Many people think that Christianity is about being as faithful as we can to God by keeping rituals, images and expectations of a "Christian." However the faith of a Christian has been and will always be based on the faithfulness of God through Jesus Christ, not ours.
So much of Christianity is about earning a certain stature or position where we gain entry into God's presence and gain access to His favour. We follow laws and traditions thinking that it's by works that we are redeemed, provided for and blessed. But our faith has always been based on God's abundant and all-encompassing faithfulness and what He has done for us not what we do for Him.
Romans 5:1-2 tells us, "Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
The essence of the grace of God has always been on the pretence that we never will be able to earn His favour. And as far as we are concerned, everything comes only through the grace of God. Even when we are unfaithful in our work, family or relationships, God extends an unfathomable amount of grace. It is by grace that we receive favour and by grace that we are given the capacity and ability to remain faithful.
Hebrews 10:23 declares "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful."
When we put our hope in the unmerited favour of God, we operate in the truth that one hundred per cent of our life is dependent and built upon the grace of God. By grace, He gives us the ability to produce wealth, to say no to sin, to be a witness and to do all that God has called us to be.
God is so faithful and so gracious that He is the epitome of grace and faithfulness and thus is the basis of all things good and perfect. Revelation 19:11 says "Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war."
And what should be our response to the great faithfulness of God? When we truly understand the grace that is made available through Christ, we respond in more faith than ever before trusting and obeying God more than we did yesterday because He reveals more and more of His faithfulness to us.
We need no less than the grace of God. If we had to depend on our own faithfulness, we would be long gone, but God loves us so much that He gives life and life to the full (John 10:10). We can trust that even when we fail, God will not fail us.
