Justified by the faith OF Christ and not faith IN Christ.

Gal 2:16 KJV  "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

Here is one of the most important passages of scripture in the New Testament, the Apostolic Greek Scriptures of the first century. This is one passage where I am a King James Only kind of guy. The reason is that only the King James and the Young's Literal Translation get this verse right as it was written. One thing is certain. Paul did not mean that we are justified by faith in Christ, but rather that we are justified by the faith of Christ or Christ's faith. This is clear in the Greek passages. Of course, there is the fact that it is in the genitive case. But, there is evidence in Paul's grammar that he is speaking of justification coming through the faith OF Christ and not faith IN Christ. It comes in this explanation; "even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law" Our faith in Christ does not justify us because we were already justified by the faith of Christ.

Paul says this in Rom 5:18-19 CSB  "So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone.  (19)  For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous." The one righteous act was Jesus' perfect faith in the Father. We read in one place that "without faith it is impossible to please him," and then in another place we read that God said, "this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased. It was Christ's faith in the Father that justified all men, just the same way as Adam's unbelief  made all humanity sinners.

So you ask, what about our faith in Christ? That is a great question. The answer is our faith apprehends the beneficial effect of Christ's faith. Our faith, assures us that the gospel message is correct, and that God was in fact in Christ reconciling the world to Himself not counting trespasses. Our faith grabs on to the benefit of Christ's faith to give us peace with God based upon being justified by the faith of Christ. Look at Rom 5:1  "Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ." Peace with God through Jesus... hmnn… of course that is peace with God through the perfect faith of Jesus.

It is not the works of the law that justifies. In fact, we cannot be justified by our adherence or obedience to the law. We HAVE been justified by the faith OF Christ, and our faith apprehends the fact plain and simple.

If you look for further proof of this again I'll quote the KJV. Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. We live and have eternal life because of the faith OF Christ. Paul goes on in the next verse of Galatians 2 to explain that if righteousness comes from the Law then Christ died for nothing.

This is the gospel. Make of it what you will.
As for me and my house, we will rejoice in the grace of God!!!

Link to part two of this post.