The apostle Paul explained that one lives the Christian life, the same way they start it (Col. 2:6). So let's review the process of conversion and discover the way of santification.
Ephesians 1:13 details three steps to justification.
- Hear the word of truth
- Believe the gospel
- Sealed with the Holy Spirit.
Abram was made right with God following these same steps.
- He heard God's promise.
- He believed God.
- God declared Abram righteous (Gen. 15:6).
When Paul wrote to the churches in Galatia he corrected their misunderstanding about Christian living. They erroneously thought the Christian life required obedience to the law. But Paul asks them, "Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law or by the hearing with faith?" (Gal. 3:2). He takes them back to their initial experience with Christ and shows them that they entered into a saving relationship with Christ by hearing with faith, not by works of the law. Therefore, Paul argued, the way to make progress is to continue hearing with faith.
Miracles come by hearing the word with faith, not by trying to impress God with obedience to religious rules. The rhetorical question Paul asks is, "Therefore, He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing with faith?" (Gal. 3:5).
In both Ephesians and Galatians, Paul stressed the importance of hearing the gospel of truth with faith. Initially, faith in God's promises is how you are converted to Christ; and then, as a growing Christian, "hearing with faith" is how you experience the supernatural.
Are you carefully and prayerfully reading, studying, and hearing God's word? Faith in God's word fuels spiritual vitality.