What's that? "faith to faith"

Romans 1:16-17 Authorized (King James) Version (AKJV)   “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.”  

“faith to faith”  what’s that all about???  

“faith to faith”;  here I read of faith, twice in the same verse and adjacent to each other; saying there are two different persons with faith.  Who’s faith is mentioned first and whom is the second mentioned of faith?  I know in and of myself I haven’t any faith, spiritual faith that is (rightly dividing).  That faith, spiritual faith  is given by God to man:  “according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”  Romans 12:3b.  What would have mans end been if God had decided to remain obscure, aloof and hidden?  Would we have been able to discover Him by our own means?  Without any written word would we have been able to know of Him? I read that is not the case: “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” Genesis 6:5.  God’s remnant:  “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”  I find it interesting God doesn’t disclose what was found in Noah;  I’m sure if it had been written, all or if not all most all would have tried to use that which God found in Noah as their way of salvation; but then no different today?  

”So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Romans 10:17. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it (believing faith) the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” Hebrews 11:1-3.  What was that good report that the fathers obtained?  “And he (Abram) believed in the Lord, and he counted it to him for righteousness.” Genesis 15:6.  Again Paul:  “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.”  Romans 4:3.  All God has ever wanted of man was just to be believed; simple in reading, obviously hard to perform.  “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.  “that we might be”  what is that “might be”, is there a requirement to be worked out to “be made the righteousness of God in (Christ Jesus) him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21. 

That “good report” received by the fathers (elders) was the promise of God’s coming provision:    “And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.  And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering? And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.   And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.”  Genesis 22 verses 2, 8 and 22 respectfully.  Some skeptics may ask “I thought John called for a Lamb, so why did Abraham offer a Ram, why not a Lamb?”  When was the law given, giving the requirements for different offerings?  was it not some five hundred years later?  But through the book of Exodus chapter 12 gives guidance for Passover which equates to God passing over those who have sinned and that Passover imparts life; by shedding of blood, withholding life of unbelievers, giving life to believers.   

Here, a mystery revealed to Paul, and Paul alone.   This was not revealed to the twelve, not of which, had they, must surely would write, but Paul only: “Now to him (God) that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel (“But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Galatians 1:11-12), and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, but now (to Paul exclusively) is made manifest (revealed too by him to us), and by the scriptures of the prophets (“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 15:3-4), according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations (through Paul; not the twelve) for the obedience of faith (of what, “FAITH”): to God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.”  Romans 16:25-27.

Supporting scriptures of how we are to respond by faith to the faith of God.

“For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?” Romans 3:3

“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:” Romans 3:22

“Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;” Romans 3:25

“He (Abraham) staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;”  Romans 4:20  Want to glorify God? just believe Him by believing what is written in His Word, just make sure it is His Word.

 “God is faithful, by whom ye are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.”  1 Corinthians 1:9  

“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:5  

“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.”  Galatians 2:16

“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.”  Galatians 2:20

“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Galatians 3:22 “

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.”  Ephesians 2:5-10

Sidebar:  Recently, I, as with others, have quoted this verse when others passed.  Sounded really good, even of late heard where it was applied to the late Billy Graham.  That’s fine I guess; but when God showed me by His word, showed me that isn’t for me, us, the body of Christ in this “the dispensation of the grace of God” Ephesians 3:2.  How you ask, OK very well:  “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”  Matthew 25:21.  First off, this was a parable by Jesus to Jews, Jews only (Matthew 10:5-6): “For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country”  Matthew 25:14.  Special note: some translations use, kingdom of heaven, some just kingdom, one wrote God’s kingdom, another wrote heaven’s kingdom realm and others no reference at all.  I believe the KJV has it wrong in this instance.  The words in the KJV were italicized, meaning added by translators, (were all the translators of the KJV saved and in Christ? I strongly doubt it).  No mention of faith and a whole lot of works applied.  No that isn’t for me, I’m the body, the body of Christ the church, “But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.”  Acts 20:24  Sometimes in our humanity strain at glory in our carnal minds from all sorts of imaginations but will not be content in what we have available, His word to us and there in rest. 

That “faith to faith” to me is this;  He is faithful “If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself .”  2 Timothy 2:13.  So it’s His faith of Himself that I can rest in and my faith which He gave me to exercise by choice however one deems fit.  “Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.”  1 Timothy 1:16.

Thank You LORD Jesus for loving me and giving me Your life.  I am so thankful that You will reveal to those who choose to believe.  I pray that all would seek You and by faith believe.  That we would all grow in that eternal grace that can only be found in You, the LORD Jesus Christ  That You will continue to be patient with us as we look for that soon appearing of our Great God and Saviour, You our LORD Jesus Christ; in Jesus’s name Your name, Amen . . . . . . . .