Living by faith requires a solid perception that God exists and is absolutely supreme in ruling over His creation. He is supreme in power, authority, intelligence, and all attributes of His character, such as love, wisdom, mercy, kindness, patience, goodness, and purpose. His awareness of each of us is also supreme, guiding us to locate our proper place in relationship with Him as we answer to Him for our conduct. Living by faith involves overcoming our natural resistance to submission, which is fueled by pride. Pride, closely associated with evil, is within us almost from birth due to exposure to this world and its influences. However, pride can be neutralized by humility, a created attribute that does not come naturally but must be deliberately added to our character through God's Spirit and our consistent, conscious decisions to submit to Him. We pursue humility because we love Him, seek to be like Him, and desire to glorify Him. Through God's power and our cooperation, humility becomes part of our character, enabling us to grow stronger in overcoming pride's influences. Humility, essential for living by faith, is not a weak approach to life but a deliberate control of power to achieve a greater good. It promotes good relationships by neutralizing pride and its damage, arising from a genuine self-evaluation where one deems himself worthless in relation to God and His truth. This self-evaluation reveals our complete dependence on God, both physically and spiritually, recognizing that we possess nothing intrinsically good and must receive all spiritual virtues from Him. Being poor in spirit, the foundation of a good relationship with God, is to see oneself as utterly impoverished compared to God's qualities and powerless to become like Him without His help. Living by faith is the victory that overcomes the world, as it stems from an honest recognition of need, a desire to glorify God, and the practice of overcoming. Jesus Christ, assigned to oversee and empower us, is our Helper and Advocate, enabling us to be created in His image. From Him, we draw spiritual strength, and He gives grace to the humble. Despite His great gifting, Jesus openly expressed His dependence on God, deferring to the Father and showing that God supplied the power, setting an example for us to follow. True humility cannot be faked for long; it is revealed by consistent submission to God. God, who looks on the heart, immediately recognizes humility and expresses His pleasure in those who humble themselves before Him. Humility glorifies Him through the way we live and is rewarding to those who practice it. It is a key to salvation by grace through faith and to all obedience and growth in God's way of life. God values humility highly, promising forgiveness, answered prayers, riches, honor, and life to those who seek a humble relationship with Him. Though difficult to accomplish due to human nature's resistance, humility requires constant awareness of the need to glorify God, supported by the fear of God and an understanding of His justice.

Living by faith requires a deep awareness of God's sovereignty in every aspect of life, providing the standard against which we evaluate our conduct and attitudes. Pride, sourced from satan and his world, perpetually lurks within, driving resistance against God. Humility, however, grows over time to neutralize this evil pride within our hearts. At the core of humility lies poverty of spirit, which reflects a dependence on God to supply spiritual needs we lack by nature or have not developed. Only those called by God can truly be poor in spirit, as His Spirit enables a right evaluation of ourselves and the reception of spiritual riches. Humility impresses God, as He responds to its expression in His children toward Him, His ways, and His law. To live by faith, one must do justly, being fair to all regardless of their status; show kindness freely, remaining attentive to others' needs; and live in conscious dependence on God's greatness and sovereignty through humility. Such a person will not walk in pride but will grow in character that glorifies God. Jesus Christ, the greatest to walk the earth, exemplified this dependence on the Father, never acting on His own but maintaining perfect communication with Him. Despite His mighty works, He humbly deferred to the Father's authority, showing that even He relied on God. Similarly, John the Baptist demonstrated profound humility by accepting his diminishing role in God's purpose, rejoicing in Jesus' success rather than envying it. Paul, too, taught the importance of recognizing our spiritual poverty and accepting the responsibilities and gifts God assigns, urging believers to build carefully on their calling without prideful quarreling. Humility is not innate but must be consciously chosen and put on, requiring a clear vision of God's supremacy over all creation, especially over oneself and fellow believers. This proper evaluation of God's spiritual richness against our poverty paves the way for obedient submission to His instruction. Only then can one truly live by faith, seeing both God and oneself in a truer perspective. God responds to humility with honor, forgiveness, and answered prayers, ensuring His blessing and a family relationship with Him. Without humility, there is no Kingdom of God; it is an absolute necessity for living by faith.

Living by faith is deeply connected to understanding God's grace as an unmerited gift that empowers us for spiritual growth and salvation. Salvation is accomplished through God's benevolence from beginning to end, as He rescues and saves us freely, not out of obligation or constraint. Grace is given because it is in His nature to give, to save, and to help those less well off, reflecting His character as a generous giver. Without what He freely provides, we are nothing, entirely dependent on His gifts even for our very existence. Salvation, though initiated by God's grace, is not unconditionally guaranteed. We can lose it if we refuse His freely given gifts, much like the Israelites who, despite being in a saved condition after leaving Egypt, lost their faith and died in the wilderness. They did not believe God despite the constant evidence of His provision, such as manna, fire, cloud, and water. We must look for God's gracious providence, trusting that He is there, providing for us, and will continue to care for us. Faith itself is a fruit of God's grace, as no one can come to the Savior unless drawn by Him. This calling is an outright spiritual gift, undeserved and unearned, based solely on His design and choice. God's grace empowers us to yield to Him and make use of the gifts He provides, enabling us to live a new life in Christ. All Christian works are derived from His creating grace, though good works cannot earn it; they are simply the result of what He freely gives. Understanding grace humbles us, recognizing that we have no innate right to boast, as everything we have is received from Him. We must allow the Creator to shape us according to His purpose, without fighting against Him or rejecting His gifts. Grace is the source of godliness, and if we patiently humble ourselves before Him, He will empower us to overcome challenges through the grace He freely bestows.

Living by faith is foundational to our relationship with God, as it requires complete trust in His judgments, even when they seem beyond our understanding. We must recognize that God's justice is rooted in His holy character, which is unchanging and always righteous. He cannot render an unfair judgment, for to do so would be contrary to His nature. Every trial or judgment He places upon us is accompanied by a way of escape, designed in love so that we might bear it and grow. His grace ensures that we are not tripped up by His judgments but are instead urged to overcome, knowing He believes we can succeed. God's mercy and grace are evident in His dealings with us, often restraining the full measure of justice we deserve. He could, at any moment, execute judgment as He did with others in history, yet He chooses to work with us, helping us to grow and become more like His Son. This grace is not to be taken lightly; it is a profound gift that should motivate us to live by faith, striving to avoid sin and to honor the covenant we made with Him at baptism. When we do falter, His mercy allows us to return to Him, acknowledging our sins and once again receiving forgiveness through the blood of Jesus Christ. Living by faith means trusting that God's purpose for us—to make us in His image—is being worked out through every judgment and act of mercy. It requires us to resist the temptation to question His fairness or soften His warnings, understanding that sin brings death, as He has declared. We must not grow careless about sin, for it is a direct offense against the Father and the Son, who have given us life and Their Spirit. By living by faith, we glorify God, acknowledging that His glory is what matters, and that He has chosen us to be part of His family for His honor. Finally, living by faith is essential for salvation, as it is impossible to please God without it. We must guard against falling from grace by remaining loyal to Jesus Christ and not turning away from the Spirit He has given us. To live by faith is to believe in His unchanging righteousness, to trust in His merciful judgments, and to strive continually to overcome, knowing that He desires our success and has provided all we need through His grace.

Living by faith requires a foundation rooted in the recognition of God's supreme nature. He is supreme in power, authority, intelligence, and in the attributes of His character, such as love, wisdom, mercy, kindness, patience, and goodness. His awareness of each individual is profound, and His purpose and plan are unmatched. To live by faith, one must acknowledge this supremacy and find a proper place in relationship with Him, answering to Him for personal conduct. A critical barrier to living by faith is pride, which is inherent in human nature due to exposure to evil influences in the world. Pride, closely associated with evil, resists submission to God and must be overcome through humility. Unlike pride, humility does not come naturally; it must be deliberately developed as a character trait through God's Spirit and conscious decisions to submit to Him out of love and a desire to glorify Him. This process of cultivating humility strengthens one against pride's destructive effects on relationships and supports a life of faith. Humility is a created attribute, developed through contact with God, the presence of His Spirit, and willing cooperation. It is a clear command to humble oneself, a choice that must be exercised despite the strong influence of pride within. Humility involves recognizing one's complete dependence on God, both physically and spiritually, and deferring to His will. It is not about deeming oneself worthless, but understanding one's utter reliance on Him for every breath and spiritual need. The development of humility is essential for growth into the image of Jesus Christ. It requires honest self-evaluation against God's spiritual qualities, revealing one's poverty of spirit and desperate need for His virtues and power. This recognition of need, coupled with faith, drives one to overcome the world, as salvation and overcoming are by faith. Jesus Christ empowers this journey, offering grace to the humble and serving as the source of spiritual strength. Humility is not a sign of weakness but a deliberate control of power to achieve a greater good, as exemplified by God and Jesus Christ. Despite His immense glory, God stoops to lift up those beneath Him, and Jesus Christ, though possessing great power, took on a servant's role. This approach promotes good relationships by neutralizing pride and reflects a genuine self-evaluation of worthlessness in relation to God's truth. Circumstances such as affliction, impending doom, and honest recognition of personal flaws compared to God's perfection can promote humility. These situations push one to submit to God, seeking His intervention and transformation. The positive effects of humility include honor and blessings from God, as He hears and lifts up those who humble themselves before Him. This foundation of humility, built through contact with God and honest comparison to His character, is vital for living by faith.

At this critical juncture, we must adopt a determined mindset to live the rest of our lives by faith, submitting to God to fulfill our role in His purpose for us. As we journey through this life, we will discover that God's grace supports and meets our needs every step of the way. However, we must remain vigilant, as it is possible to fall from grace, just as many Israelites failed to reach the Promised Land due to their lack of faith. This serves as a lesson to keep us aligned with God's purpose, striving to avoid returning to a life of sin after receiving His forgiveness and Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, evidenced by a life that denies the forgiveness once received, underscores the danger of failing to live by faith. Thus, living by faith is essential to maintaining our connection to God's grace and fulfilling His purpose for our salvation.

Living by faith is a profound journey of trusting in the grace freely given by God through Jesus Christ. This grace, an unmerited gift, empowers us to meet the spiritual needs and responsibilities set before us as we strive to be created in God's image. It is not earned through works, for if it were, pride could distort our relationship with Him, placing us on an equal footing with the Creator. Instead, justification by faith aligns us with God's standard, declaring us righteous through trust in Christ's sacrifice, not through our own merit. Faith, as the foundation of this justification, begins as a mental act of belief, rooted in the truth God supplies, rather than blind speculation. It does not produce works immediately but sets the stage for a transformed life during sanctification, where works follow as evidence of a changed heart. Through faith, we stand in grace, a spiritual location far different from our former state of sin and death. This standing in grace, as both Paul and Peter affirm, signifies a new position of peace with God, accessed through Christ, where we rejoice in the hope of His glory. Grace is not a static gift but a continuous flow, providing power and assistance in every circumstance. Jesus Christ Himself links this grace with empowerment, promising His disciples the Spirit to enable them to fulfill God's creative purposes. This divine assistance, coming from both Father and Son, is a personal involvement in our spiritual creation, ensuring we are equipped to overcome carnality and the world's persuasions. As we live by faith, we are called to build on this relationship with Christ, living as He lived, sinless and obedient to God's laws, not to earn salvation, but to honor the justification we have received. Thus, living by faith means recognizing our utter dependence on God's gracious provision, humbling ourselves before Him, and allowing His unearned empowerments to shape us for His Kingdom. It is a commitment to move forward, not returning to the old way of life, but embracing the new creation through the very faith of Christ that has been given to us.

Living by faith is a continuous challenge, as human nature naturally pulls us toward living by sight, which is a state of unbelief in relation to God. Unlike the ease of merely believing in a creator God, living day by day by faith is unnatural and requires God to graciously and miraculously initiate it through calling us. The new nature must be cultivated and nurtured to grow, produce fruit, and glorify God through our witness before the world. However, the Israelites in the wilderness failed to live by faith despite strong visual evidence of God's presence, such as providing manna for forty years and triggering earthquakes or sending poisonous snakes as consequences of unbelief. Their inability to submit to God as He desired shows that living by sight is insufficient. Several spiritual realities are essential for living a life by faith, including God's sovereignty as a foundation, man's pride as a hindrance, and man's humility as a counter to pride. Additionally, God's justice and grace are vital components. God's justice, characterized by fairness and impartiality, pierces through human justifications for bad attitudes and conduct, demanding careful consideration by those desiring to live by faith. This justice teaches that the wages of sin is death, that we are headed toward death at an unknown time, and that God means exactly what He says at all times. Neglect and drifting away from spiritual priorities, as seen in some congregations, lead to a degeneration of faith because faith depends on acutely hearing God's Word. Without this, unbelief grows, and the motivation to live by faith diminishes. Presumption, a sin of carelessness and neglect, often plays a significant role in drifting away from God, as individuals may not think through their conduct despite available knowledge of what is right. Even unintentional sins, resulting from carelessness or lack of attention to higher priorities, are serious and can have severe consequences. Bearing the name of God as Christians is an honor that must be carried responsibly, with dignity, to avoid negligence in this privileged responsibility. God's justice serves as a constant reminder to those living by faith that sin is disloyalty to Him, and entering into a covenant with Him means pledging our lives to serve Him in gladness and faithfulness so that He might create us in His image.