. Through all aspects of our communication media, all age groups are bombarded with the propaganda of pleasure, prosperity, and prestige. The attack upon our senses is not content with limiting its invasion into our homes, our workplaces, and our places of recreation. This attack has invaded our religious institutions and, more importantly, our Christian churches. The various formulas for living the successful life can be summarized by the concept of “self”, specifically: “self-realization, self-satisfaction, and self-effort”.

With the widespread growth of a metaphysical, heretical movement whose basic theology is a clever mix of orthodox Christianity and mysticism; a movement whose foundational doctrine is the so-called “force of faith” has gained a place of prominence in today’s culture. This unbiblical view of faith promotes the belief that they can use words to manipulate the faith-force, and thereby create what they claim are Scripture promises (health, wealth, etc.). They claim that the laws governing the faith-force operate independently of God’s sovereign will and are at the disposal of the followers of this movement. Through the manipulation of the “force of faith” through “positive confession”, one has the ultimate formula for living the successful life.

Not so for the Christian. Found mentioned first in the brief book of the Prophet Habakkuk and second in three separate letters in the New Testament is the Biblical formula for living the successful Christian life. This formula is, “The Just Shall Live By Faith” and nestled in the 5th chapter of 2nd Corinthians the 7th verse is the phrase: “For We Walk By Faith, Not By Sight”. These verses collectively express the principle: the successful Christian life is a life of faith. It is a life received by faith and a life sustained by faith. Therein lays my motivation for sharing this brief presentation of the biblical view of the Christian’s life. Let us now proceed to look closely at the concept of “faith” and the aforementioned verses as we consider the subject, “The just shall live by faith.”