Who's Faith ? ? ?

October 20th, 2017

“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. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.”  Galatians 2:20-21 (KJV)

 i can’t recall a time when the faithfulness of God (LORD Jesus) was exalted and emphasized in teachings or preachings.  When discussed the heart of those conversations are of what man is to do. An example: “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”Romans 10:17.  True; but then the emphases is on man and not God who is the only,  who can open mans heart to receive.  “And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.”  Acts 16:14.  

The question is, who’s faith is it that provides salvation & life?  Is it God’s faithfulness to His Word “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began” Titus 1”2.  Or, is it mankind’s understanding and believing that is secure.   

In the posted verse this phrase stands out to me:  “I live by the faith of the Son of God,”  Here i see its by His faith that i now have life, He did all that was needed, He (Christ) did all that God required of me, for me and by believing i enter into eternal life.  Although there is a progression to this believing faith that needs to be understood by the called of God.

1.   “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  Hebrews 11:6

2.   “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23

3.   “And almost all things are by the law purged with blood; and without shedding of blood is no remission.”  Hebrews 9:22

4.   “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  Romans 10:9-10

5.  Understanding that:  “Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

6.   Believing the gospel:  “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”  1 Corinthians 15:1-4  with the understanding that  “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.”  1 Corinthians 15:17.  

         7.   Then “For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”  1 Corinthians 12:12-13  i.e. born again.

The Holy Spirit gave Israel (law keeping Jews) the book of Hebrews.  Also the Holy Spirit led Peter to write: “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever.  Amen”  2 Peter 3:15-18  

The Jews, Israel had been doing law for some 1500 years, until the time of Christ’s arrival, 1st Advent.  It was very hard for them, for Israel to get their heads around the cross. “When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.”  John 19:30.  What was finished?  “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”  Which also entailed “Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers:”  Romans 15:8.  All the promises given by God to Israel and all mankind from “And the Lord God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”  Genesis 3:14-15.  too “Amen” Revelation 22:21b.  “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”  1 Timothy 3:16.

“In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.”  Who’s gospel?  Where is this gospel given &  by whom was it given?   Again:  “Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,”  Who’s gospel and how did this speaker/writer gain the revelation of this mystery?  Get your Bible and do a study, find the chapter and verses where the answers are given.  Scripture locations next week.

Beware if using other than the Kings James: your research won’t come to the same conclusion as presented here.  Example NIV uses “faith in” and not “faith of” as do most other versions; be careful!

Thank You Jesus for loving me and giving me Your life.  i love searching out Your Word to me.  i have no needs outside of You; i’m fully satisfied with where i’m at and my lot in life.  Waiting then for Your Glorious appearing, of my Great God and Saviour, the LORD Jesus Christ.  In Jesus’s name, Your name Amen . . . . . .