What Is God's Main Rule for Living?

It is not often that one can pick up the Bible and read a passage; and then be able to understand, without too much study, what is actually being communicated.  Usually we need to take into consideration contexts, language and culture in order to properly interpret biblical writing. 

However I read a passage in Roman 4, yesterday morning. One I have read over and over through the  years.  And yet yesterday morning one line popped off the page, right into the twenty-first century, ready to be used as is.  

…but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16 For this reason it depends on faith,…..

Just think about that!   …where there is no law, neither is there violation.

If there were no laws, like in Abraham’s day, our only claim to proper, right, good, correct, acceptable etc would come from the faith we have in God; and how He asks us to live. Period!  

And, if we followed God’s request alone, we would be considered one of God’s children. 

No other expectations would govern our being.  

Just faith!  

WOW!

What do you suppose that would do to all the rules keepers and within-the-lines-colorers?  What would that do to the proper etiquette expectations for polite behavior?  Or the dress codes for acceptable standing in society?  

Or the Big-Two sins for today, “abortion” and “Gender choice?”

How would all the sin-namers do with the thought that it is faith alone that keeps us right with God?

Clarification!  That does not mean that we can just go wild and live as one who has no conscience, no concept of compassion and empathy?  Remember, the core value for faith in God is the truth that we are all made in God’s image.  We are all made to care for the creatures and creation that God has given us.  That is basically the only “law” God gave in the beginning. To take care of all that he has made!(Gen.1:29-31)

To take care of, is not to harm in anyway. 

If all those who have faith in God lived with just that one key request of faith; we wouldn’t need all the laws and rules.

Just a simple thought for a Monday morning!

13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. 16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, "I have made you the father of many nations")—in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," according to what was said, "So numerous shall your descendants be." 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 Therefore his faith "was reckoned to him as righteousness." 23 Now the words, "it was reckoned to him," were written not for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.(Rom. 4:13-25)