Walking With Christ

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted(ESV)

It isn’t enough to simply acknowledge that God exists and that Jesus is all that the bible claims. Demons admit that these things are true. Living a godly life “in Christ Jesus” requires faith. But what are the consequences of having such faith?

As 2 Timothy points out, we will be persecuted. We will suffer. The world will hate us because we different. But there has to be more than just enduring suffering with the promise of eternal reward. Atheists often argue that Christians foolishly choose suffering based on what they see as nothing more than the whimsical and empty promises from desperate people long ago.

There are a lot of directions that this conversation could go. I’m assuming that most of my audience are believers or near believers who do not need to be convinced that the bible is real and true and that the words contained within are not just ramblings of desperate people. That said, what else is a consequence of a deep and unshakeable faith? What else comes from living a life rooted in faith?

1. Eternal Rewards: If you truly believe that the bible is real and from God, then you will also believe Matthew 25:31 where the righteous will inherit the kingdom prepared for them.
2. Salvation and Eternal Life: It says again in John 3:16 that believers will have eternal life.
3. Obedience and Good Works: Faith leads to good works, as it says in James 2:17. One cannot exist without the other. If good works are missing, it is a sign that faith is either dead or in danger.
4. Transformation and Sanctification: Faith in Christ makes us a new creation, as 2 Corinthians 5:17 says. We are made new, and the transformation process from old to new is called sanctification. This is an ongoing work by the Holy Spirit that aligns every part of our lives with the image of Christ.
5. Empowerment by the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit, living in us (Acts 1:8), will begin to work through us to spread the gospel “to the end of the earth”. Even if we never leave our neighborhood, every interaction we have can be a work of the Holy Spirit for the kingdom.
6. Perseverance through Trials: When we turn to the Lord in times of trial, we can draw on strength that is not our own to survive or even thrive through trials that should crush us. As James 1:2-4 teaches, every trial serves to strengthen us against bigger trials to come. Faith does not remove trials but provides the strength to endure them. Trials test and strengthen faith, leading to spiritual maturity and growth in character.
7. Community and Fellowship: Through faith, we know that we are not alone. Just as in Acts 2:42, where others devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, we are part of the larger body of Christ. We are a community that loves and supports each other through the most painful and difficult trials any human could face.
8. Justification and Righteousness: Romans 5:1 says that we are justified by our faith. We are declared righteous before God not based on our own actions or merits but on the righteousness of Christ, imputed to us through faith.
9. Hope and Assurance: Hebrews 11:1 gives us the best definition of what faith is and what it does. It reminds us of the conviction of things not seen and the assurance of things hoped for. These are promised not yet realized, but our faith is the root of our trust in God and His ultimate plan.
10. Peace with God: There is a difference between arrogant assurance and peace. True peace releases control to God knowing that He is truly in control and that all will ultimately be well. It is will with my soul (Philippians 4:6-7).
11. Love and Compassion: Galatians 5:6 shows that genuine faith manifests in love—love for God and love for others. This love leads to acts of compassion, service, and a deepened sense of community with other believers.

How have the consequences of faith played out in your life? While reflecting on these consequences, consider how you can more fully embrace your walk with Christ, even in the face of persecution.