DM#27: The faith of Christ

Doctrine of the Mysteries #27

The faith of Christ

Paul writes the following in Romans 5 concerning the redeeming work that Christ has secured for those who believe in Him,

Rom 5:18-21  Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.  (19)  For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.  (20)  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:  (21)  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

The above verses are just a few in Paul’s writings that confirm the cross work of Christ on behalf of those who believe. This work of Christ provides God, a righteous and just judge, with the ability to justify ungodly men. Who has heard such a thing? Not ever the courts under the wisdom and justice of men justify the ungodly. Paul continues to write,

Rom 5:6-11  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  (7)  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.  (8)  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  (9)  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  (10)  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.  (11)  And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

So, with the above in mind; understanding the important fact that our justification is secured by the cross work of Christ and His righteousness, let us get into the primary point of learning in this post, namely, the faith OF Christ.

Let’s read the following 3-scripture references,

Gal 2:16  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.

Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

From the above, we must note that it is the faith OF Christ that secures our salvation. When we trust in Christ through the message of the gospel, we are saved by His faith, by His works, by His righteousness. We contribute nothing. Why? Because we are all sinners, guilty and unprofitable. For God to save us, we need to forsake our self-worth and self-esteem and acknowledge that without Christ we are worthy of death and hell.

It is of great importance to notice this all important two-letter word. The faith OF Christ. This is what sets the authorized King James bible apart for many of the modern English translations. Most of these corrupt translations replace ‘OF’ with ‘IN’ so that it reads ‘faith in Christ’. The word ‘in’ changes the meaning of the statement completely. Whereas ‘of’ tells us it’s Christ’s faith that secures us, the word ‘in’ informs us that it is our faith that we must place in Christ to secure salvation. This destroys the context of the statement and can foster doubt and worry. This is the reason why one hears believers speaking things like, “maybe I didn't believe right”, or “maybe I didn't believe hard enough” or even get all confused saying, “do I believe with my heart of my head?” So many new believers think they must prove their faith or work at their faith. But it is not our faith that saves us, it is the faith OF Christ. Paul writes to the babes at Corinth to set straight their confusion,

2Cor 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

The truth is that everything that separates us from God, Christ took out of the way. He took the law away, he took our sin away, He took enmity away! All we need to do is choose to believe in Christ and it brings us to peace and atonement with God. Here are some scriptures to prove it,

Rom 3:28  Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 11 And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:

Col 2:14  Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;

Col 2:20  Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,

There's two religions in the world. No more, no less. You've got those that believe that God justifies the ungodly and you got those who don't. The ones who don't are out there, running around like a headless chicken trying to working for justification. Consider Cane, trying to offer to God the fruits of his hands, only to have it rejected at judgement. Then we have Abel who receive the pure words of God, believed it, and simply offered a lamb.

Rom 4:5  But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Allow me to end with one more truth, because I can hear the thoughts of those confused by a mixed doctrine. They are saying, “but what about James chapter 2?” I know that a single post probably will not set them straight, but let me point to a truth written by James himself,

Jas 1:1  James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. 

Who is James addressing? The twelve tribes [of Israel] which were scattered abroad. Under which dispensation did James operate? The prophetic dispensation, not the mystery. We can learn about that dispensation, but it is not doctrine we apply. That which we apply is from Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, and it is clear from the scriptures in this post that it is different to James.