Traditional debates about faith and works might be clarified and illuminated by highlighting eschatology. To wit:
God intends to establish perfect justice and peace, reconciling all things by the Spirit in the Son. That is the future of the world.
Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. Faith believes that God will do what He says He will do. A believer is one who looks forward to God’s future.
If we believe this for real, we conform our lives so that they fit with what is ahead. God’s just kingdom is coming, and we live in a way that anticipates what’s coming, so that when it comes we can enter in.
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE
Of Roots and Adventures
I have lived in Ohio, Michigan, Georgia (twice), Pennsylvania, Alabama (also twice), England, and Idaho. I left…
Our Most Popular Articles of 2025
It’s been a big year for First Things. Our website was completely redesigned, and stories like the…
Our Year in Film & Television—2025
First Things editors and writers share the most memorable films and TV shows they watched this year.…
