Romans 1:17 (NKJV)

“For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, ‘The just shall live by faith.’”

The gospel does not just work as salvation for the sinner, the gospel also works as the pillar of righteousness for the believer. Faith is the key that unlocks the power in the gospel, and while it unlocks salvation for the sinner, it upholds the believer in righteousness. And this righteousness is not static but it increases as our faith grows, “from faith to faith.”

For the believer, he is expected to live by faith. He dies that moment he stops believing. The moment other things replace the centrality of his focus and faith, he begins the slow process of death. For the believer, all his hopes and expectations of God’s righteousness are in the gospel. We cannot expect to live spiritually and grow in righteousness, if we don’t keep growing our faith in the gospel. The gospel of Christ is the source and river of life for the believer who keeps trusting in it. Christ is inseparable from the gospel and once our hearts are intricately and continually connected to Christ, so shall our righteousness also keep rising and shining like the sun in its full glory.

“I will keep trusting You, O Lord, not just for salvation, but the walk and work of righteousness. My faith will not shift to some other hope, for You are all I need to live. Amen.”