The requirement of a right standing with God can only come from God Himself, and can only be accessed by us through faith.  Nowhere is this more clearly seen than when we evaluate the transformed life to what used to be.  This new “living faith” is born out of a trust and confidence in God’s promises that moves us towards obedience and love. 

Observations:

1. The wicked are consumed by evil
2. The righteous by faithfulness will live

Conclusion:
How do I know that God is going to save me and punish the wicked?
How do I know that I’m not one of the wicked? 

1. A saving faith is a living faith
   1. Justification – A living faith delivers righteousness from God, not derived from you
   2. Adoption – A living faith is the evidence of adoption through the Spirit
   3. Perseverance – A living faith watches while you wait for Jesus
2. A living faith in Jesus secures God’s promise of an everlasting right relationship with Him as His child

Application: – How do I have a living faith? 

1. A living faith begins with a trust and confidence in God’s promises
2. A living faith is evidenced in your behavior, character, and confession as contrasted with the wicked
3. A living faith believes, even in the face of the impossible, absurd, and confusing
4. A living faith is a life of worship

James 2:14-17

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

Romans 1:16-17

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Philippians 3:8-9

“What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.”

Galatians 3:11-14

“Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.” The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.” Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.” He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”

Galatians 4:4-5

“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”

The Westminster Confession of Faith Chapter 12

“God guarantees the adoption of all those who are justified in and for the sake of his only son, Jesus Christ. Those adopted enjoy the liberties and privileges of God’s children, have his name put on them, receive the Spirit of adoption, have access to the throne of grace with boldness, and are enabled to cry, Abba, Father. They are pitied, protected, provided for, and disciplined by him as a father. They are never cast off, however, and are sealed until the day of redemption and inherit the promises as heirs of everlasting salvation.”

Hebrews 10:35-39

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And, “But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.” But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.”

Hebrews 12:1-2a

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”