Monday, October 8, 2018

Justified by the faith OF Christ and not faith IN Christ; Part 2

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.

This is a follow-up to a recent post that I wrote. I will provide a link at the end of this post so that you can read both if you like. Also, as always, I am happy to have comments or reactions to this post. The Calvinists have pointed out since their conception that if we are saved by our faith in Christ then, our faith would in fact be a necessary work. They use then the rationale that the Holy Spirit enables our faith and so it is not by us, and to a degree it is true. However, it is more liberating than Calvinism suggests. We were simply saved by Jesus' faith. Notice the previous sentence is saved by Jesus' faith period.

Paul points out several times in several ways that Jesus' obedience to the Father was what made him a worthy Savior. He even writes about the obedience of faith. My wife was once told by the Spirit, and (I believe her to be a prophet)... that, and I am quoting what she heard in the Spirit... "faith IS obedience." This came after being given supernaturally the verse found in Isa 7:9 AMP,  "And the head (capital) of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son [King Pekah]. If you will not believe [and trust in God and His message], be assured that you will not be established."'" This was an answer to a fleece. After this the Spirit spoke the words "faith is obedience."

However, only the faith of Jesus was the faith that led to eternal salvation for all. As stated in the first post of this series, it was Jesus perfect faith that made him perfectly obedient in the eyes of the Father, and qualified him to be the "Last Adam." The New Testament teaches that Jesus was the ultimate representative of humanity. Paul points out that there was the first representative of humanity, Adam, which means man, and Jesus, the Last Adam, whos name means salvation.

The further, and I believe ultimate proof of this, is found in the following two passages of scripture. The first is Heb 11:6 AMP  "But without faith it is impossible to [walk with God and] please Him, for whoever comes [near] to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He rewards those who [earnestly and diligently] seek Him." and the second passage is Joh 8:29 AMP  "And He who sent Me is [always] with Me; He has not left Me alone, because I always do what pleases Him." First we know that without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE TO PLEASE God, and secondly we know that Jesus ALWAYS DOES WHAT PLEASES HIM. This alone is proof positive of the source of Jesus perfect obedience. It was indeed his perfect faith, and not his perfect obedience to the letter of the Law.

Our faith in Christ is the vehicle that apprehends the faith of Christ. We become certain that we are saved by Christ's perfect faith by believing the gospel message. And, what is the gospel you ask? It is that God was in Christ, yes Christ Jesus is the incarnation of God, and in this incarnate state God reconciled the WORLD to himself not counting trespasses, sins. And further, he made the one who knew no sin, that is who always believed God, to be made sin for us that we in turn might become the righteousness of God in him. Period.

This is a very liberating message and it is the true, pure, pristine gospel of Christ. It is the one that turned the world upside down in the first century. Make of it what you will, as for me and my house we will believe the gospel!

Link to the first of the series, 




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