My position is that the phrase "faith of Christ" is referring to Christ's faith. There are dozens of verses that
say that Christ is "faithful", both in the Old Testament and in the
New. When the Bible says that Christ is "faithful", I take that to mean
He always keeps His word. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 and 2 Timothy 2:13
state how He is faithful to His promise of eternal security for the
members of the Body of Christ. When Christ is said to be "faithful" it
means that He is true to accomplish His word.
Faith
itself is believing the word of God (Rom. 10:17) and it is clear that
Christ did that (Matt. 4:3-4). Christ did need faith, without it He
could not have pleased the Father and He would not have been displaying
the fruits of the Spirit.
John 3:34 For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him.
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith," (Gal. 5:22)
The
Father said "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Matt.
3:17) and the Bible says "without faith it is impossible to please him"
(Heb. 11:6).
Christ providing eternal life for all those who believe (by the cross) was promised before the world began, it was the word of God, His eternal purpose. However, man did not have access to that eternal purpose until Christ came to earth and obeyed the word being faithful to the promise of the Godhead.
Titus 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Hebrews 5:
[8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
[9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 5:
[8] Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;
[9] And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
The
Godhead predetermined that Christ would go to the cross in eternity
past (Acts 2:23, Titus 1:2) and Christ came to earth and was faithful to
the promise. He is said to have obeyed and been made perfect. He
"became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil. 2:8).
He lived a completely sinless life in constant faithfulness to the
Father, enduring to the end so that we could be saved. [Dispensational
side note: The believers in Daniel's 70th Week are going to have to have
that same enduring obedience unto death, which is why they are told to
"keep the faith of Jesus" (Rev. 14:11-12).]
Christ was faithful unto death so that we would not have to be. Once we put our faith in Christ, His faith is what keeps us justified before God since we are members of His body, even if we were to stop believing.
Christ was faithful unto death so that we would not have to be. Once we put our faith in Christ, His faith is what keeps us justified before God since we are members of His body, even if we were to stop believing.
2 Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
In
other dispensations God justified a man on the basis of man's faith.
Man's faith is weak and wavering (Heb. 10:23, 38), which is why they had
to endure to the end and prove their faith by their works (Jam.
2:14-26, Matt. 24:13-14). However, Christ's faith has been proven and is
already perfect (Heb. 5:8-9, Phil. 2:8). We do not have to make our
faith perfect by our works under Grace because we are in the Body of
Christ and are justified by His already perfect faith when we
believe on Him (Rom. 3:22, Gal. 2:16-20, 3:22-25, Phil. 3:9). After we
believe on Christ, it is not our faithfulness to Him that keeps us
saved, it is His faithfulness to us.
--Eli Caldwell
For the understanding of the faith of Christ, I would suggest you look to Hebrews 11. I like Hebrews 11:8 in particular. The Bible says "By faith Abraham...OBEYED..." This definition of faith is often overlooked. It is the equivalent of being faithful. His faith is necessary for justification. That faith was his obedience unto the death of the cross. His faith is not what keeps us justified before God. His faith is what justified us to reconcile us to God. Upon this reconciliation, God no longer imputes sin. Without the imputation of sin, there is no longer any need for justification. His death is what justified us (past tense), but our salvation comes by his life (see Romans 5:10). That life is tied to his body which ascended to heavenly places.
ReplyDeleteI'm disagree that Heb. 11 defines faith. It does not say that faith is obeying, it says that by faith Abraham obeyed. That would be a redundant statement if faith means obey. ("by obeying Abraham obeyed"???) Faith is defined by the Bible as believing. Such as in Romans 4:5, "But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness."
DeleteThank-you for you reply. I would ask that you consider some other verses of Scripture. Galatians 2:16 and Romans 5:19 for starters. Notice the phrases "...even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the FAITH of Christ..." (Galatians 2:16) compared to "...so by the OBEDIENCE of one shall many be made righteous..." It is by his faith that we were justified, and by his obedience that we were made righteous. Does that not equate the two together? (Justification simply being the act of making one righteous).
DeleteBe very careful with Romans 4. So many get this messed up. Abraham is used by Paul as an example of someone who received righteousness with works. Romans 4:3 refers to that instance in the past tense. However, in verses 4 and 5 the tense is changed from past to present ("...worketh is the reward..." and "...his faith is counted..." Verses 4-5 is the present application of what Paul had cited in the past in verses 1-3. Furthermore, the his in the phrase "his faith" is not in reference to the him "that ...believeth" but to the him "that justifieth the ungodly" When a man believes the gospel (that Jesus died for his sins) he is imputed righteousness based on the act of obedience (sacrificial death) of Christ which is also called the "faith of Christ."
Do not get caught up in the teachings of those that say our belief is counted to us for righteousness. Our belief in the gospel was simply the catalyst that allowed God to count the death of Christ as the payment for our sins. That provided us with a righteous standing before him. That reconciled us to God. Upon that reconciliation, God stopped imputing sins to us (II Corinthians 5:19) and put us into his body which is what saves us.
Correction to that last post at 12:13 am. It should have read "Abraham is used by Paul as an example of someone who received righteousness WITHOUT works.
DeleteMy apologies.